Page 14 of Slew Foot
“The good news is, Jesse and Connor rented out the place so it’s just the team and their guests here tonight,” Mickey said, putting on his own hat with a grin. “We don’t have to worry about the public.”
“Nice,” Rafe said, relaxing a little at the reassurance he wouldn’t get caught doing something stupid, like falling asleep at the table or saying something even dumber than usual.
These guys had probably seen stupider though, he thought wryly. And, thankfully, there was probably a team code about making sure stuff didn’t end up on social media.
Or at least, there had been on every team he’d ever been on.
And clearly Boston was tighter than many about keeping personal questions out of the locker room. Thank God.
“What would you like first?” Mickey asked, nudging him with an elbow. “Beer or food?”
“Food,” Rafe said fervently. Despite the team-provided healthy meal he’d wolfed down after the game, his stomach was rumbling.
“Right over there,” Mickey said, pointing at the far end of the bar where food was laid out on platters and tucked in warming dishes.
Rafe made a beeline for the buffet, immediately grabbing a burger and stuffing it in his mouth.
Behind him, Mickey laughed.
“Shut up,” he muttered around his food. “I was hungrier than I realized.”
“Well, help yourself,” a woman said, and Rafe blinked at her.
She was a beautiful older woman with long strawberry blonde hair, blue eyes that creased at the corners, and a warm smile.
“Thank you?” he said, wiping at his mouth with a napkin she held out, unsure of who she was. One of the coaches’ wives, maybe?
“I’m Catherine O’Shea. Connor’s mother,” she said, her warm smile only widening.
“Mother?” he said, surprised, because she didn’t look old enough.
“Well, isn’t he a charmer?” she said to Mickey, winking at him.
Oops, apparently Rafe had said the last part aloud.
“Seems like it,” Mickey agreed.
Catherine patted Rafe’s arm before he could reply. “Well, I know you’re probably still feeling a little off-balance, especially after the crazy flight you had here. But if you need anything, you feel free to come to me, okay? Whether it’s needing help getting settled in a new city or needing someone to talk to, my door is always open to you.”
“I don’t know where your door is though,” Rafe blurted out.
She smiled. “Well, we can fix that, I promise. What’s your phone number?”
He rattled it off and she put it in her phone.
“I’ll text you the address now because tomorrow Declan and I are hosting a brunch at our place. Alatebrunch,” she said with a soft laugh, probably when she saw his face. He’d never been good at hiding what he was feeling, and he was especially bad at it right now. “But I’m sure one of the guys would be happy to take you there.”
“Thanks,” Rafe said, grateful. “I, uh, won’t have my SUV for a bit.”
That would be arriving along with his boxes.
“Probably just as well,” Catherine said. “The drivers around here can be pretty aggressive.”
“I’ll drive you around while you need it,” Mickey said.
Catherine grinned. “He’s a good choice. He’s had practice on the Autobahn.”
Rafe laughed, vaguely remembering that was a highway or something in Germany with no speed limit. He wasn’t so sure he found it reassuring though.
