Page 14 of Date with a Devil
“—Withwho?”
“Your mom—”
The twins’ banter paused for an awkward second.
“Dude. We have the same mom, moron. Don’t talk about Mom like that.”
“Yeah, I’ll admit it, that was bad.”
“And that’s why I said I’m smarter. I can’t believe I shared a womb with you, Brayden.”
Dane nudged Reavo’s elbow. “This is gonna be hopeless, isn’t it?”
Reavo chuckled. “Afraid so.”
The taxi slowed to a stop outside the club. Dane paid the fare, and the Devils hopped out.
***
“This is brutal,” Mikey said, scanning the crowded club. “We’renobodieshere, man. I don’t think a single girl has even looked our way.”
One of the twins added, “Yeah. Everywhere you look, there’s a rich asshole in a nicer suit and three girls hanging from his arm.”
“New York, New York,” Reavo sang. Despite the fact he hadn’t played all year, Reavo came with the team on every road trip and never missed a night out on the town with the boys, even with the crutches. That’s just the kind of guy the thirty-two-year-old veteran was; a ‘glue guy’ in the locker room.
“Welcome to the Big Apple, gents,” Dane said. He knew his way around the city. “There’s always someone who is a bigger deal than you.”
“Kinda wish I’d stayed in,” Matchbox said. “This is pointless.”
“Stayed in and done what?” Reavo teased. “Blast another load into your belly button before you doze off?”
“I dunno … play games or something,” Matchbox answered.
“Yeah, the newCall of Dutyis lookin’ pretty sick, actually,” Mikey added.
“Jesus.” Dane shook his head. “Hey, Reavo. When I was a rookie, was I as hopeless as these guys are?”
“You were pretty hopeless,” Reavo remembered with a chuckle. “But at least youwantedto get laid.”
“Kids these days,” Dane remarked. “Bunch of shut-ins. It’s crazy how fast things change.”
The next generation of players—skilled as they were—were all raised by screens, and their idea of a good time on the road was staying at the hotel and playing video games on their devices. What ever happened to the days of the boys going out to the bar, having a few too many, finding a few lucky ladies to take home, and then laughing the next day as they shared their tales of debauchery over breakfast?
Mikey defended his generation. “No one our age actually approaches girls anymore, D. That’s so outdated. We just use Tinder. It’s a lot easier than the way you guys do things. If a girl’s interested, the app will tell ya. No need for any awkward conversations. You really should try it.”
“I don’t need it,” Dane said dismissively. “Takes all the magic away, anyway.”
Dane looked around the room, then pointed out a hot blonde in a red cocktail dress who strutted through the bar and ended up standing nearby. “Hold up. Her. See the way she’s looking around the room? She wants someone to approach her. Mikey, go introduce yourself to the blonde and ask her to dance.”
Mikey protested. “Me? Why not Brayden or Jaden?”
“Jesus,” Dane muttered. “ ‘Cause they can’t stand being separated, and we don’t wanna freak the poor girl out by sending them both.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” both twins said in perfect unison.
“See what I mean?” Dane chuckled. “You’re a handsome fella, Mikey. You can do it.”
“But I don’t even knowhowto approach a girl like that.”
