Page 16 of Force Play

Dad:

So you weren’t playing for anyone special tonight

Dom:

I didn’t say that.

Dad:

Tell me more . . .

Dom:

You would get along great

with the bingo ladies.

Dad:

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

Now give me the tea.

Dom:

She was there . . . with her girlfriend.

Dad:

Don’t be a homewrecker.

Dom:

You know me better than that.

I can be patient.

Chapter 6

Indie

“Open up Indie. We’ve got coffee and donuts,” Poppy hollers at my door as I weave through the chaos that is my apartment. Boxes and totes are scattered everywhere in various states of disarray. There’s a pod coming tomorrow that will leave for Denver, and I’ll follow a few days later. First, I’m making a trip home to spend a few days with my dad and go visit my mom. He insisted I come so that he could check my tires and change my oil—neither of which are necessary, but I’ll let him poke around so he feels useful.

“Did you bring the good coffee?” I ask, pulling the door open.

“Is that a serious question?” Lilah extends the coffee carrier out to me and I take it from her, pulling my order out on the way to the counter.

“I can’t believe you still drink black coffee,” Mia says, making a face as I take my first sip.

“My soul won’t tolerate anything else.”

Working together and chatting as we go, we start in the kitchen, making a packing assembly line. Mia and I pull things out of cabinets and hand them off to Poppy and Lilah, who wrap and pack them.

After a dozen donuts and an absurd amount of caffeine, we finish in the kitchen and move on to the bedroom. This time, we split up, Mia and Lilah work on cleaning out the attached bathroom. Thankfully, I had the foresight to pack away my favorite toy which was charging on the counter before they got here. That would have been more than they bargained for.

While they pack up towels and hair products, Poppy and I sort through the closet, deciding what gets donated and what makes the cut for Denver.

“Is Bri working all day?” Poppy holds up a navy blazer for my perusal.

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