Page 36 of Keeping it Real

That’s putting it mildly.

In fact, Alek and his teammates’ record was below five hundred through their first month of play.They’d only played five games in front of a home crowd so far this year, winning three of them.Based on what she’d heard from the WAGs, the fans were starting to get restless.

Sheridan hadn’t made it to another game since that first one.Their home games had all been played on school nights.She was grateful that Alek had backed her up on the rule that school came first.There was less drama when she and Finn stayed home and watched the games on TV.

The WAGs, on the other hand, were a different story.Despite her not making the games, they insisted she participate in everything they did.Between Freya and Sloane, Sheridan didn’t have a choice but to join them for Pilates three mornings a week.As a result, she ached in places she didn’t know existed.She was counting the days until they no longer felt the need to include her.

In fairness, though, she was looking forward to tonight.Claire was hosting a Halloween party at her home.While the team was still out of town, the WAGs banded together so the kids could go trick-or-treating as a group with several of the moms acting as chaperones, followed by pizza and games.Most of Finn’s experience at trick-or-treating was limited to dressing up and walking around the family bar.Not that it was a bad thing.Barn Burner’s patrons showered him with enough candy to last a month.Still, he was beyond stoked to finally be able to go door-to-door.

“How is Alek taking all the criticism?”her aunt asked when Sheridan and Hattie turned into Alek’s driveway.

“He’s a professional who knows it’s only the first month of a long season,” Sheridan replied as if she and Alek had actually discussed it.

They hadn’t.

The few times they had spoken over the past couple of weeks, their conversations had been cordial, most of them focused on Finn.Although, there had been one that did get a little ...awkward.It involved Hattie and her fascination for Alek’s underwear.Alek’s cleaning lady caught the dog sneaking into his bedroom and helping herself to his briefs.

Sheridan’s first instinct was to deny, deny, deny until she recalled all the times she’d witnessed the dog sleeping on Jamie’s favorite sweatshirt.Still, she wanted Hattie to know she had her back.Sheridan decided to go down swinging.

“How do you know the woman doesn’t have a side hustle, selling your unmentionables to your legions of female fans while letting the dog take the heat?”

Alek’s reaction was to cross his arms over his chest and look down his God-like nose at her.

She sighed.“Fine.I’ll keep an eye on the jockstrap moocher.It would help if you stopped tempting her by leaving your clothes strewn about on the floor, though.”

He scoffed because they both knew the neatnik wasn’t guilty of that.They’d stared at one another for a long moment before the charged silence grew awkward, and Sheridan made some excuse about checking on Finn and hotfooted it away.That had been six days ago.

The Mayhem were wrapping up a three-game road trip in Chicago tonight.The team was expected home by midnight.They were playing their first back-to-back game tomorrow evening at home.They’d have Friday off before playing a matinee game on Saturday.Alek’s parents were coming into town for that game.They’d invited her and Finn to explore the Dells in Door County on Sunday.

Sheridan had always liked Alek’s mom and dad.And she was grateful they were offering her an excuse to be out of town that day.Zach Picard was hosting a private party for his teammates on Sunday to celebrate the upcoming launch of his restaurant.According to the scuttlebutt at Pilates earlier today, Alek had invited Miss Lane as his plus-one.

Claire made some noises about Sheridan tagging along with her and Gus.While Sheridan appreciated the other woman’s kind gesture, she was glad to have an out.Even if she had the sneaking suspicion Alek had put his parents up to arranging their little day trip so she’d be out of the picture.Given the way she’d behaved the last time she, Alek, and Finn’s teacher were together, she couldn’t really blame him.

Sheridan was surprised at how quickly things were moving between Alek and Finn’s teacher, though.According to Finn, on the mornings he drove Finn and Gunner to school, Alek always goes through the drive-thru to get the boys a donut.

“Alek gets a coffee for Miss Lane, too.She likes lots of whipped cream on hers,” Finn told her.

The teacher had also been to two Mayhem games.Both times with several other teachers from the school.Sheridan felt a pique of satisfaction that Miss Lane hadn’t been invited to the family room yet.

“This is all your fault,” she chastised herself, careful to cover the microphone with her thumb.“You encouraged him.And it’s not like he’ll ever look at you the same way.Little sister, remember?”

Sheridan jumped when a car pulled up beside her in Alek’s driveway.She said a little prayer that whoever it was hadn’t heard her.

“Oh my God!Is that your dog?”Sloane said from the driver’s side of a sleek Mercedes convertible.

Hattie answered for her, giving the woman a confident woof.

Sloane squealed.“You aregorgeous.”

Sheridan looked down at her ratty leggings and well-worn sneakers.Sloane was clearly talking about the dog.“Um, Aunt Eileen.Finn and I will FaceTime you later, okay?”

“Sure, honey.Enjoy the party tonight.”

“I wasn’t expecting to see you until the party later,” Sheridan said once she’d pocketed her phone.“Did I miss something?”

The other woman was already out of her car and kneeling in front of Hattie.“What’s the dog’s name?”

“Hat Trick.We call her Hattie.”

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