Page 162 of Lucky Shot
“You recruited my friends to help?” Nick asks his dad.
“I’m not as young or as strong as I look.” Mike winks at me.
Travis puts down the box then wraps me in a big hug, lifting me off the ground and stealing all the breath from my lungs.
“Need air,” I wheeze.
He sets me down but keeps his arms around me, rocking side to side. “So fucking happy you’re staying with us.”
“Us?” Nick mutters.
I laugh. “Me too.”
Danny is the next to hug me. “Congrats on the book deal. If you need a beta reader, let me know.”
“I do and you’re hired.”
Penn leans down to give me a quick side hug. “Glad you’re back.”
“Thanks, Penn.”
Conrad shuffles forward with a shy smile. His hair looks like it’s been cut since the last time I’ve seen him and it’s out of his eyes, which makes him look even more like he stepped off a runway.
“Hey, Ruby,” he says as I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Should we get everything moved and then have a party?” Trav asks with a mischievous glint. “Good day to take the boat out. Probably our last chance.”
“I just noticed you’re wearing your trunks,” Nick says, arching one brow.
“I always come prepared.” He slaps him on the shoulder and then heads to the house, presumably to get another box.
“You sure you know what you’re getting into?” Nick asks as he takes my hand and pulls me from the doorway.
“I have a pretty good idea.”
“Still want to stay?”
I lift up on my toes to kiss him. “Definitely.”
“Can we watch a movie tonight?” Aidan asks as we’re cleaning up after dinner.
“Sure,” Nick says. He looks to me and I nod my agreement.
Mike pushes back from the table. “I think I’ll leave you three to it. I have a new audiobook I want to listen to and then I’m calling it a night.”
“Night, Dad,” Nick calls as Mike ruffles Aidan’s messy hair.
“Good night.” Mike lifts a hand in a wave and heads out the sliding door.
It’s been two weeks since I moved in, and the nights are my favorite. When Nick doesn’t have a late practice or game, we have dinner together followed by TV time or sitting out on the back deck. Fall in Arizona is really just extended summer, but here I’ve already had to break out my sweatshirts and leggings.
After the kitchen is clean and the dishwasher started, we settle in the living room and Aidan scrolls through the options, calling them out one-by-one.
My phone rings while we’re deciding betweenMighty Ducks 2andSandlot.
“It’s Travis,” I say, looking at the screen.
