Page 42 of Glitz & Goals

I’m not the only one saying Blade. Another voice is calling the dog’s name in a plaintive, breathless tone. I’m almost to the gate when the Cane Corso comes vaulting over the fence Free Willy-style, and barrel-rolls to land at my feet.

“Aw, baby, what happened?” I crouch down to pet him. “Did you need some tummy rubbins? Did you?”

One of his back legs cycles furiously as he flops around on the walkway.

“Blade!” Grady’s face appears over the fence. He hops off the bike he’s riding and leans it against the side of the house. “Geeze, Viv, I’m sorry. He got away from me. He’s never done that before.”

“Don’t let him near me!” Viktor yells. He brandishes the spatula he’s been using to flip burgers. “That dog is a menace! Keep him away, Coach!”

Noah gives my brother a funny look. “When did you meet Grady’s dog?”

Viktor pauses. His eyes meet mine. I’m pretty sure I know the answer, but if Viktor tells Dad what he was doing at Grady’s place, my cover is blown.

I narrow my eyes. My brother licks his lips.

“Coach Metcalfe asked me to help him unload some stuff from the move,” he explained. “He had some furniture that needed to be moved upstairs, a couple of boxes, just enough that he needed an extra pair of hands.”

I nod my approval. Viktor winks as his big body practically sags with relief.

“And how do you know this big critter?” Mona gets up from her chair, drink in hand, and wanders over to survey the scene.

As she gets closer, Blade flips over onto his belly and gives her a wary look. I get it. Mona has that effect on people.

“I’ve seen Coach Metcalfe walking him.” I give what I hope is a casual shrug. “You know me. I see a Cane Corso, and I just can’t help myself.”

“Hm.” Mona lifts one eyebrow. She looks from my face to Grady’s, then down to Blade. I can tell she’s not buying it, but after a moment, she nods. “Cane Corso, you said? Like Biscuit was? They’re such different colors, I wouldn’t have realized they were the same breed.”

“I can come get him.” Grady fumbles with the latch.

“Oh, no, there’s no rush.” Mom comes over to the edge of the deck and kneels. “He’s just fine here, aren’t you, big boy?” She makes kissy noises in Blade’s direction.

The big dog cocks his head to one side. After a moment’s consideration, he squirms down the walkway, tail wagging and head bowed, his belly never leaving the ground. He whines when Mom pets him and tumbles onto his back again.

Grady stares in consternation. “Seriously? Are you all dog whisperers or something?”

I point over my shoulder to Viktor, who is currently hiding behind the grill. “Not all of us. But you’d have to be evil to dislike my mother, so I’m not surprised Blade likes her.”

Mom looks up at Grady. “You should stay for lunch. Blade can hang out in the yard.”

“Oh, I…” Grady looks from her to me to Noah. “I’m not sure…”

“Please, I insist.” Mona holds out her arm for him to take. “I know the dirty secrets of everyone in this house. I require fresh meat.”

Grady accepts her arm with a nervous frown. Poor guy, he has no idea what he’s gotten himself into. I leave him to be interrogated—after all, nobody knows we’re together, so itwould be suspicious if I hovered around him too much—and head off to get a bowl of water for Blade.

Lunch is only mildly awkward. Dad asks Grady a few questions about his career pre-Venom. Grady’s answers are short, and he offers up very little personal information. I’m not surprised. From what little he’s told me about his life, I can see why he wouldn’t want to share too much.

Which gets me thinking… when Grady told me that he couldn’t have kids, I didn’t think much of it at the time. I was a little preoccupied. But now, I’m not sure how I feel about that information. I know that I want kids. At the same time, I’m annoyed at his ex-wife for ditching him just because they couldn’t have kids together. It would be different if I ended things based on that information, given that we’re not even officially together. She divorced him. Whereas if I called things off now, I wouldn’t even have to break up with him. We could just… stop fucking.

Simple, right?

So stop, I think, but I don’t want to. Not yet. There’s no harm in having a little more fun while it lasts, right? We’re both consenting adults.

When I’ve finished eating, I get up and clear my plate. “Thanks for lunch. I’ll be in the Gnome Gloam if you need me.”

Grady raises his eyebrows. “The what now?”

“Ooh, you should show him.” Mom claps her hands. The cocktails are kicking in, I see. She turns to Grady. “It’s wonderful. You can help her put up the new ones.”

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