Page 98 of Faking Ties

“I was actually hoping I could hide out at your house instead. I don’t want to be apart from you or Minnie.”

“I’d love nothing more than that.”

HUNTER

“Welcome,” Evren says, opening the door to his house. I wave for Stella, Nina, and Aria to enter ahead of me. Evren invited the team over to celebrate our win from yesterday’s game and the fact that it’s our bye week and almost Thanksgiving. It should be fun, to relax and enjoy the night, but it’s not. Not when Elodie’s still in New York and I can’t wait to see her tomorrow.

“Damn.” Nina whistles, walking inside the house. “Whose dick do I have to suck to live in a house like this?”

Evren chokes on the whiskey he just took a sip of, and I clap him on the back. “Evren, meet Nina, Stella’s best friend.”

“I would say it’s a pleasure,” he says, making a slow scan of Nina from head to toe. “But I’m not so sure.”

Nina huffs and puts her hands on her hips. “I’ll takethat as a compliment since you might have a good decorator, but clearly your opinion of people is lacking if you can’t see how amazing I am.”

Nina storms into the living room and heads over to a group of my teammates.

Aria chuckles. “I’m Aria.” She extends her hand toward Evren like she’s a queen. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you,” Evren says, taking her hand, but keeping his gaze on Nina.

Nina who’s now downing a glass of champagne like it’s a shot and my friends are cheering her on. When she finishes, she curtsies before setting the flute back onto the tray.

“Nice to see you again,” Stella says quickly before hurrying to catch up to her friends. Elodie gave her the rundown of the people she’s met and knows, but Stella brought Nina and Aria as a buffer to distract from the fact that she’s not the Stella everyone has already met. Elodie is also on standby via text to help her navigate the event.

“She always like that?” Evren asks.

“Who? Stella?” I ask, worried he knows something’s up. Elodie would’ve said more to Evren than a passing hi.

“No, Nina.”

I glance at him. “If you mean blunt, fun, and a little scary? Then yes.”

“Hmm,” Evren says, staring at her for a momentlonger before focusing on me. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Yes?” I ask, confused.

“You know, when I took over the team, I had my doubts if you’d be a player I’d want to keep on. But I can say confidently that you’ve proven me wrong this season. We’d be happy to extend your contract for another two years.”

A lump the size of a football forms in my throat. “Thank you, sir.”

He inclines his head. “Your manager will be informed of the decision, and he can work out the details of the extension starting this week.”

“You won’t regret it.” I shake his hand.

“I’ll hold you to that.” He lifts his chin toward Stella, Nina, and Aria laughing with my teammates. “Go celebrate with your loved ones.”

I walk toward the group, but for some reason I can’t help but glance back at Evren. He’s still standing by the door with a look of longing on his face as he takes in the party around him. I think back to the last party here, and I can’t remember if he interacted with anyone or not. If Elodie were here, she’d invite him to join us, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Come do a shot with me?” I call over my shoulder.

Evren shakes his head. “I’m needed here to greet the guests.”

“I’m sure someone on your staff can do that?”

Evren looks from the group to me and back multiple times. “Fine, one drink.”

I hide my grin behind my hand. “What’s your poison?”

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