Page 59 of Play to Win

I take it slowly and open it.Inside is a gold ring—just a simple, polished band.“Right.Good idea.”

“Hopefully it fits.”

I remove it from the box.We didn’t have rings the night we got married, so we skipped over that, and it feels weird to be doing this.I hesitate, staring at the ring.Getting married and saying vows seemed like fun that night, but putting my own wedding ring onto my finger makes my throat thicken.I’m not a girl who’s dreamed about getting married; I’ve had to be too practical the last few years.But still ...

I give my head a mental shake and push the ring onto my finger.“It fits.”

“I got one too.”He holds up his left hand to show me.

“Now girls won’t try to hit on you because they’ll think you’re married.”

“Iammarried.”

“Well, not really.I mean, if you met someone and you wanted to go out with her, you could totally do that.”

He frowns.“I’m not going to do that.”

I get a little kick out of riling him a bit.“Okay.”

He goes to the kitchen cupboard and takes out a little bottle of pills, pops one in his mouth, and washes it down with water.I’ve learned these are meds for his stomach ulcer.He doesn’t have one anymore, but sometimes he takes them if he feels pain.“I think I could use one of those too.”I press a hand to my stomach.

He grins.“Let’s go.It’ll probably take us an hour to get to Mom and Dad’s place.”He grabs his keys and a bottle of wine.

“An hour?Jesus.Where are we going?”I ask on the way out.

“Rolling Hills.They live closer to Long Beach, where the Eagles play.”

This makes me shake my head.“Eagles.The hockey team.Right.”

Traffic is crazy on the freeway, but I guess this is California life.

“Well, you’re stuck with me now,” I say once we’re cruising.“I know you’ve been avoiding me.”

He shakes his head, his lips twitching.

“How’s work been going?Are you making progress?”

“I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing.”

“I’m sure you have.”

“I have a lot to learn.”

“Do you know who’s going to be at this shindig?”

“According to my aunt Everly, ‘everyone.’”

“Eeek.”

“I know.I feel the same way.”

He doesn’t look terrified; his grip on the steering wheel is relaxed and confident.

“Okay, so who’s everyone?I need to be prepared.”

“Well, you met my mom.Obviously, my dad will be there.”

“Matthew.”

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