“And you haven’t won it in over five years, and it’s made you resigned to failure.” He shouldered me hard as he pushed by me. Not sixty seconds later, I caught up with him, and we fell into an easy rhythm for our run along the lakefront.
“How is your wife?” I asked, now that the chirping was out of the way.
He grinned. “Not my wife yet. But if you mean how is my woman, then she’s fine. I left her feeding Cammi, and then when I get home, she’ll be setting up her office how she likes it so she can be in the right frame of mind to write her book.”
“About snails?” It still amused me that Jason had landed with someone so esoteric.
“About snail sex and mating rituals. If anyone can make it sound fascinating, it’s Francesca.”
“You are happy at last.”
“At last? Have I given you the impression I’ve not been happy?”
“You always appeared to be a man seeking something. The Cup, perhaps, but I suspected more. A life you could be proud of, and for a man like you, this involves family. You are too like Theo to want any different.”
“Well, aren’t you Mr. Fucking Know-it-all.” But he sounded more smug than annoyed. And rightfully so. He had everything he desired and was in a good place. I was envious.
Yesterday, I had received divorce papers from Lauren’s lawyer. Sign and within weeks we would be single again. Fight and risk losing her altogether. I had enjoyed dinner, enjoyed the closeness I always felt around her. If I pushed her too hard, my chance would vanish into the ether. This was a delicate situation.
We came to the end of the path and in unison, leaned with a foot each on the lakefront wall, stretching to cool down.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Jason said. “How’s your dad?”
“My father? He is in Chicago.”
My friend scrunched up his brows. “He is? Where’s he living?”
“With me for now.”
“That’s awesome. I love how close you guys are.” Jason and his father did not get along. “I hope he appreciates all you’ve done for him.”
“I did what any son would do for his father.”
“I dunno. Not every son would give up a lucrative NHL contract to go work in Russia and be close to his dad while he was in prison.”
“Not everyone is aware of those details.” As far as the world knew, after my rookie year in Miami, I was called by the siren of Mother Russia to play in my home country, a tricky negotiation that had involved the league and my team org. I had confided in Jason some of the specifics, but he didn’t know the entire story. Keeping quiet about my father’s arrest and poor treatment by the government was part of the deal to keep him safe. To keep everyone safe.
“But he’s happy here, right? I know he lived near you in Seattle for years once he got his green card.”
“Yes, and he is now a loyal citizen of the US of A. He has made a good life for himself.” His politics had made his pathway to citizenship relatively easy.
My mind rebelled at the notion of sharing anything more. For so long, I had suppressed my hopes and dreams, and it had created a barbed wire barrier around that part of me that might be more open about my personal life, even with people I considered friends.
Jason appeared to be mulling my situation over. “So he can’t know that many people here in Chicago. You’ll have to bring him over to dinner one night or a cookout at Theo’s. Help him make friends. Hey, set him up with Aurora!”
Aurora was Theo’s grandmother. “An older woman? He might go for that.”
The lie was easy to deliver. Once the season started, Jason would forget about his invitation as he tried to juggle fatherhood, his woman, and his professional career. In fact, he was already distracted by something else on the pathway.
Or rather, someone else.
Lauren was running toward us, sporting the same sweats she wore to dinner a week ago. She had on those wraparound sunglasses so I couldn’t see her eyes—not that I needed to. I recognized from her body language as she approached that I was the last person she wished to see.
“Hey, Lo!” Jason held up his hand and she high-fived it, before stepping back, fisting her hips.
So the sweats weren’t exactly the same as before. The tight sports top revealed a sliver of flat stomach and a bountiful view of cleavage. She had a strong, athletic body, but there were also plenty of curves on which my eyes could feast.
“Gentlemen.” She nodded. “Safety in numbers, I suppose.”
