Page 96 of Overtime Goal
A few hours later, after activities, a nap, and a shower, we headed for O’Sullivan’s. We arrived on time, assuming we were about to walk into a full-scale interrogation. Harpy had said “a few of us,” which in Warriors-speak could mean the whole damn team.
I got more suspicious as soon as we stepped inside and the hostess smiled. “Hi, Mr. Grayson and Mr. Riley. They’re waiting for you, so follow me.”
“How many are there?” I asked.
“Sixteen.”
“I fucking knew it,” Logan whispered as she led us toward the back. “We just have to be smarter than they are.”
I snorted. “That’s a given.”
Two-thirds of the Warriors were waiting in a private room set up with a long table, looking very eager. It was amazing that so many of them were in town, considering we were still a few weeks from training camp. Dog and Holky were sitting side by side at the center of the table, wearing matching shit-eating grins.
“Hot damn,” Holky said. “The happy couple has arrived.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I hate them,” I whispered.
“Deeply,” Logan agreed.
Packy waved us over. “I guess nobody wanted to sit with me, so take a load off.” He pointed at the two empty chairs on his left, putting us opposite Holky and Dog.
“Subtle,” I said, not even bothering to whisper.
Logan chuckled. “Almost elegant in his restraint.”
Dog started talking as soon as our asses hit the chairs. “It’s great to see you, boys. We had a few get-togethers over the summer, but you never came.”
“Bullshit I didn’t come,” I said, making everyone laugh. “I got the invites. They never worked because I always had a date, hence the coming.”
I was surprised by how easily I stepped back into the old Riley’s persona.
Holky widened his eyes. “Didn’t see you either, Logan.”
I glanced at Logan and could tell he was trying not to look irritated. “I’ve been in Italy. You couldn’t have expected I’d fly back here for a cookout.”
“How was Positano?” Dog asked.
Gabe put on a snarky grin. “Weather okay?”
Mason was sitting next to Dog. “Anything special happen over there?”
Logan did a remarkable job of looking puzzled. “Like what? It was a fantastic time.”
“Aha!” Brody sounded gleeful. “You admit you were together.”
“Fuck off,” I said. “We didn’t admit?—”
“Any revelations?” Harpy asked.
I turned to Logan and whispered, “If we make a run for it now, we can be halfway to Canada before they finish the appetizers.”
He shook his head. “Too late. We’re already stuck in quicksand.”
Thankfully, a server chose that moment to take our orders. While everyone told her what they wanted, my brain went crazy. We’d decided in Positano to tell the truth if they asked questions, something we’d reinforced on our way to O’Sullivan’s. We’d also be as smart with our answers as we could. Faced with the reality of cross-examination, I was torn. I would’ve loved to have more time that belonged to us alone.
On the other hand, I was excited to be with Logan and proud he’d chosen me to be his boyfriend. I didn’t feel like hiding it.Was it weird that, although I’d have loved to have more private time, I was excited that our friends were about to learn the truth? Fuck it. Weird or not, that’s where I was.
“House salad, New York strip, and baked potato,” Logan said.
