Page 65 of Ace of Spades

Not without a fight.

Chapter16

Levi

“There they are.”

Brody approaching us with his arms stretched out. Milo walking along next to him.

He reaches me first and gives me a chest bump. “Hey, brother. Thanks for coming out.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I say with a terse grin.

“Yeah, you would,” he teases, before approaching Sienna and Julian behind me.

“Sienna,” Brody says warmly. “I am so happy you came.”

I watch as they hesitate in front of each other, then go in for what might be the most awkward hug I’ve ever seen.

“Thanks for having us,” Sienna says nervously.

Brody turns to the guy next to her.

“And you must be cousin Julian.”

Julian apparently doesn’t believe in personal space, because he pulls Brody in for a massive hug.

He nearly knocks the air out of my friend. Milo stands next to his hip to stabilize himself since he doesn’t have his cane. He only ever uses it at home.

“You have no idea how excited I am to get to be here,” Julian says, practically jumping up and down.

Brody laughs as he pulls away.

“You a fan, son?”

“A fan? Are you kidding me? I’ve been following the Thunderhawks versus Heatwave rivalry since I was a kid.”

“By the looks of it, you still are a kid,” Brody says, all smiles.

“Po-tae-toh po-tah-to,” Julian says with a shrug.

“Well, either way, I’m happy to hear it. Every time the Houston Heatwave makes it into our arena, we want the loudest fans here to hype up our boys. They play better the louder you scream.”

Brody winks.

“Oh, I can scream,” Julian assures him.

“Please don’t encourage him,” Sienna says from the side of her mouth, playfully nudging her enthusiastic cousin.

Brody turns to the team of staff members that have suddenly appeared along the walls of the hallway. Each one has a big bag of what I can only assume is Thunderhawk merch.

“A present,” Brody says, motioning them forward.

He takes one of the bags. “To old friends,” he says, handing me a bag. Then he grabs two more and turns to Sienna and Julian. “And new.”

Sienna blushes at the gesture.

“Thank you. That’s very kind of you,” she says to her dad.

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