Page 14 of Trusting the Team

“Enjoy it, be happy,” Piper said. Dari looked up; Lowell winked at her.

Just like him to seem to know what they were talking about. Dari buried her head in her soda. Avery looked around, spotted him, “he's here.”

“He knew we were coming tonight. He didn't want a repeat of last time,” Dari answered.

A collective “aww,” went around the table.

“Invite him over here,” Avery said.

“No, he came with his own friends. This is girls' night,” Dari answered back.

Caite responded, “if you asked, he would leave those guys in a heartbeat. That's what all our men would do.”

“I don't want him to.”

“Yeah, from there he can just admire her,” Zoey supported her.

“Thank you!” Dari added. The women laughed. When they were heading to the door, Lowell stood with his friends and walked them to Caite's SUV.

“I brought my truck, I could take you home,” he offered Dari.

“I’m supposed to drive them back.”

“I got it,” Caite said, climbing into her driver’s seat.

“Ma’am, are you sure.”

“Yes,” she shut the door.

6

CHAOS

The team had agreed to go with Cowboy to Wolf’s. Cowboy was hung up on a skinny, little girl he could not figure out but whatever. The group Cowboy was watching were all wives of one of the training teams. Chaos was not sure how the group was related but he would watch out for them out of professional respect.

It was karaoke night at Wolf’s. Chaos heard “Living on a Prayer” and looked up from the team conversation. An athletic, blonde, blue-eyed guy was singing. He dropped his eyes back down and ordered another drink when the server came by.

Chaos was picking up his beer when he was jarred forward in his chair. He turned to face the offender; eyebrows knit. “Oh, I’m sorry,” the blue-eyed man from karaoke looked down. Their gaze held for an awkward second. “I’m Scott,” the man half smiled, displaying a dimple.

“Andrew.”

Scott looked puzzled, “That’s not what I’ve heard them calling you,” he referred to the team. Chaos shrugged and turned back to his table. Scott hesitated, turning back to his table, then smiled and turned his back as well.

7

COWBOY

Lowell parked outside Dari’s apartment, walked her to the door. “Do you want to come in?”

“Yes,” Lowell immediately answered.

“Will you stay?”

“Yes,” he answered just as quickly.

Lowell looked around; it was not hard she had a small studio. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

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