Page 29 of One Pucking Chance

“Is that so?” I raise a brow and look at Anna.

“Yeah.” She shrugs and releases a chuckle. “You’re looking at two converts here. We had the best time. I never knew a game would be so exciting.”

“Never knew,” Miranda parrots while she uses the foam finger on her hand to scratch her face.

“So I might be able to get you to another game, then?” I move farther into the suite.

Anna smiles. “Definitely.”

“Are you kidding?” Miranda says. “We’re begging you to invite us back.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make you beg. It will be nice to see your friendly faces up here.” I notice Miranda’s jersey. “In fact, I know the other guys would love to meet you. They’re all out celebrating right now. But I’m sorry, I didn’t set up security or anything like that for the bar, so maybe next time?”

“Absolutely!” Miranda answers for them both.

“I did order some food from my favorite sushi place if you want to hang out for a bit and eat dinner with me.”

Anna looks at Miranda, and her lips turn down in a slight grimace, causing my heart to sink. She opens her mouth to speak when Miranda responds instead. “You know what? Anna will stay.” Anna whips her head back toward her friend, and Miranda continues. “Yeah, I just came down with a huge headache. Must be all the fun of the evening. So if you don’t mind, I’m going to head back to the hotel, but you two should definitely do dinner. Anna loves sushi.”

“Okay, that sounds like a plan. Anna?” I question.

“Sure.” She gives me a tight smile.

I hold up a finger and retrieve my phone from my back pocket. “Give me one second. Let me text the driver.”

Anna and Miranda whisper under their breaths, the words too soft for me to make out.

“Okay,” I address them both. “He’s waiting in the alley outside the door where he dropped you off. Can I walk you back there?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I remember how to get back. You two stay here.” She turns to Anna. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” On her way out, she stops in front of me. “Thanks again. This was amazing.” She gives me a half hug. “I can’t wait until next time.”

A moment after Miranda exits, our sushi is delivered.

“Can I get you a drink? Wine?” I ask.

“Water is fine, thank you. I think I had one too many martinis already. I’m going to be hurting in the morning.” She takes a seat at the table.

I hand her a bottle of water and sit across from her. Setting the containers of sushi out on the table, I snap off the lids and give Anna a pair of chopsticks. “Is it cool if we share?” I circle my hand above the open containers of sushi.

“Sure.” She breaks apart her chopsticks.

“When I was growing up and my mom would bring home takeout, she would just set the food in the center of the table between us, and we’d share the meals. It’s one of my good memories,” I tell her.

She takes a roll between her chopsticks. “You make it sound like you don’t have a lot of good memories.”

“I don’t really. It’s not as if I have a lot of bad ones. I just don’t have many, period.”

“That’s sad.”

I shrug. “I’m not sad about it. It’s how it was. She worked insane hours, and I was alone a lot. It’s simply a fact.”

She bites her bottom lip, and her eyes hold me in their gaze. “Yeah,” she says thoughtfully. “I have a ton of great memories from my childhood. And while my parents were there, I started to question if most of my fond memories really had much to do with them. I mean, they set up the parties and events and brought me to the sets. But it was the other people who I interacted with at these events or on the sets of movies who had a lasting effect on me.” Her cheeks redden, and she gives her head a shake. “Sorry, that seems like oversharing. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.”

“I don’t think it’s oversharing. I’m glad you feel comfortable opening up to me.” I throw another piece of sushi in my mouth. After chewing, I ask, “How is your relationship with your parents now?”

“Strained,” she admits. “In fact, I just had a horrible dinner with my father last night.”

“Why was it horrible?”

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