“And Jessie and I married brothers,” Callie explains, adding to my shock. “So yeah, we’re definitely unique.”
“Remember when I told you Luc had friends to live with growing up?” Rose says quietly. “It was the Garrisons, their husbands’ family, so he’s basically like a brother to their husbands too.”
“It makes us seem kind of inbred or something, I know,” Jessie laughs.
“No. I think it’s great. And sweet,” I tell her.
“Rose has done nothing but talk about Daphne’s House since she went to that charity event,” Callie tells me. “You work there?”
“I run it,” I explain and pause. “In fact, I created it.”
“Well I’d love to know more about it,” Callie says. “And maybe see if I could volunteer somehow like Rose is going to do.”
“We can arrange that,” I say and start to open my purse to pull out a business card but Rose interrupts.
“Why don’t I have you over for dinner, with my sisters and Alex, and we can chat about it more?” she suggests. “We all live in Brooklyn. Callie can cook, she’s incredible at it.”
I hesitate. I have no problem having dinner with these women. Rose has proven herself to be warm and genuine and her sisters seem to be exactly the same, but they want Alex there too. That part makes me unsure. Things are weird between us and it would be awkward to be at dinner with him. But Rose looks so excited and hopeful and it really could do the charity a world of good if they got onboard. Even after the fund-raiser we’re still short almost twenty thousand dollars of what we need to keep the place running, no thanks to me refusing to let that woman buy her date with Alex. Len and I have blitzed the local media with press releases, trying to garner some interest in getting an article or news segment on the charity but so far we haven’t heard back.
“Sure,” I relent.
Rose lets out a happy squeak. “Great! I’ll give you the details when I stop by tomorrow for my first GED class tomorrow.”
She pulls me into a bear hug just as Alex appears in the doorway over her shoulder. He’s in a pair of shorts, flip-flops and a formfitting black athletic shirt. And what a form it is. The fabric embraces him like Saran Wrap. The broad expanse of his shoulders is on display along with the bulging curl of his biceps and the ripples his abs make. I didn’t think bodies that perfectly ripped actually existed. I thought they were all the product of Photoshop, at least a little bit. But seriously, even the best graphic designer couldn’t fake something this…gorgeous. His hair is damp with sweat and tousled. There’s a glow to his skin and his eyes are brighter, lighter; like the game brought him enough joy that it lightened the stormy color in them.
This time he looks at me. It’s brief but somehow still has an intensity to it that I can feel. He must feel it too because he takes a breath so sharp I can see it and then he quickly turns his head to the buffet table. “Hey! Leave some snacks for the rest of us, eh?”
I can’t help but smile at his use of the little Canadian “eh” that I haven’t heard in decades. The kids all turn and call out excited greetings, most walk toward him, but Mackenzie runs. For a quick second I think she might hug him, which would melt my heart, but she skitters to an abrupt halt half a foot in front of him and gives him a smile instead. “Hey, bud. Why didn’t you tell me you were all famous and junk?”
Every adult in the room chuckles. Alex smiles at her and shrugs. “I’m not famous.”
“Can I sell your autograph on eBay?” she questions.
“Yeah. Probably.”
“Then you’re famous,” she concludes and pauses before adding, “Can you sign something for me?”
He reaches out and ruffles her hair. “Why don’t I give you guys a VIP tour of the place before you start your eBay business, Mac.”
“It was nice meeting you,” I tell Jessie and Callie and give Rose another quick hug.
As I walk across the room to join the others who are filing out the door Rose calls, “I’ll see you tomorrow with dinner details!”
I nod.
Alex takes us into every single room. There are medical rooms and rooms filled with fancy workout equipment and a room with a hot tub and an ice bath and a room just for massages. Finally, we end in the locker room. He introduces us to the captain, Devin Garrison, and his brother, Jordan, who I know now are married to Rose’s sisters. They’re rugged, good-looking men and have a real, easygoing way with the kids, showing them around the room and answering all their questions, even the weird ones, like when Reg asks if it’s strange to shower together.
Alex hasn’t spoken to me directly and he hasn’t made eye contact again. I’m beginning to feel that sting of rejection, which makes me annoyed with him but also with myself for letting him have that effect on me. When the tour is over, and Devin has given them each their own jersey, which I’m sure costs a fortune, I thank him profusely.
“It’s nothing really,” he says and hands both me and Len a jersey as well.
I turn to Alex as he walks us back to the elevator, Mackenzie glued to his side. “Thank you for this. It was beyond kind.”
“Yeah. It’s nothing for me. Glad you enjoyed it,” he says lightly and shrugs, his eyes facing forward, still refusing to look at me.
“Well, it was something big to the kids,” I tell him, trying not to sound hurt or angry, but I’m both. He’s the one who almost kissed me. Why is he making me feel bad about it? “Will you be by tomorrow?”
He shakes his head. “I can’t tomorrow. I know I was scheduled, but something came up. I was hoping I could do the run I was planning with them on Saturday instead.”
