Auntie Cookie scoffed at the notion.
Auntie Tiff raised her glass. “This wine is worth more than your ex.”
We all laughed.
“We tease you, but we love you, and want you to be happy,” Auntie Mimi added.
“Thank you and thanks for bringing me here, instead of me spending a lonely week in the lab, while everyone else is on spring break.” It was nice for them to bring me with them. Especially at the last minute.
Auntie Kiki waved me off. “It’s nothing–just like your ex.”
The waiter brought out a caviar course, which was something I didn’t know existed.
“This is probably worth more than his car,” Auntie Tiff joked.
Absolutely.
I took a picture of the beautifully plated caviar course and posted it along with,Living my best life.
This was just what I needed. The table next to us erupted in cheers. Auntie Tiff shushed them. The guy looks suitably abashed.
“Sorry. The Scented Scorpions might actually win this game. If they do, that means they’re going to the finals. Can you believe it?” one of them said excitedly, waving around his phone. “But we’ll be quiet.”
“Scented Scorpion sounds like a venereal disease,” Auntie Mimi scoffed.
“It’s a hockey team,” the guy replied.
“More like an advertisement for a beauty product. Scent your scorpion with this luxury body spray,” Auntie Tiff mimicked a commercial.
I nearly snorted wine up my nose.
Yeah, no one was scenting my scorpion. I was just here for the free food.
Chapter Four
Steven
“You lost the bet fair and square, so stop whining,” Marilyn, the PR director of my hockey team, the Scented Scorpions, cornered me after the game.
A game we’d won. This wasn’t just any game, but the last game of the semi-finals. A game that secured our team’s place in the finals.
Something our team had never expected.
At the same time, I’d lost the bet tonight. I tried so hard. But I’d lost anyway.
“Did you really expect me to let him get away with that?” I retorted. I’d earned the nickname,Even Steven,because if you went after my teammates, I’d get even with you.
And if you went after Ashton, you were a dead man.
That generally resulted in me spending a lot of time in the penalty box.
Marilyn had bet me that I couldn't go through the playoffs without ending up in the penalty box. I was confident that my self-control would win. After all, I didn’thaveto fight someone. We had other players who’d be happy to.
Until someone on the other team got wind of my bet and had intentionally gone after Ashton to bait me.
Like a dumbass, I’d gone after him, instead of letting Ashton handle it, like he said he would.
And I’d gotten time in the penalty box for my efforts.
