Page 49 of Perfect Storm
“Well,that’strue,” Aidan said. “Dawson could use it too. He’s seriously angsting over the whole father-in-law-stealing-all-his-money shit.”
“Kind of hard not to,” Wes said sympathetically.
“Who’s this friend?” Aidan wondered. “Do I know them?”
“Uh, no. He’s actually not a football player. Hockey player. He’s on long-term injured reserve though. No idea when he’ll be off of it. Bad concussion.”
“Sucks,” Aidan said.
“Yeah, I told him to come up here, stay for a bit on my couch so he wouldn’t just be alone in Buffalo. Bored. Feeling sorry for himself.”
“I know weirder things have happened but Ialsoknow a few hockey players,” Aidan said. “Hockey’s no football, but it’s pretty decent to follow.”
“Don’t let him hear you saying that.” Wes tossed him the ball and Aidan tossed it back. They were still waiting on the receivers to finish their warmups. Over on the other side of the field, the only linemen still upright were Levi and Griff.
Aidan decided that probably didn’t bode well for his protection this season. Maybe hecoulduse a drink tonight.
“Maybe you know them too. The Barnes brothers? Avery plays on the West Coast, but Charlie’s in New York,” Aidan said. “They’re from Michigan. Own a house on the lake a little bit down from me.”
“Oh yeah. I do. I think . . .yeah, pretty sure my friend knows them. Knows the youngest anyway. Played on his team in college when he was a senior. Ethan?”
“Oh yeah. That’s the youngest. Haven’t met him yet, though. Only Charlie and Avery.”
“Well, you’ll like my hockey player. Everyone does,” Wes said wryly.
“Let’s get a count together of who’s in during lunch,” Aidan suggested, and Wes nodded.
The receivers were trickling over, finished with their warmups, and Wes threw a long pass to Trevor, who snatched the ball out of the air.
“Come on,” Aidan said, gesturing towards him. “Let’s get some plays going.”
They worked on timing routes for over an hour, both the receivers and the cornerbacks getting a good workout.
“Trev, you gotta break a little sooner,” Lane yelled over at his stepbrother on the very last set of passes.
Wes and Aidan exchanged concerned looks when Trevor ignored Lane, brushing off his concern.
“You wanna deal with this?” Wes asked Aidan.
“Hell no. I’m supposed to be . . .how did you put it? Being nice to themcollectively. And we already established I’m no good at it. You’re the good cop, Matthews, so you’re on it. Consider this part of my mentorship. Gifting you the demon twins.”
Wes shot him a look. “Calling them the demon twins isn’t really being nice—collectively or not.”
“Nope. Just being honest.” Aidan nudged him again as twenty yards down field, Trevor and Lane had started exchangingwords. “Come on. Get down there, before they start doing somethingcollectively.”
“You’re the worst,” Wes groaned. But he jogged down there anyway.
Aidan watched as he defused the situation, and, deciding that Wes had it under control, he headed towards the locker room to get cleaned up for lunch.
Levi cornered him while he debated between a buffalo chicken and a turkey ranch wrap for lunch.
“Wes told me we’re going out tonight,” Levi said, looking too excited considering he’d spent the morning being dragged to hell and back.
“You sure you’re up for it?” Aidan said, pulling the turkey ranch wrap onto his tray.
Levi made a scoffing noise. “Those guys just aren’t conditioned right.”
“Yeah?” Aidan raised an eyebrow.
