Page 42 of The Risk

“That’s why my dad hates Daryl Pedersen so much,” I tell Summer. “Coach Pedersen fosters that kind of gameplay.”

“Didn’t your dad and Pedersen play together back in the day?” Nate asks.

“They were teammates at Yale,” I confirm. “They can’t stand each other.”

Summer looks intrigued. “Why?”

“I don’t know the exact details. Dad’s not much of a talker.”

His players snort in unison. “No shit,” Hollis cracks.

I shrug. “I think Pedersen played dirty back then, too, and Dad just didn’t like him.”

“I don’t blame Coach for hating him,” Nate mutters. “Pedersen’s a total fuckhead. He encourages his guys to be as brutal as possible.”

“Shit, people can get hurt,” Mike says, and there’s such sincerity in his tone that I can’t help but laugh. Something about Hollis is very endearing. He’s like a big kid.

“Not sure if you know this,” I solemnly tell Hollis, “but… hockey’s a violent sport.”

Fitz chuckles.

Before Hollis can issue a comeback, noise blasts out of his phone.He’s got the most annoying ringtone, a hip-hop track with a bunch of guys shouting nonsense. Suits him to a T, though.

“Yo,” he answers.

My attention returns to the Bruins game. Briefly. It’s quickly diverted back to Hollis as he provides the most bizarre half of a conversation.

“Slow down…what?” He listens. “Do I have a car? No.” Another long pause. “I mean… I guess I could borrow one? Wait, who is this?”

Nate barks out a laugh.

“What’s happening right now?” Hollis sounds bewildered. “Who is this? Ruby? What pee? Did we meet at Jesse Wilkes’s party?”

Summer makes a strangled sound and covers her mouth.

I look over and we exchange a huge grin. Not Ruby.Rupi. The energy tornado from the diner made her move. She hadn’t wasted any time, either.

“I don’t understand this… Um okay…listen. Ruby. I don’t know who you are. Are you hot?”

Fitz snorts loudly. I just roll my eyes.

“Yeah, okay… I don’t think so.” Hollis is still wholly baffled. “Later,” he says, and then hangs up.

Summer’s lips are trembling like crazy as she asks, “Who was that?”

“I dunno!” He picks up his beer and chugs nearly half of it. “Some crazy chick just called and said to pick her up for dinner on Thursday night.”

Summer buries her face against Fitz’s shoulder, giggling uncontrollably. I don’t have a boyfriend to shield my laughter, so I bite my lip and hope Hollis doesn’t notice.

“This is weird, right?” he says in confusion. “Strange chicks don’t call you out of the blue and ask you on dates, right? I must’ve met her before.” He glances at Nate. “Do you know a Ruby?”

“Nope.”

“Fitz?”

“Also nope.”

Summer laughs harder.

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