I follow him into a spacious living room and immediately notice there are more people here than I expected.
I knew Ben and his girlfriend Madelyn were on the guest list, which makes sense since this is their place. I’m surprised to see Ben’s sister, Beth and her boyfriend—also my goalie—Foster.
“Hi Arthur,” Beth greets me warmly from her place on the couch.
“Nice to see you again, Beth. James.” I nod at Foster.
“Coach.” He nods back.
“We came over earlier so Sam could see Cujo and he invited us to come back for dinner,” Beth explains.
“You know Foster.” Ben smirks. “Any excuse to be social.”
Foster gives his teammate a sideways glance but says nothing. It’s somehow comforting knowing someone here likes people even less than I do.
“Hey, you made it.” Elliot appears in the hallway and the already bright room gets a bit brighter. She’s wearing a pink floral long sleeve dress, her blonde hair falling past her shoulders. She looks relaxed and happy as she walks right up to me in this room full of people. As she rises on her tiptoes, my body leans to meet her on instinct. Her warm lips touch mineonly for a moment before she pulls back. She beams up at me and I feel like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.
There are mixed reactions to the kiss. Beth and Maddy have sappy expressions like they’re watching baby elephants having a water fight. Foster and Ben look a bit more shell-shocked than anything, wide eyed and expressionless. Sam looks amused.
But Elliot? Elliot looks the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Like I just made her birthday wish come true.
What follows is one of the nicest meals I’ve ever had in my life. While Michaels and Sam managed to make a decent pasta carbonara, Caesar salad and garlic bread, it’s the effortless ease of the company that makes the evening. There’s no awkward silences, just comfortable conversation and lots of laughter.
“Can I give Cujo a piece of bacon?” Ben asks, holding up a small chunk of meat.
“No,” everyone says in unison.
“Why not?”
It’s Sam that answers. “It’s too high in fat and sodium. He can’t digest it properly.”
Ben looks at the dog who’s staring up at him with literal puppy dog eyes. “I think he’d really like to try, though.”
“Listen to Sam, Ben,” Beth says, using what I expect is her school teacher voice.
“Yeah,” Foster adds. “You might have almost twenty years on him, but he’s beating you in maturity and common sense.”
“Oh my god, who even invited you two?” Ben gripes good naturedly as he pops the bacon into his mouth.
Maddy slaps him on the arm. “Sam and I did. And we are honoured and delighted by their presence in our home.”
“Speaking of presents!” Sam says pushing himself back from the table. He fist-bumps Maddy on his way by.
“Did you two plan that segue?” Ben asks her.
“Maybe,” Maddy smirks. He shakes his head, but he’sgrinning as he leans in and kisses her cheek. He stands and begins collecting the dishes from the table.
Sam returns with a few gift bags and cards, including my own. He piles them on the table and hands one to his mom.
Elliot seems almost shy as she accepts the gift. “You all really didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”
The birthday girl is delighted by a pink pottery mug from Beth and Foster, and an even more pink set of icing decorating tools from Ben and Maddy.
“I’m sensing a theme here,” I say, exchanging a smirk with Sam.
“It’s not my fault pink is a superior colour!” Elliot protests.
She opens my gift next. I briefly wonder if I should have stuck with the earrings, but the smile that spreads across Elliot’s face when she opens the card makes me feel better about my decision.
