Page 25 of Neo

“We can eat outside by the pool.”

“You have a pool?”

“It’s Vegas. Everyone has a pool,” he says casually. “But yeah, we have an amazing outdoor space.”

“And you have all of this because you play hockey?” I say snidely.

I didn’t mean to say it like that, but the words just flew out of my mouth. While I’m grateful to have the academic scholarship given to me, it comes with so many strings attached, including the scrutiny of my father. These guys, on the other hand, have everything handed to them on a silver platter. A phenomenal house with a pool in undergrad and all they have to do is play a game that they’d probably play for free? It’s borderline ridiculous.

“Because we win hockey games,” he corrects me. “There’s a difference.”

Neo walks through the unlocked ornate wood door of the house and I follow him inside. It looks a lot different than it did when I was here for the party. In the light of day, I see that it looks like any other neatly kept home in the area. Each room is tastefully furnished, smells faintly of lemon polish, and there are awards and team pictures neatly framed on the walls.

A middle-aged woman with a round stomach and cheeks to match greets us in the living room as she wipes her damp hands on a tea towel affixed to the apron around her waist.

“¡Buenas!”

“Hola, Lucia.” Neo greets her in a respectful tone I’ve never heard him use before. “This is my friend Violet. We thought we’d have a little lunch outside today.”

“Es perfecto, cariño. Os prepararé pollo y verduras a la parrilla.”

“Gracias, that would be great.”

“What did she say?” I whisper as she walks back into the kitchen.

“She’s going to grill some chicken and vegetables for us. It’ll be the fastest thing. Plus, I eat clean during the season.”

“You speak Spanish?”

“I understand most of it, but can’t really answer back. I have to answer in English.”

“How did you learn?”

“The maternal side of my mom’s family is from Puerto Rico and most of them refused to speak to us kids in English, so I was forced to figure out what they were saying.”

“Oh, wow, that’s cool.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so at the time, but now I realize it was the best thing they could have done.”

“And is Lucia always here?”

“She doesn’t live here, but since she’s our house manager, she’s here a lot. She makes sure the lights stay on and we don’t wreck the place. VCU alumni spent a lot of money on this house, so employing her was part of the deal.”

“I bet she sees a lot,” I say.

“Not sure what you mean,” he deadpans, and suddenly I’m unsure of what I meant as a joke.

“I just mean…I’m sure things get wild around here sometimes.”

“Are you talking about the other night?”

“Well,” I look anxiously down at my hands. “That was kind of wild. For a minute there, it didn’t look like Bender was going to get out of there alive.”

“How do you know his name?” Neo’s forehead crinkles.

“He introduced himself before everything went south.”

“He introduced himself to you.” Neo echoes what I said, his voice lowering an octave.

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