Page 58 of Offside Devil

Now, I think it might be nice to have at least one person in my day-to-day life I can talk to.

The children’s museum is fifteen minutes away. As Evan pulls to a stop in the unloading zone out front, I see Taylor and Daniel waiting together on the steps.

Daniel is so focused on Taylor, I don’t think he even notices our cruise ship of a vehicle idling fifteen feet away. Taylor notices us right away and bounds down the steps. I can tell by the way her hips sway that she knows Daniel is watching her.

She pulls me into a hug and Daniel’s voice booms from the top of the stairs. “Aiden! Come on, buddy! I’ve got a ticket with your name on it.”

Aiden races up the stairs and lunges for the ticket, but Daniel scoops him up into a hug instead. He tips Aiden upside down, dangling him from his ankles with ease like only a former professional hockey player could.

“He’s showing off for you,” I tease, elbowing Taylor in the side.

She smirks, but her attention is fixed on Daniel. “Not gonna lie, it’s kind of working.”

We wander through the children’s museum for the next couple hours, taking turns doing the different exhibits with Aiden.

I help him wash his hands and then we inspect all of the leftover germs under a black light.

Daniel rides in a helicopter simulation with him, screaming and laughing as Aiden pilots them directly into the ocean.

Even Taylor, as averse to small humans as anyone I’ve ever met, walks through the Hall of Optical Illusions hand-in-hand with Aiden. She doesn’t call him a “crotch goblin” even once.

By the time we make our way upstairs to the cafe for lunch, I’ve almost entirely forgotten about my domineering, condescending fake boyfriend.

Which means someone has to bring him up. I don’t make the rules; I just suffer under them.

“You’re here, Daniel,” Taylor observes, touching his elbow for the fifth time in as many minutes. “So where is Zane?”

“One of the perks of being a non-playing part of the team is having time to escort beautiful ladies such as yourselves around the nearest children’s museum.”

Taylor arches a brow. “Is this where you take all the ladies?”

“Only for a first date.”

“What’s a second date with you: the arcade?” she teases.

“Bingo.” He nods. “And on a third date, if you’re lucky—” He leans forward, positively dripping with charm. “—I’ll rent us a bouncy castle.”

Aiden finishes his sandwich first and Daniel volunteers to take him to the glorified McDonald’s playspace in the next room over.

“Don’t get stuck in the tubes!” Taylor calls out as Aiden drags Daniel away.

He looks back over his shoulder, eyebrows dancing. “I know how to navigate in tight spaces.”

As soon as he disappears around the corner, Taylor whips back to me. “Was that supposed to be a euphemism?”

“I think so,” I laugh. “Did you like it?”

Taylor groans. “Oh, God, I think I did. Why did you have to bring him with us? I don’t have time for a new crush right now. I was just about to start a juice cleanse.”

“You’re always about to start a cleanse. Also, I didn’t bring Daniel. Zane must have told him we were coming and he tagged along.”

“Weird that Daniel showed up and not Zane.”

Something strange reverberates through me. I take a bite of my food and hope Taylor won’t notice. “It’s not weird. Like Daniel said, Zane is working.”

“What about when he isn’t working?” Taylor tries to sound casual, but it’s obvious she’s fishing. “Does he spend time with you then?”

“He’s not paying me to spend time with him. He’s paying me to spend time with Aiden.”

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