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I fumble for my phone in my back pocket, from the pants I didn’t even remove in my rush of passion. “Quarter till 2 AM,” I inform her.
“Damn it!” Mia jolts into a seated position. “We’re supposed to wake up at five!”
Unbothered, I sit by her side, yawn, and say, “We should take a shower now, then.”
She looks at me with a devious smile, already having ideas. Meanwhile, I stand and offer her my hand, which she takes with enthusiasm, and drags me toward the bathroom for round two.
Chapter Thirty-Five
MIA
It’s the next weekend and we’re in New Jersey for the next game happening tomorrow. I’m sitting across from Amanda, who is looking at me with wide eyes and an expectant expression on her face.
“So…” Amanda perks up in her chair. “What do you think of him?”
James has just gone to the bathroom, leaving Amanda, Senna, and me at the table. He won’t be gone long, but it’s just enough time for the questions to snowball.
“I think he’s a gentleman!” I set down my root beer float and slap the table. “What do you think of James, Senna?”
Senna is busy with his handheld device and pays little to no attention to the table. However, when asked about James, he perks up as well, but doesn’t stop playing “He bought me the latest racing game!”
“Well, that’s all the praise I need to hear from a six-year-old!” I say, ruffling the kid’s hair, who goes unmoved from the game.
“They’ve been getting along,” Amanda says, sipping a mojito so fragrant the mint burns my eyes. “I have invited Ethan to meet him.”
“I know Ethan's coming after practice,” I say, curious about his reaction. He’s been pretty tight-lipped about it, but I know he is concerned and wants to make sure James is a good guy for Amanda and for his son to be around.
Amanda nods, a giddy smile on her face. “Senna already mentioned to Ethan that I have a friend, and so it’s about time they meet. Ethan must still be shocked,” she says with a nervous laugh.
James returns to the table, all cheers and smiles, especially toward Senna. And all I can think about is Ethan, and what his reaction will be to it all.
I hope he’ll like James. He seems like a genuine and nice guy.
“Mia?” James’ gentle voice asks, snapping me out of my daydreaming. “Do you need anything else? Some more water?”
“Oh…” I look over my shoulder, and surprisingly enough, find Ethan coming through the doors of the restaurants at that very moment. He’s wearing casual athletic clothes, his hair still wet from his after-practice shower, clearly not caring much about appearances today.
“Senna!” he’s the first one Ethan greets at the table. When Ethan kisses his cheek, Senna promptly wipes it away.
“Dad!” he complains. “I’m busy!”
“So, things are going to be like that from now on, huh?” Ethan says, indignant, both hands on his hips. Then, he turns to James, offering his hand in greeting. “Hi. Ethan Matthews.”
“James Finnigan,” James says.
Things become territorial quite quickly. Ethan seems polite enough, but there’s a guardedness in his eyes that I can’t miss.
Ethan silently faces off against James and comes out on top. James humbly takes back his seat, while Ethan stands for a second too long, gloating at his win. He then kisses me and takes a seat as well, tucking me right by his side, under his protective arm.
“So, what are you doing in New Jersey, James?” Ethan asks, his gaze sweeping over the table. “Are you a fan?”
“A little,” James says. “I’m actually part of the firm that handles public relations for your brother’s investment company.”
Ethan laughs. “Ryan hasn’t been doing a lot lately, huh?”
“From what I hear, you two have been giving him a run for his money,” James says, and I bristle.
“Wait, what did you tell him?” I turn to Amanda.
