Page 11 of Never Say Never

I kick my runners off at the door and walk into the house I share with Holden on Haven Harbor. I find Holden and Grayson sitting on the couch eating steaks and watching the game. Their eyes stay locked on the big screen mounted above the fireplace as a Ranger takes a shot on net and narrowly misses, ending the second period and prompting a string of curse words from Holden.

“Florida is lucky they have Luv between the pipes tonight. That should have been a damn goal.”

Holden glares at the TV. “We should be up by four. They’re playing like jackasses. I need another beer.” He tosses the remote onto the couch before getting up and heading to the kitchen.

“Hey. Grab me one too,” I say as I sink into the leather armchair.

“How’d work go? Big game this weekend, right?” Grayson asks.

“Yeah, it is,” I say, dragging a hand through my hair.

The Reed Point Outlaws are riding a 4-game winning streak, and we have a home game on Friday. The season will be overbefore we know it then we’ll be playing for the conference championship and a spot in the national championship. We need this win. We need them all but heading out on the road with a W on the books is a confidence boost. When players lose their confidence, an entire season can go down the toilet, which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid.

“You’ll get the win,” Holden says as he returns to the couch, handing me a beer as he sits down. “The team’s been looking great.”

“Thanks, man. So, how was dinner with Jake last night? Any shenanigans to report?”

I don’t miss the look that passes between the two of them.

“What happened? What did I miss?”

Holden snickers at Grayson. “He’s either going to care or he’s going to really fucking care.”

“Oh, he’s going to really fucking care all right, but he’ll play it off like he couldn’t care less,” Grayson laughs, like I’m not sitting right here listening to their stupid conversation.

“What the fuck are you two idiots talking about? What did I miss?”

Holden finally looks at me and lets out a long exhale, as if preparing to be the bearer of bad news. It suddenly clicks who they must be talking about. They’re talking about Daisy. My spine instantly stiffens.

“Seriously, man, maybe you want to finish that beer before we get into it. That vein in your neck looks like it’s about to explode,” Holden says.

“Just break it to him.” Grayson urges.

“You do it.”

“Jesus,” I say. “Enough. Can someone just tell me?”

“We saw Daisy at Cocina Caliente. She was with some guy we didn’t recognize. They looked like they were really into each other.”

My mouth falls open, but I close it again before I say something I might regret. “What do you mean, you don’t know who the guy is?”

“Wasn’t anyone from around here. None of us recognized him.”

Reed Point is the size of a shoebox. Everyone knows everyone. So, whoever the guy was, odds are he’s from out of town. So how the hell does Daisy know him? And howwelldoes she know him? My heart pounds behind my ribcage.

“Did she go home with him?” I ask, my right foot bouncing in a steady rhythm against the hardwood.

“Dude, you need to chill,” Holden cautions.

“Answer me,” I warn. “Did she go home with the guy or not?”

“No. Relax, man. He left before she did.” Grayson shakes his head. “Seriously Tuck, when are you going to admit you have a thing for her? Do yourself a favor and find your balls. Do something. You need to fuck the girl out of your system.”

“Fuck you.” Daisy is not a girl you fuck and walk away from, and I’m pissed he would even suggest it. I would never cross that line. “At least my balls are attached to my body. Sierra has yours in a fucking vice grip.”

Jake’s sister Sierra moved to a place here on Haven Harbor a little over a year ago, and Grayson has been batshit crazy about her since the day they met. There were a few bumps along the way for the two of them, but today they are very happily married. Gray got the girl of his dreams, and as an added bonus he gets to bug Jake mercilessly about it every chance he gets.

Grayson grins and puts his hands up. “Take it easy, Tuck. You don’t have to be a dick about it. Forget it. You’re not into Daisy… whatever. But if that’s the case, then stop being a cockblock. You’re an overprotective ass when it comes to her.”

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