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“Should have learned the first time.” He laughs. “Took three or four.”
“That’s fucked up, man.”
“It fucked up a lot of things,” he mumbles.
I don’t touch that with a ten-foot pole because it’s no doubt got something to do with Gwen York.
“I admire your game, kid. Smart plays on and off the field.”
“I appreciate that, but no game’s off the field. You get what you see with me.”
“Kind of envious how you came up. I knew fuck not at eighteen years old. I left my parents’ house and was handed a bunch of money. Did some good but mostly stupid shit with it until my first injury took me out for a few months, and then I realized it could all end tomorrow.”
“Exactly,” I agree but add, “You’ve been playing this game a long damn time, though. I’m sure you’ve got it all figured out now, yeah?”
“Money won’t ever be an issue,” is all he says, but I know the unspoken part has to do with the same reason he’s coming around now.
“You into the Shaw girl?” he asks.
“Playing it day by day, but yeah, I’d like to see where it goes.”
“How’s it gonna go when you’re on the road?”
“Not sure, but I’m going to find out.”
“Lot of temptation out there for a kid like you in his prime,” he says, looking out the window. “It’s hard to give that up.”
“Did that in the minors. Wasn’t my drug of choice.”
“You’re the settling down kind.” He nods as I pull into the parking lot of O’Donnell’s.
“Didn’t think I’d be before this chapter was over. Something about CeCe, though.”
“Danny mentioned CeCe was from my hometown; younger than me, so I don’t remember them. She and Chloe have done good for themselves. She’s a vet?”
“She is.” I smile, turning off the truck. “Hot, smart, and takes no shit.”
“Guard your heart, kid. Those types of women will bring a man down on one knee and might just leave you there.”
“Don’t wanna get into it, but maybe it’s time that man down on one knee stands up and takes action, yeah?”
I say this getting out of my truck and don’t wait for a reply, I just keep walking.
I hold the door open and wave him through. As he walks by, he narrows his eyes at me.
After all the high-fives and congratulations, I walk up to the bar with Hudson, Mom, and Jillian behind me, and Fawna walks over.
“Four shots of whiskey.”
“Congrats on the win.” She smiles as she lines up the shot glasses.
“Thanks.” I look around the bar some more. “Where’s our girl?”
Pushing the shots forward, she rolls her eyes then smiles. “She messaged that she was staying in.”
The four of us tap our glasses and are about to shoot them back when AJ yells, “Wait for us, fam.”
Mom tosses her head back in laughter as he and Nour join our huddle. “Get the boys a shot, Hudson.”
