Page 42 of Delay of Game

“Does Ash know yet?”

“Yes,” Eli says, disappointment written all over his face. He doesn’t want to be apart from Ash. I know how he feels.

Though he’s not a touchy-feely person, I wrap my arms around Eli’s waist anyway in a tight hug. He sighs and hugs me back, resting his head on top of mine. “Thanks,lapsi.”

I roll my eyes at his nickname for me and squeeze him even tighter. Eli just laughs and a throat clears behind us.

“Trying to make a move on my man, Al?” Ash says low enough for just us to hear and I punch his arm. “Ow, what was that for?”

“Stop being an idiot,” I say.

“You’re just ticked cuz I know you have a thing for hockey players.”

“Ash, seriously,” I say more firmly.

“Wait, what do you mean?” Robbie says, eyes narrowed on Ash.

The dumbass just smirks and shrugs.

“Al, what does he mean?” Robbie asks again, focusing his blue eyes on me this time.

“Nothing, I don’t know,” I say, flustered. I really don’t want to think, let alone talk about Jordan. I spot Olivia coming our way and I make my way to her, wrapping her in a hug,whispering, “Please save me, they’re teasing me about being into hockey players.”

Her deep laugh calms my nerves and she pats my back in acknowledgment. “I’m starving,” she says loudly for the guys to hear. “Can we get some food now?”

The Arcadian is packed, but our reserved table is nestled at the back of the restaurant, by the kitchen. We all order our favorite burgers and appetizers and catch Eli up on the latest news. Robbie is planning a fundraiser over the holidays and Ash and Eli immediately respond by wanting to donate signed items.

“Can I donate one of those giant cardboard cutouts of myself?” Ash mumbles through a bite of his sandwich and we all look at him with incredulous expressions on our faces.

“What?” he asks, swallowing.

“Why do you have a giant cardboard cutout of yourself?” Robbie asks, his eyes lighting up with amusement.

Eli reaches over and wipes aioli off the corner of Ash’s mouth with his thumb. The two of them are trying to keep their relationship under wraps so we’re all a bit slack-jawed in the face of their PDA. When he realizes we’re all staring, Eli blushes and leans back in his chair.

“I don’t have one, but it would be a good reason to get it,” Ash says, wiping his mouth with a napkin and looking at his boyfriend adoringly.

“Sure, man. If you can order a cardboard cutout of yourself and sign it, you can donate it to the auction,” Robbie says on a laugh.

“Challenge accepted.” Ash smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.

I laugh and joke, “While you’re at it, can you get me one too? I could use it for my bookish social media posts.”

I don’t get a reply, and when I look in the direction everyone else is staring, I see Tangela approaching the bar.

Robbie looks around, confused. “That’s weird, Michael isn’t here tonight. He said he was taking the girls to a movie.”

“Maybe she’s just grabbing some food,” I say, frowning.

“But would she drive twenty minutes away just for some food?” Olivia asks.

“No, that’s weird,” Robbie says. “Maybe I should go talk to her and see?—”

He stops, halfway out of his seat and stares over at the bar, mouth open. I follow his line of sight and suck in a sharp breath.

What ishedoing here?

I look around the table and see everyone’s confusion and disappointment mirrors my own. He didn’t tell anyone he was visiting.

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