Page 21 of Puck of the Irish

“Oh, yeah, actually.” I eye him with interest. He’d mentioned moving out of his apartment that night we spent together, but Ihaven’t asked him about it since. I’ve had other, dirtier things on my mind. I’m a bad friend. A bad, horny friend.

“Next week and she’s all mine. You’ll have to come visit after you get back from your trip.”

“That sounds great, honey. Ok, I’ll let you go—I’m sure you have…things to do after the game.” She says it with a knowing smile in her voice and I bark out a laugh, quickly slapping a hand over my mouth to stifle it while Rizzo rolls his eyes.

“Who was that?” his mom asks.

“Your mom knows you’re a slut?” I whisper, shocked.

“Shut it,” he whispers back, before answering his mom. “That’s my very rude friend, Nat.” He shifts so that we’re beside each other and tilts the phone so I’m on the screen now too. My brows fly up in surprise. Being on a FaceTime call with Rizzo’s mom was not on my Bingo card, but here we are.

“Oh!” she breathes in surprise, blinking. “Well, hi there, rude friend Nat!” She gives me a warm smile and I can see so much of her in Rizzo.

“Hi, Mrs. Rizzo.”

“Oh, call me Muriel, dear.”

“Nice to meet you, Muriel,” I say, smiling.

“Is that agirl’svoice?” A man’s head pops onto the screen in front of his mom’s. He’s got black hair with a few streaks of gray at his temples, deeply tanned skin, and glasses hanging around his neck. Rizzo’s mom swats at him and he shifts back so he’s a little farther from the screen, settling in beside her on the couch. Rizzo rolls his eyes.

“Dad, this is my friend, Nat. Nat, this is my dad, Ray.”

“Hi, nice to meet you,” I say with a small wave.

“Back at you, young lady. Are you keeping our boy there in line?”

“Well, I’m not a miracle worker.”

They both bust out laughing and Rizzo tries to look disgruntled but he can’t hide his smile.

“Hey, that was a great game, kid! Is Nat here your lucky charm?”

Rizzo scoffs. “As if I need luck.”

“Ahh, I don’t know, son, you’ve been even more impressive than usual the past few games,” Ray says thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. I mean, hehasseemed to be on fire lately, but that definitely can’t have anything to do with me…The logical part of my brain knows that’s true. The other part loves the idea that he’s been absolutely tearing it up because of me somehow. It’s so stupid.

“Now, Nat, are you one of the…what do they call them, hun?” he asks, turning to is wife. “Puck bunnies?” I snort and Rizzo coughs, nearly choking in surprise.

“Dad!” he groans, running his hand through his hair.

“What?” Ray asks, innocently. “Is that not the right phrase?” Muriel tries and fails to stop laughing, and Ray cringes. “Oh, is that something you’re not suppose to call them to their face?”

“Oh my God, dad, please stop. Nat isn’t a…” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “We’re just friends,” Rizzo says firmly. “She works for our media department.”

“Oh! I love all the videos of the boys answering questions on the…oh what’s that app called again? Clipper? They’re so fun!” Muriel exclaims. I love that she calls them ‘the boys’ like she still sees Rizzo as a kid playing pee wee hockey with his friends. “Was that your idea? It’s so creative!”

“It was a collaborative effort with my boss, Hattie,” I say with a smile, a surge of pride warming my chest to have our work complimented. It may not seem like much to someone like my dad, but it means something to me. If what I’m a part of can bring a smile to someone’s face, not just pad someone’s alreadyvery padded wallet, then that makes me feel as if I’m doing something good in the world.

“Well, keep them coming, they make my whole day!” Rizzo smiles at me and I can’t help but grin back. “Ok, honey, we’ll let you go. You kids have a fun night. AJ, let me know how Connor is doing, ok?”

“I will.”

“It was so nice to meet you,Just A FriendNat.” Muriel gives me a smile that says she’s not sure she believes that for a second and my cheeks heat.

“You too.”

“Love you. See you soon,” Rizzo says, waving.

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