Page 20 of Rule 5: Never Crush on the Captain
“I mean, on the ice, it’s always the puck.” Isaiah laughs, and I try to join in, but something about the conversation strangles around my chest.
“Telepathy isn’t a thing,” Vinnie says, his voice sharp. “It was obvious he wanted his phone.”
“Yeah. Totally.” I nod decisively.
“I’m glad you two are having a good time.” Jasmine’s eyes do that sparkling thing again, as if she’s in the middle of watching a comedy.
Stella tilts her chin up. “Vinnie was sleeping with Daddy!”
Vinnie starts sputtering and coughing, and Isaiah and Jasmine stare.
“In the same room,” I clarify.
Isaiah’s lips swerve upward. “That’s typically what happens when people sleep together.”
“I moved my mattress there. I was worried.” Vinnie glowers, then jumps up and starts putting his dishes in the dishwasher.
“And I appreciated that.” I laugh weakly. I don’t want to make eye contact with Vinnie again.
“You don’t have to explain, dude.” Isaiah grins. “Chill. We know you’re not one of those kinds of men.”
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Jasmine adds quickly.
“Right.” Isaiah snorts. “I don’t think you know hockey players, babe.”
“You going to teach me more?” Her tone dips into the sultry range, and they do this eye-staring thing that new couples seem to do.
Not that I ever did it with Valentina or anything.
But other new couples do it. The kinds who last. The kinds where one of them isn’t secretly planning to move to a new city.
I half expect Isaiah to toss Jasmine over his shoulder and carry her out. Wouldn’t be the craziest thing he did.
“You’re disgusting,” I say. “Both of you.”
Isaiah’s eyes widen, then he starts to laugh.
Stella looks up from her breakfast. “You are?”
“Your dad is being silly,” Jasmine says lightly.
“He isn’t normally silly,” Stella says.
“Of course not,” I say.
“Someday you’ll fall in love,” Jasmine says.
Stella’s gaze glides toward Vinnie. She’s looking way too interested in this conversation. Shouldn’t we be talking about Moana or something to keep her attention?
But Stella is smart. Parent-teacher conversations are basically just a time for me to listen to her teachers laud her, then casually ask for a photo with me.
I give it to them every time.
“I’m not looking for anyone,” I say sternly. “I have Stella. She’s the love of my life.”
I scoop her into my arms and give her noisy kisses on her cheeks, while Stella giggles happily.
Isaiah and Jasmine exchange one of their couple glances again. I’m not sure how long a couple has to be together to be smug as if they’ve found the meaning of life.
