Page 57 of Love of the Game
Gunner chuckled at that. “Loki does take up a lot of space. And Thor tries.” He shook his head. “Also, you kids don’t need me hanging around. I’ll be fine at the William Penn for a week or two.”
I was going to protest, but Jon patted my hand. “Don’t bother. I tried. Papa enjoys high-end hotels, and this way, we don’t have to figure out your office.”
Of course, now that Jon’s mind was clear, he’d have thought it all through. “It’s no problem, though.”
Gunner clicked his tongue. “Believe me, I was young once. You two need the space.” He held up a hand to stop me from saying anything. “And I’ve checked your schedule, you don’t have any long road trips for another three weeks. Everything is fly in and out. After that, we’ll figure things out.”
“All right.” I recognized where Jon got his stubborn streak from.
“Besides,” Jon said, “The other PASOs said they’d take care of me while you’re gone.”
I blinked. “OtherPASOs?” That was thefirst time I’d heard him refer to himself as one of the Lion’s partners and significant others, even if he did hang out with the group a lot.
He shrugged, then grimaced. “Shit, I gotta stop doing that. Ugh.” Jon shook his head while his father snorted.
“Technically,” Gunner said, “He’s your significant other. Absolutely not surprised the group here reached out to him. You’re well-loved. He’s well-loved. With the Lions and the Otters.”
“Wait,” Jon said. “How do you know this?”
Gunner sat back and gave Jon a look that was so Jon-like that I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from roaring in laughter. Jon pinned that same look on me, and I failed to keep the laughter in.
Soon we were all laughing, but Jon waved us to stop. “Shit, it hurts. Fuck.” There were tears in his eyes. “I mean, it feels good, because damn, I hate everything about this, and I’m so happy you’re both here, but Papa, have you beenspying on me?”
“No.” That was said with every ounce of Eriksson indignation, and Gunner’s accent only heightened the impact. “I would never. But word gets back, Jon.” He smiled sweetly. “I’m so proud of you. Your team. Your bar. The life you’ve built.” He gestured at me. “The man you’ve met and chosen.”
Jon wiped his eyes. “Stop.”
Gunner chuckled, then turned to me. “And you. You took a stumble, then responded the right way, and look at you now. Your name’s in all the outlets.”
“If it hadn’t been for Jon—” I started.
“Stop,” Jon said again. “You did the work. I just got you to breathe a little.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
“Papa!” Jon said, aghast.
Gunner cackled like… well like Jon often did.
“Oh my God,” I muttered. “There are two of you.”
“Wait until you meet Sofia,” Gunner said. “My wife says we three are peas in a pod.”
That was a sobering thought. Because—I wanted to meet Jon’s sister. I wanted to meet Jon’s mother—wanted my mother to meet them, too.
My future was right there, beleaguered and in a sling in a hospital bed. I wanted himhome, wherever that would end up being.
“I love you,” I said.
Jon rubbed his eyes more. “Love you, too. Get me out of here.”
Gunner rose. “I’ll go see if I can find a nurse or a doctor who can tell us what’s next.”
When he’d left the room, I leaned in for another kiss. “You’re just like your dad.”
“I am not. My dad is a Hall of Fame Player. I’m?—”
“A good, kind, wonderful man. Just like your dad.” I took his hand. “You know we’re going to get married, right?”
