“Good.” He looks over to Chloe, who is now chatting with his stepsister. “Seems like she’s fitting in nicely.”
He has no idea how much I need to hear that. “Yeah, she does.”
“You look happy.”
His words shouldn’t rattle me, but they do. Am I happy? In ways, yes. Having Chloe here feels like a dream come true. But am I also trying to temper all expectations and remain cautious, mostly because I’m afraid the rug will be ripped out from beneath me at any moment and she’ll leave again? Definitely. It’s a shit way to live, but it’s all I have.
Hutch’s big hand lands on my shoulder, and that’s all he says before he makes his way over to them, introducing himself to my wife.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to find a text from my brother.
Stefan: THAT BLOCKED SHOT HOLY SHIT MAN
Stefan: Your knee okay?
Me: Hurts like a motherfucker, but I’ll be all right.
Stefan: Fuck yeah man
Stefan: How’s it going with YOU KNOW WHO
Me: She came to my game tonight.
Me: And you can say her name, you know.
Stefan: WHAT THE FUCK
Stefan: Who are you and what have you done with my brother????
Me: Fuck off
Stefan: Luv u bro
Stefan: I’m still here
Me: I know. Love you too.
“Hey.”
I look up to find Chloe striding toward me. “Hey. You want a drink?”
“Actually, a Diet Coke sounds perfect.”
“One Nasty as Hell coming right up.”
She gives me a side eye, which might be effective if she weren’t smiling as she does it. I lead her to the bar and place an order for a Diet Coke and a Sprite.
“You got it,” the bartender says.
“And put it on Lawson’s tab,” Chloe tells him. I raise a brow at her as I lean against the bar, and she shrugs. “What? He said drinks were on him tonight.”
I have a feeling he never uttered those words, and I can’t help but laugh.
“Glad to see you’re learning already.”
She smiles. “Your teammates are really nice. The girls are, too.”
“Yeah?” I ask, and even I can hear the excitement in my voice.
