Page 10 of Dream Chaser
“I love you, Griffon. Pro or not, I’m proud of the man you have become.”
“I love you, Grand.”
We say goodnight and hang up.
And even though this place is still silent, it feels a little less empty.
After chugging my water, heading upstairs, taking a piss, and brushing my teeth, I get in bed, stare up at the ceiling, and let her voice echo in my chest, steadying me the way it always has.
One more game. One more win. And then I bring her to the ring.
Chapter 3
Game Plan
Izzy
The kitchen’s closed, and I just placed the last stool on a high top. I have no idea how I ended up staying this late when I had plans to do some website maintenance and maybe stop by Blue Valley Publishing, pretending to check on the place. Really, I was going to mess with CJ, Matthew, Remington, and the commandos who have made a home of the old Firehouse next to the old newspaper. Before the family bought the Knights, time disappeared like this when the family got together. I didn’t complain then, and I won’t now.
Lo’s behind the bar, cleaning glasses she doesn’t need to clean. Riley has her feet up on a barstool and is using a coaster as a makeshift fan; pregnancy is not treating her well. Maggie’s picking at cold fries like they’re popcorn. Sydney is refreshing the group chat with Lily updates. She’s so freaking cute asleep in her sparkle cape, holding a glitter pen.
“You crop this picture?” I laugh.
“Noooo.” If Syd’s extendedOwasn’t a dead giveaway, the fact that she said it like it was a question was.
“Head’s on big daddy Boone’snakieman chest.” Maggie snickers.
Syd huffs as she sets down her glass of wine, and if she were wearing pearls, she’d have clutched them. “Myhusband’schest.”
“Did Syd just use a southern accent?” I laugh.
“Noooo,” she lies again,sort of.
We all bust up laughing
“All right, let’s get on task.”
Riley sighs loudly, hanging her head over the back of the stool. “Lo and her lists, you and your notes, Syd and her … husband”—Syd chucks a lemon wedge at her—“Mags and her …” She pauses and swings her eyes to Mags.
“Homelessness after graduation.” She pouts.
After the bullshit at the Vegas game, the league putting Hart on a three-game suspension, and the threats coming in, my cousins and their security group came into town. When the power was cut at the Stables, Greer, their best computer specialist who was pregnant and had stepped away from the group, was asked to rejoin the team, but not in the field. She and her niece and nephew, whom she has custody of, moved into Riley’s old place because she’s now living in Skaneateles.
“You’re not homeless.” I laugh.
“Not yet.” She pouts.
“You’re graduating and heading straight to the show. By the time you come back, I’ll have our first season of crops in the ground and probably living with my parents or in a tent on our land.”
“We can totally build a yurt.” Mags grins.
And just like that, she’s happy again.
“All right, now that we’re through that, tomorrow’s meet and greet; where are we needed? And then, we need to lock down thePhilly road trip plans.” I look at my notes app. “I have two rooms for playoff eve, adjoining.” I look at Syd. “Is Lily coming with you or?—”
“She and Lyndsey”—Lily’s mom—“are going to fly down tomorrow to meet up with Beau’s family and their college besties. They’re sitting with us at the game.”
“I hope when my first husband and I get divorced, his forever wife is as cool as you,” Mags states.
