Page 5 of Wild Ever After
“You’re rookies until training camp,” Ash tells them. He’s been in the league almost as long as me and Jack.
We hit the locker room to change and then head to our favorite bar down the street, Wild’s. Jack grabs the first round and the rest of us get a table in the back.
“How’s the house coming along?” Leo asks me.
“Good. Floors and windows are done. HVAC is getting replaced today and next week I’m tackling the guest bathroom.”
“Getting rid of that ugly-ass hunter green tile?” Ash asks.
All the guys came over the night I got the keys. We christened the place with beer and pizza.
“What about the gold-plated hardware?” Jack asks, as he sets our drinks down on the table.
“It’s all going,” I say. “I’m taking it down to the studs.”
“Impressive,” Maverick says. “I hired a guy to do all the renovations on mine.”
“I’ve got the summer.” I shrug one shoulder. I’ve enjoyed working on the house so far.
“I plan on spending my summer in bed with my gorgeous wife.” He takes a long pull from his beer and then picks up his phone. He turns the screen toward us. “What’s the plan for phone sex? Are they calling us for that before or after they go out?”
Leo and Tyler give him a long look.
“You two didn’t plan ahead for this?” Mav asks.
“No,” Leo says.
“Chumps,” he says. “Always lock in phone sex.”
He stands. “I gotta take a piss.”
We chuckle as he heads off to the bathroom. Tyler rests his elbows on the table and leans forward. “I’d never say this to his face, but did Maverick just outsmart us?”
“Can you fools really not go one night without your women?” Jack raises a brow as he takes a swig of beer.
“Of course, wecan,” Leo says.
“But why would we want to?” Tyler adds.
Watching my buddies fall hard has been a trip. I’m happy for them. And lately, it’s been on my mind. Another side effect of seeing the end of my career in the distance, I guess. Who is going to be there when it’s all over?
While the guys continue to give each other shit, I slide from my seat and head to the dart board. I grab the darts and set the game, but before I throw, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
Maverick comes back out from the bathroom. “Can I get in on this?”
“Definitely. You throw first,” I say as I unlock the screen and read the text from Crissy,Hey, busy tonight? xo
I start to respond but then delete it and shove my phone back in my pocket.
“Everything okay?” Mav asks as he turns to watch me make my throw.
“Yeah. It’s nothing.”
“Problem with the house?”
“No. The reno is going great.”
“Hockey?” He shakes his head. “No, can’t be. You just signed a sweet seven-year deal. Mad props.”
