“Is anyone else taking notes on how to treat an omega?” Richards yells out.
“I am and I don’t even have one!” someone replies.
My cheeks heat as Skylar winks at me. He came in during my conversation, and immediately jumped in to help me. It doesn’t matter that I can do it myself, he’s simply taking care of me. I’ve noticed he does the same to Rhodes.
The three of us finish dressing, and say goodbye to whoever is left in the locker as we head out. I texted my mother while I was getting ready, and I meet her in the visitor area.
Grinning, she gives me a hug, and I squeeze her back. She’s a tiny woman next to my father, and once I hit my peak weight, I found myself being careful whenever I embraced her.
“You had a great game,” Dad says, giving me a grin and a side hug.
“Thanks. I had a feeling it might go our way,” I explain.
I introduce everyone as I hug my sister last, and then explain the plan for dinner.
“Food sounds good,” Mom admits. “I didn’t know if you’d have time.”
Ugh. I know she didn’t mean it that way, but shots were definitely fired. It’s my own fault for always rushing away.
“Nope, we’re clear,” I reply. “The PR manager made sure I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone. We just have to take our puppy home first.”
“You have a puppy?” Mom asks, surprised.
“She came home with Rhodes one day,” I tease, glancing up to find Edna walking toward us with Princess Sunny.
Edna refuses to let us pay anyone when we have home games. She says that for some reason, people act better whenever they know she has a puppy with her. I’m not going to argue with that kind of logic, and I appreciate how much she adores Princess.
Not to mention, our puppy seems to really enjoy Edna as well.
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries,” Edna says with a smile. “Alright, boys, here is your precious baby. I fed her dinner around the third quarter, and she’s been to the bathroom already. She should be ready for a nap.”
“Thank you, Edna,” Rhodes says. “You’re so good with her.”
“She’s great company,” she laughs, handing him the leash. “Have a good night. I’m off to handle a few things.”
As Edna rushes off, Silvia’s eyes widen. “Does she ever sleep?”
“No. She has a wicked addiction to caffeine too,” Skylar says.
“I also think we keep her busy with all the accidental stuff we get into,” I admit, wincing.
“Any other issues with that awful photographer?” Dad asks.
“Not yet, though we’ve been so busy, I don’t think we’re very interesting,” I say.
“You’d think the fact that you play a contact sport with knives on your feet would be interesting enough,” Mom says. “Text me the address to the restaurant?”
“You got it,” I say, sending it to her.
“The reservation is under Koen’s name,” Skylar adds. “I don’t know how busy they get, but it’s a good weekend. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.”
“We don’t have to run home,” Rhodes says. “We’ll meet you at the restaurant, babe. She’ll be good.”
Dropping onto my haunches, I scratch behind Princess’ ears, grinning as she happily accepts the love.
“Be good,” I murmur. “Maybe you can con Skylar into sleeping in the bed.”
Skylar snorts, and I chuckle. We are all suckers for Princess’ begging. She’s absolutely going to be snuggling with us.
