Page 63 of Play to Win

Asher takes this in stride with a good-natured grin.“Sounds like the perfect job to me.”

Somehow I suspect if anyone other than his own brothers made these jokes, he wouldn’t be so laid back.

“Congratulations on the new job, Théo,” Noah says.“I was surprised to hear you agreed to work for Dad.”

Théo just smiles.“It’s a great opportunity.”

“Your dad can’t be happy about it,” Noah adds in a low voice.

“Nope.”Théo shrugs.“It’s my life.Besides ...you play for the Eagles’ farm team.”

“I gotta take my jobs wherever I can get them,” Noah says wryly.

“Yourdad can’t be happy about that.”

“The trade happened before all this shit went down, so there’s not much he can say now.”

“True.”

“Chelsea, would you help me bring out the food?”Aline asks.

Chelsea nods quickly.“Of course.”I watch the two women walk over to the kitchen.Should I go offer to help as well?I’m torn between wanting to help and make a good impression on Théo’s mom, and being terrified of leaving Théo.

I’ll be brave.

I move away from Théo and join Chelsea and Aline.“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Oh, thank you, Lacey.There are a lot of us so I’m going to serve dinner buffet style.Could you take this baked brie and put it on the sideboard in the dining room?”

I take the dish she hands me.“I can handle more.”I grin.“I’ve worked as a waitress.Load me up.”

Aline laughs.“Well, okay, here.”She gives me a platter of Caprese salad skewers—cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, and basil leaves drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

I easily balance the two dishes.“These look delicious.”

Chelsea follows me with more dishes.“Aline is a fantastic cook.”

“Oh my gosh, she made all these herself?”

“Most of it.I brought a few appetizers as well.But she made the entire dinner.”

“Wow.”

Chelsea and I help Aline load up the sideboard with some amazing-looking food, and then Aline announces everyone should come help themselves.The huge dining table is set, with flowers and candles in the center.

Théo’s involved in a quiet but intense conversation with his father across the room.I hesitate to join them, as it looks private, but they end it and Théo approaches me with a grim smile to take my hand and lead me to the dining room.We fill plates and take seats at the table.

“Well, it seems like a long time since the whole family has been together,” Bob Wynn says once everyone is seated.“Maybe my birthday was the last time.”

“Some of us weren’t invited to that,” Théo’s uncle Mark says with an edge.

“You wouldn’t have come anyway,” Bob retorts.

“Because you fucking fired me,” Mark snaps.

I swallow and look down at my plate.

“Let’s toast to Aline for all this amazing food.”Matt lifts his glass.

---