Page 38 of Empty Net

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

“You’d be surprised by the connections she has.”

She says it so casually I might actually believe her, and for the first time, I’m nervous about meeting her mother.

“Remind me again everything you’ve told her?” I say as we climb the rest of the impossibly tall set of stairs.

Lilah texted me a few times while we were on the road for two games earlier this week, letting me know her mother had called her at least thrice daily to discuss our relationship. Apparently, she’s taken it upon herself to make up whatever she wants. Last I heard, our first date included a ride on a donkey down Queen Anne Hill. No idea where we got the donkeys or gumption to do this, but it made me laugh nonetheless.

“Well, we met through mutual friends. You made the first move after crushing on me for months, and you fell completely head over heels for me because my rack looked incredible on our first date.”

“On our donkey ride?”

“The one and only.”

“And your mother believes all this?”

She laughs loudly. “Absolutely not. But she doesn’t have a choice, does she? We’re dating.”

“And your father? What does he think?”

She pats my arm as we reach the top of the stairs. “Oh, Arthur. You have so much to learn. My dad couldn’t care less.”

There she goes again, calling me by my first name. I don’t think I’ve ever liked someone saying it so much. But as much as I enjoy it, her words still make me sad. I wish her parents weren’t so horrible to her and were more involved in her life outside of what they want for her. She deserves that.

I stop walking, and she comes to a halt along with me. Even in her heels, she’s much shorter than my six-foot-five frame, tilting her head back to look up at me.

“Yes?” she asks, her long, dark lashes perfectly framing her gorgeous blue eyes.

“I…” I roll my tongue over my bottom lip, and she tracks the movement before dragging her stare back to mine. “I just want you to know if these people treat you like shit in front of me, there’s a good chance I’m not going to be able to hold my tongue. I can’t be responsible for what comes out of my mouth.”

Lilah blinks once, slowly. Then again.

And finally, the corner of her glossy pink lips kicks up.

“Good,” she says.

“Good?” I echo.

She lifts a delicate shoulder. “Honestly, it kind of turns me on when you say things like that.”

I choke. Fall right into a coughing fit so bad Lilah beats on my back, trying to get me to breathe properly.

“You okay?” she asks when I’ve finally calmed down.

“You can’t say things like that, Lilah.”

“Why not?”

“Because it makes me like you.”

“You should like me,boyfriend.” She winks at me, then loops her arm back through mine. “Come on. Let’s get this shitshow over with.”

We walk into the hotel—which doesn’t look half as good as The Sinclair if I’m being honest—and follow the signs to the ballroom.

“You grew up with Auden, right?” I ask Lilah.

“I did. We’ve been best friends since we were ten.”

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