“And she likes you and wants to date you?”
“I think so?”
“But you haven’t actually had a conversation about it?” Gabby asks, and I shake my head. She sighs. “So if you like her, why isn’t she here with you?”
“She had a family thing. It’s serious.”
Gabby considers that. “Okay, but you haven’t even told her you might have cancer, have you?”
“I don’t have cancer,” I argue.
“You don’t know that.”
“Fuck.” My stomach drops and twists and I suddenly wish it was empty. “What happened to positive Gabby?”
She puts a hand over mine on the table, just long enough to give it a squeeze and then she pulls away. “I don’t think it’s cancer, but it’s a big deal that we have to go through all this to make sure. And you haven’t told her. That’s weird.”
"It's a lot." I take a sip of water and let my fingers linger on the thick linen tablecloth. "This problem is a lot and Tenley is already dealing with a lot with her aunt."
“That’s why Tate went home too, right?”
I nod. "Yeah, and the last thing she needs is to worry about her fake husband. And if this is cancer… I mean I wouldn't want her to stick around."
Gabby frowns. “Well, cool, because she won’t if you keep this up.”
“What?”
Gabby puts down her fork and turns to glare at me. “Dude, look, I thought your lone wolf shit was kinda hot and amusing because I didn’t want to date you. But Tenley does. And so cutting her out, or deciding for her what she can and can’t handle, is going to make her change her mind. I don’t know her well but she must be one hell of a strong woman to keep you on your toes. So give her some credit and let her in on this so she can handle it the way she wants.”
“Fine. Whatever.” I grab another piece of tofu. “I’ll consider it.”
"Good." Gabby takes another sip of her margarita and then smiles at me over the salty rim. "And I can't wait to hear all about how you intend to tell your wife you want a divorce, so you can start dating each other. TMZ Sports is gonna have a field day with that."
“Fuck TMZ,” I mutter and she laughs.
But seriously, how am I going to tackle that?
Chapter 25
Tenley
This is the single solitary place I do not want to be. But yet, here I am, wearing my Westwood 77 Quake jersey and painting dragon wings on a seven-year-old with a very runny nose. It's gross, but it's for charity. Liv is beside me at the booth, squatting down in front of an adorable curly-haired girl painting colorful daisies on her cheeks. About ten other WAGS are doing it at this booth and one across the arena. It's early and the doors haven't opened but season ticket holders got early access to bid on some auction items we set up on the concourse and pay a nominal fee to have their kids' faces painted by WAGs.
And of course the documentary crew is here so I have to smile, even while I gently ask the mother to wipe little Cale’s nose again. Finally, I’m done and the mom looks pleased as she thanks me, drops a five into the jar on the table and trots away with her son. I look at Liv and sigh.
“Can you two make small talk about the Day with the Cup?” Fisher prompts.
Liv glances up at him. “Like, what we’re planning?”
He nods. Liv looks over at me and I search for another customer to avoid having this conversation. But it's late in the event and I think we've painted all the little faces. Damn. Fisher motions toward me. "Come here and sit in the chair. It will make a great two-shot with Liv crouching like that."
“You can’t get the child’s face,” I warn and he nods curtly.
“Yeah. I know,” Fisher says.
"So… Umm…" Liv is not the smoothest when she knows she's on camera. "I was thinking… if they win the Cup… I am going to have Crew's Day involve something at the local beach."
“Why the beach?”
