Page 58 of Face Off
In the last year, we’ve expanded to other people coming by too. Piper and Lexi joined in, and so did Dallas, Maven, and myother best friend, Reid Duncan, who manages the social media accounts for the DC Titans.
Seymour’s girlfriend, Brooke, started making appearances, and the family keeps growing.
Nothing makes me happier than a room full of good food and even better conversation.
“I’m going to make sure everything is set up in the kitchen,” I tell Grant and Ethan. They barely look up from the NBA2k game they’re playing on my eighty-inch television, and I could be talking to a wall right now. “You guys need anything in the meantime?”
“For you to get out of the way, Cap.” Ethan leans to his right to look around me then groans when Grant dunks on him. “Goddammit, you motherfucker.”
“You snooze, you lose, E. Get out of here with that shitty defense.”
“Be glad I don’t unplug that console, you ungrateful shits,” I laugh.
I head for the kitchen and grab empty water glasses as I go. We have an early flight to Milwaukee tomorrow, so I’m forcing everyone to stay hydrated.
“Need some help?” Dallas asks, trailing behind me.
“I’m good.” I check the foyer to see if anyone else got here while I was handing out drinks. “Thanks, though.”
“Why do you keep looking at the door?”
“I’m not.” I drop the cups in the sink and grab the two charcuterie boards Seymour brought from the fridge. “I’m being a good host.”
“You’re being weird.”
“I’m not being weird.”
Dallas laughs. “Bullshit. You can’t even look at me. What’s wrong with you, Miller? Don’t tell me someone’s pregnant.”
“What? No.Fuck, no. I haven’t been with anyone in a month, and I always wrap it up.”
“A month? That must be a personal record.”
I flip him off. “Hartwell might be coming tonight.”
“Sweet. Did she say she would be here?”
“No. I reminded her ten times at morning skate that her invitation still stands, but I doubt she’ll show up. She’d rather throw a shoe at my head. I wish she would, though.”
“You wish she’d throw a shoe at you?”
“No. I wish she’d show up.”
“Wait a second.” Dallas drops his chin into the palm of his hand and grins. “Do you have acrush?”
I stab a piece of cheese with a knife, because it’s definitelynota crush. “Hartwell and I hung out after our game the other day. She seemed like she could use a friend. Someone in her corner. I get the impression people haven’t done that for her in the past.”
“You’ve never been friends with a woman.”
“Uh. Yes the fuck I have. I’m friends with Maven. And Piper and Lexi.”
“You’re friends with Maven because of me, and you work with Piper and Lexi. The only f-word you know when it comes to women is fuck,” he says.
“It’s not like that with Hartwell. We’re not friends, and we’re not fucking, either. She can’t stand me, and sometimes, she annoys the shit out of me too.”
“But you hang out after games?”
“Only because I found her on the ice working herself to exhaustion and forced her to stop and get food. It’s not like we’re falling in love or some shit like that. She’s part of the team, and it would be nice if she were here.” I shrug. “That’s it.”
