Page 44 of Glitz & Goals

Grady

“Why do we have to go to a dumb show?” Viktor grumbles even as he adjusts his tie.

Dante glares down the limo bench at him. “Because people like you, though fuck if I know why. The Venom is making a comeback, so the hockey fans are going to come out to see you and breathe the same air. And then they’re going to take photos and videos and reels and shit, and that’s what we in the business call free advertising.”

Tristan frowns. “But I thought you said photography wasn’t allowed at the show?”

Dante raises both hands. “Of course, it’s not! Which is basically insurance that people will take sneaky photos and act like they’re part of some big secret event. Jesus Christ, none of you assholes know the first thing about marketing, do you?”

“Language, Papo,” Sergio says without looking up from his phone. “You can’t insult my players.”

“I’m not insulting them,” Dante argues. “Facts are facts. Or am I not allowed to be honest, either?”

“Not when you’re calling them assholes,” Sergio mutters.

Briggs, who’s in the seat beside me, nudges me with his elbow and nods to the fistful of bright blue tulips I’m holding. “I see you brought flowers. Do you have a secret girlfriend we don’t know about?”

On the other side of the limo, Viktor chokes.

“Viktor’s sister is the costume designer,” I tell him. “We talked about it at lunch the other day. Didn’t you bring her anything for opening night? Aren’t you all friends?”

“I don’t usually get my kids’ friends flowers,” Briggs says.

Knight laughs. “Sure you do. You got Sofia flowers when she finished her master’s . And you got Knova flowers at her high school graduation. And you got Dot flowers when she had that big End of Life ceremony for Nudacris…”

“Oh, right.” Briggs scratches his jaw. “Yeah, fair enough.”

Knight winks at me, and I wonder how much he knows. I return the gesture with a tight-lipped smile. I appreciate the backup, so long as it doesn’t lead to the eventual blackmail that seems inevitable. I wonder if Viktor spilled the beans or if it’s just that obvious that I have a thing for Viv. Does he know that we’re seeing each other? Or does he think I’m just another would-be suitor who’s going to end up heartbroken in her wake?

Oof, that last one is depressing, and just a little too real. I’m glad Noah’s in the other limo, because I would not want him to be part of this.

Before I can stew in my own juices for too long, we arrive at the red carpet. Dante, of course, has arranged a spectacle, complete with photo ops with other minor celebrities from the Vegas area. I have to hand it to him: there’s quite a crowd, although I’m not sure how many of these folks are here because of us. I suspect that the show itself has quite a draw, given how much effort has gone into the production. Besides that, they have a thriving social media presence, something I learned when Laura shared links to our sibling group chat last week. Of course, she wanted to know which person in the photos was Viv and proceeded to go all internet sleuth on me.

All the Venom players are shunted into the VIP line, where we meet a cast of strangely-costumed performers. I admire Viv’s handiwork. She has a fantastic eye and a wild imagination. Not surprising, given her influences. Now that I’ve visited the Gnome Gloam, I feel like I have a special insight into the things that make her tick.

About halfway through the line, next to a hulking shrimp puppet, I come across Viv herself. She greets Viktor and Noah warmly but plays it cool when I stroll up, even though I can see the bright amusement in her eyes. I offer her the bouquet.

She flutters her eyelashes. “Are these for me? Why, Coach Metcalfe, you really didn’t have to.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d like them,” I admit.

“Of course I do. Blue tulips.” Her teasing smile has me thinking about all the other things those lips can do. “Mermaid style.”

“Exactly.”

Viv gives me a one-armed hug, which must look perfectly innocent to the folks taking pictures but which makes my heart lurch. “Find me at the afterparty,” she whispers. “I’ll introduce you to Mia and Jaime.”

“I will,” I promise. I pull apart before we can arouse suspicion. Part of me wishes that we could be more open about our relationship, but there’s also something thrilling about this game of trying to keep everything subtle and low-key. Viv moves on to greet Camden, and I shuffle along down the line.

Somehow, I end up seated next to Noah for the performance. As people around us file to their seats, he turns to me.

“I saw that you brought flowers for my daughter,” he observes.

I resist the urge to tug on my collar. “Yup. Sure did. Where I come from, it’s an opening night tradition.” I brace myself for accusations, though I doubt that Knight will be able to intervene this time.

Instead of threatening my life, Noah smiles. “That was really nice of you. For me, the Venom has always been an extended family, so the fact that you’re making an effort to support the next generation… it means a lot. You’re all right, Grady.”

“Thanks.” I hope he doesn’t notice my wince. The next generation. Come on, I’m not that old… although I guess it makes sense that Noah thinks of me as being a peer, and therefore in his generation, rather than as a possible romantic interest as far as his daughter’s concerned. If he knew I’d like to live between her legs, I doubt he’d be so quick to pat my back.

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