Page 84 of Secret Puck
I wait until he’s gone to face Heath, prepared to stroke his ego, but he’s… smiling?
“Your friend, huh?”
“Did you want me to introduce you as my make-out buddy?”
He chuckles and winces at the same time. “Guess not. You dated that douche?”
“He’s… not so bad.” I play down any lingering resentment because the last thing I need is Heath or my brother to make a scene. And honestly, it’s not so much resentment as just dislike for the guy. Sure, he had his own reasoning for how things ended, but let’s be real, he did it in a super shitty way. I can see that so much clearer now.
“He’s a douche.”
“Is this jealous Heath?” I wave a hand in front of his broody frame. He glares toward Bryan’s retreating back.
“What? No, of course not.” But he continues to stand close while we set up the game.
We’ve got enough people to play with two full teams and a couple alternates. Rauthruss and Heath end up on my team and Adam and Mav on the other with Bryan.
“We’re just waiting on my dad,” Adam says and glances toward the house. “Ginny, did you see him when you came out?”
“No, I haven’t seen him this morning.”
Adam’s brows scrunch together. “That’s weird.”
“He probably had to run to town for something Mom forgot. Let’s just start, I’m sure he’ll show up.”
Adam doesn’t budge.
“I will go check on him.” I nudge Heath playfully. “Don’t screw up my winning streak, Payne.”
I hurry back up to the house and to the kitchen where I can hear Mom and her sister, Zoe, talking and cooking. Mom’s wearing a half apron chopping onions while Zoe sits on a stool peeling potatoes.
“Hey.”
They both look up as I enter.
“Morning. Game over already?” Mom asks.
“No, we haven’t started yet. We’re waiting on Dad. Do you know where he is?”
Mom and Zoe exchange a look.
“What?” I ask when neither of them immediately answers.
Mom shakes her head. “I don’t know where he went, but it’s not like him to miss the big game. Start without him, and I’ll text and let him know the team’s missing him.”
I grin. “Okay. Thanks, Mom. Are you staying for dinner, Aunt Zoe?”
“No, your uncle Wyatt and I are heading to his mom’s. I’ll stop by Sunday before you head back to school.”
As I go out, Dad’s pulling into the driveway. I run to him, pleased to see he’s dressed to play in an old T-shirt and shorts. “You’re late.”
“How’s the team looking, kid?” He gives me a one-arm hug as we walk toward the game.
“We’ve got a few ringers thanks to Adam and his friends.”
At the next break in play, Adam finds us on the sidelines, and he and my dad hug. Adam’s taller and broader than him now, which is just another way things have changed over the last three years.
“Good to see you, son.”
