Page 46 of Press Your Luck

"Thanks. I just hope it tastes as good as it smells."

“Hi, Porter. I’m Ruby, and this is Laina.”

“Hi, Porter,” Laina said.

“Hi.” Porter stood stiff and uncertain. Did the kid have friends at home?

“Why don’t you show Laina your fancy new gaming system?” I suggested.

"Uh, sure.” Porter led her toward the playroom I'd set up in the extra bedroom. I felt a sense of relief as I watched them go. Maybe this evening would be exactly what we both needed.

As the kids disappeared from sight, I turned to my friends and gestured toward the living room. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll grab us some drinks."

"Mind if I tag along?" Reed asked, following me back into the kitchen.

"Of course not.”

"Listen, Pierce," Reed began as I pulled out glasses and a chilled bottle of wine. "I just wanted to check on things.”

I arched a brow. “Things?” I got the feeling we weren’t talking about hockey or our recent losing streak.

“With Coach Withers.”

I frowned, not appreciating his intrusion into my personal life. I knew he cared for me, but I also knew he had concerns about the team.

"Reed, that's really none of your business. But since you asked, nothing's going on." That was true. Oh, sure, I’d fucked her again, but that was weeks ago and she left without looking back. I was the putz who was pining while she was... well, I wasn’t sure what she was doing except winning.

"Alright.” Reed held up his hands in surrender. "I know it’s not my business. I just don't want any distractions to hurt our team. We’re not—”

“I’m well aware that the team is struggling, but it’s not because of Naomi Withers." At least not directly. "Everything's fine.”

“Good.” He nodded.

I went back to work, grabbing a tray to put the wine and glasses on.

"You know," he said casually, leaning against the counter, "it's crazy to think about how we lived our lives back when we were young hockey players."

I raised an eyebrow but played along. "Yeah, we were definitely out of hand at times.” Jeannie Brown came to mind as I recalled our wild nights and numerous conquests.

"Who’d ever think that one of those women would come knocking on your door with a kid in tow?"

Now he was going to fuck with me about Porter? I glanced at him. “Worried?”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “Maybe. A little. After all, condoms aren't foolproof."

"Yeah, we could both have a brood of kids out there," I joked, though the idea was unsettling. Especially when I remembered that I hadn't used protection either time with Naomi, not that I was going to tell Reed that.

Reed looked like he might be sick at the thought. "Let's hope not.”

"I imagine if a woman showed up now, Analyn would understand as long as she wasn’t pregnant or having a baby.”

“Hey. I’m a one-woman man now.”

“Then don’t worry. Now let's get back to our guests and enjoy this dinner." I put the glasses and wine on a tray and then got a glass and seltzer for Ruby who I knew wasn’t drinking alcohol.

We returned to the rest of my guests. "Here you go," I said, opening and pouring wine.

Once everyone had their glass in hand, conversation flowed smoothly, catching up on the latest news and gossip.

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