Page 40 of Home Game

“Ryan,” Krista spoke in my ear.

“Krista.”

“How was practice? Are you guys ready for tomorrow night?”

“Probably not.” Our team had some of the best players in the league, but we weren’t even close to being a team. It would be our downfall.

“How is the bonding going?”

It wasn’t. “You know.”

“I gave this some thought. And you need to have a party. Invite the guys over.”

And risk having no one show up? These guys wouldn’t even go out for drinks with me. “I’ll think about it.”

“What about your house guest? Has she left yet?”

“Zoey? No. Why?”

“Well, what are you going to do when you’re gone? You leave tomorrow for Calgary’s game.”

“So?”

“So? You can’t leave her in your apartment alone for three days while you’re on the road.”

I shut my eyes momentarily. “I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

“I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about your apartment.What if you come home and she’s cleared the place out or there are five more of her friends squatting when you get back?”

I glanced over my shoulder. No sign from the washroom. “That will not happen.”

“You need to move her out before you leave.”

“Krista.”

“Ryan.”

I ran a hand through my hair, thinking about Zoey, soaked and standing in the rain. There was no way I was asking her to leave. Not yet. But what would happen if something went wrong? Who would look out for her? “I need to ask you a favor.”

“Ryan, no.”

“Krista, come on. You said so yourself. Just swing by here once. That’s all.”

A beat. “Fine. I’ll drop by once but that’s it.”

“Just make sure she’s okay.”

“I’m doing it to make sure your place is okay.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, I’ve scheduled some interviews for a PA for you.”

Fuck me. The last thing I needed to deal with was a PA. “For when?”

“Next week. Even better, your PA can plan a party for you.”

I heard the bathroom door open behind me. “We’ll discuss that later.”

---