Page 95 of Risky Game

I fled from his workout room, his wicked chuckle following in my wake.

I was in trouble all right. In more ways than one.

Chapter 26

Logan

Having practice at all today had been a mistake on my part. The guys listened and the film meeting went well, thanks to other coaches clearly seeing I was distracted and taking over. I was the problem. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking of what Ruby told me the night before and I still couldn’t stop wanting her so badly. The shit I told her that morning was dangerous. I’d shown my hand far too easily, but wasn’t that good? If she needed to know I was in this for far more than how we started, she had it.

I could figure the rest out.

By the time I was on my way home, for the first night since Amelia arrived, I was dreading her being in the house. Ruby and I needed to talk, and it wouldn’t happen for hours, and after the way the morning went, waiting those hours was going to be pure hell.

The house was oddly dark and even more strangely quiet when I walked in.

Ruby’s car was in the driveway, so I knew they were home, but the lights in the living room were all off, along with the kitchen. Ever since Amelia came to me, my home was always lit up. Every light in the house was on when I returned, plus the sound of Amelia or Ruby at minimum in the kitchen or outside.

Tonight, it was pitch-black, and I flipped on the light in the entryway as I took off my shoes, dropped my bag to the floor, and removed my keys and wallet from my pocket. Maybe they were having another movie night in the movie room. Maybe they were…

“SURPRISE!”

I jolted at the screams, at the lights as they turned on and my house lit up. Amelia rushed to me, holding a large balloon in her hand. “Surprise, Daddy! Happy birfday!!!!”

My hand was on my chest, heart racing. It took a moment to realize what she said, that the balloon she was shoving into my hand had Happy Birthday scrawled on it.

“Oh goodness. You scared me!” My heart was still racing.

“Come on! We’re having a party for you!” She tugged my hand and yanked me toward the kitchen. As soon as I reached it, my eyes widened, and my jaw fell.

Ruby was at the island, beneath two gold balloons that made the number thirty-seven. Beneath them was a banner that read “over the hill.” She’d pay for that one.

“Happy birthday.” She smiled as she said the words.

“Happy birthday, Coach.” Jassen was there. It took a second to register.

How in the hell did he beat me to my own house so fast? “Hey.”

And why was he at my party?

“Amelia and I went shopping today for your surprise party and she insisted that only two people weren’t enough. She wanted Luke to come, but then she said you also needed your own friend.”

And since I didn’t have any friends… Jassen would do.

Ruby explained it, and for a moment, worry tightened her features. Right, because this wasn’t going to be awkward at all.

“Thanks for coming.” I reached across the bar to shake his hand and nodded toward Molly. “You too, Molly. Thank you. And your kids.”

“Happy birthday!” Luke shouted. He and Amelia were jumping up and down in the eating area, balloons in their hands they were trying to bat away from the other. Their giggles helped. Because this was awkward as fuck.

“Need a drink?” Jassen asked and brought a beer to his mouth.

The man rarely drank. I’d been drinking way too much since moving to Tennessee, but hell. It was my party. And this situation called for it. “Yeah, man. Thanks.”

He helped himself to my fridge like it was his house and not mine. Once I had my opened beer, I turned to Ruby and Molly. “So, a surprise party?”

“Amelia wanted to do something yesterday, but we didn’t have time before the game, so I convinced her today would be better. More of a surprise that way.”

Her cheeks turned pink as she explained. Realization struck. She’d made up that excuse so she could have her own party for me last night.

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