Page 5 of Win Big

“I want to see an octopus. Do you know how many legs an octopus has?”

“Ummm . . . eight!”

“That’s right. You’re smart, my man.” I set him down on the floor. “Are you ready to go?”

“I’m all ready!” He hops around.

“Thanks for this,” Heather says. “He’s been so excited about it.”

“Me too.” I grin. “Sharks are pretty exciting.” I’m taking Owen to the aquarium at Santa Monica Pier for the afternoon. We’ll probably do some other stuff too. “What are you going to do?”

Heather makes an excited face. “Maybe have a bath? Read a book. Clean the kitchen.”

I laugh. “That sounds exciting too.”

“Did you go out to celebrate the New Year last night?”

“Yeah. I went next door to Théo and Lacey’s place. They had a little party.”

Then I took a hot chick back to my place, made out with her until she passed out, and spent the rest of the night alone in my own guest room. Not how I’d pictured the evening ending.

Taking her back to my place, yes; sleeping alone, no. Damn.

“Nice and close,” Heather says. “I didn’t even make it till midnight.”

She’s not complaining, just matter-of-fact about being a single mom to a five-year-old boy.

“Okay, my man, let’s roll.” I set my hand on top of Owen’s head and we head out.

I buckle him into the booster seat in the back of my Land Rover SUV and make the short drive to the Pier. I find parking and we enter the aquarium. As always, Owen is full of energy and bouncing around.

I love the kid.

We see octopi and sharks (small ones). Owen loves the touch tanks, where he can feel starfish and sea urchins. The seahorses are really cool too, and Own stands and stares in fascination at moray eels undulating around rocks.

And we learn about the Heal the Bay project.

This reminds me of Everly Wynn last night, arguing so earnestly about the importance of climate change and cleaning up the ocean. I really got her going, but of course I believe in keeping our oceans and watersheds clean. She’s just so damn cute. And smart. And hot.

Forget about her.After last night she’s never going to talk to me again, probably. She was obviously embarrassed about conking out. Not to mention feeling sick as a dog. I didn’t really think she drank that much. Not that I was watching.

Okay, I was.

I admit it, I can’t stop watching her.

Could there be anyone worse for me to hook up with than the daughter of the owner of the team I play for? I don’t think so.

And yet . . .

I’m all about living in the moment. I don’t worry about shit that may or may not happen. We’re only here once and I’m gonna enjoy it.

And right now I need to focus on enjoying this time with Owen.

After the aquarium we walk up to the Pier and stroll around. Of course Owen wants to go in the arcade, and I blow a bunch of money on games for him. I take him on the carousel, and then we get hot dogs and lemonade and sit at a picnic table near the railing, the salty ocean breeze whipping around us.

“I want a dog,” he announces as we eat. “Mommy says no.”

“Huh. What kind of dog?”

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