Page 28 of Glitched Play

Parker points his fork at me. "You've been checking your watch all night."

I look at my watch, then immediately wish I hadn't. Because that proves his point.

Birdie gasps dramatically. My sister-in-law thinks because I’m her favorite that she knows me inside and out. "He's hiding something."

"I'm not."

"That's exactly what someone hiding something says."

Noelle nods. "True."

I glance toward Birdie. Even though she’s married to J.D., she’s like the mother I never had.

She smiles. “Witt has more on his plate than any of us. Now who’s getting the dessert?”

Noelle hops up. “I made Hoho Cake,” she says as she takes the aluminum foil off the pink, polka-dotted dish painted with her last name, Stricker. Matt cuts the cake into squares and Noelle passes them out.

“Who’s surprised our little Noelle has learned to cook?” Dad asks, beaming.

Matt gasps, “Bake. She can bake.”

He leans over kissing her softly. There’s a fourteen year age difference but because we all had to grow up a little faster than normal, and they seem close to the same age.

“It’s good, Noelle,” I admit.

“Good? It’s soft and fluffy and I miss you calling me Noe.”

“I was three.”

She protests. “You called me Noe until you were sixteen.”

We exchange a simple nod and now I’m wondering what caused me to start calling her by her full name. That fact will bug me until I figure it out.

The conversation shifts to football, which is significantly safer territory. Greyson starts discussing training camp while J.D. argues about offensive schemes. Parker insists the receiving room is being underestimated again. Dad offers advice nobody asks for, and somehow everyone talks over one another while still managing to hear every word.

I usually enjoy listening. Football is full of patterns and systems, but today my attention keeps drifting.

Tomorrow.

Eight a.m.

Maci Hart.

The realization is irritating.

I have investor meetings scheduled this week.

A board presentation on acquiring a small gaming company.

Three development reviews.

One potential licensing agreement.

"Earth to Witt." Parker snaps his fingers.

I mentally rerun the conversation. "What?"

A grin spreads across his face. "There you are.”