Page 4 of Her Game Plan

“You guys are so lucky,” I say to Jameson and Kane. “I have absolutely no idea how to meet a woman who doesn’t want me because I’m the quarterback for the Stallions.”

“Don’t forget about your reputation for giving women the ride of their lives,” Riley suggests as he steals one of the Nerds Clusters from the bowl in front of him as Kane’s phone vibrates.

I hold the bowl out to Riley, offering him more even though they’re my favorite, and I only have them in the house on poker nights. “It’s not my fault I’m a generous lover.”

Beckett spews beer as Jameson says, “Don’t fucking say that about yourself.”

“What?” I ask. “You want me to be a selfish ass like most athletes? Lawrence was bragging the other day about having three girls at once, and the only three orgasms that night were his. It took all my self-restraint to keep from lecturing him about being a good person.”

That’s how I know I’m getting too old for this shit. I might still be at the top of my career from a stats perspective, but at thirty-four, I can’t keep hanging out with guys who are barely old enough to drink. Thank God for the group of older athletes, now friends, I’ve managed to convince to be part of my poker nights. I need the sanity every once in a while.

“Someone needs to tell the guy that’s not something to brag about.” Riley’s face is a picture of disgust.

“And that’s coming from a guy who avoids relationships like the plague,” I tease. “Fuck, you’re probably going to find someone before I do.”

Kane’s cell phone vibrates again, the sound disrupted by Riley knocking three times on the wooden table. “Don’t put that shit out into the universe, Devine.”

“Are all basketball players this superstitious, or just you?” Kane asks.

“Just him,” Jameson says at the same time Riley replies, “All of us.”

Just him, I mouth to Kane.

We play a few hands, Kane’s phone vibrating every other minute, when finally Jameson snaps, “Dude, answer your phone.”

“No,” Kane says, doing something on his screen. “It’s fucking Li. I’ve told him one hundred times that he’s not welcome here, but it somehow makes him want to come even more. Finley told him I was here tonight, and now he won’t leave me alone.”

“Does your girlfriend usually sic the rookie on you?” I’m unable to stifle a chuckle at the thought of the first female head hockey coach in professional men’s hockey turning her young defenseman loose on her boyfriend. Even if the two became good friends when they were teammates last year.

Kane doesn’t look up as his thumbs move across the screen on his phone. “Only when she’s trying to annoy me,” he grumbles. “I finished a puzzle without her last night, and this is my payback.”

They do puzzles together? A weight settles in my stomach. I want that so bad. Even if I was like twelve the last time I did a puzzle.

“He can totally come if you want,” I offer.

Looks of disbelief are flashed my way from all three of my friends.

Kane barks, “He’s a rookie. The only reason I come to these things is that I know there’s no chance of having to deal with anyone under the age of thirty.”

I try again, “But if he really wants to come that bad…”

“I’m with Kane,” Jameson agrees.

“Same,” Riley replies before a suspicious grin crosses his face. “It’d be like us inviting Charlotte Langford to join.”

“I like Charlotte,” I say. “She’s welcome anytime.”

“Right,” Kane scoffs. “I was at your barbeque last week. You two argued for the entire cornhole game. And she called you Carson. And a kicker.”

I study the cards in my hand as all three men around me laugh.

“Okay, fine. She annoys me.”

“Is it because she’s the only woman in this town who isn’t half in love with you?” Riley asks. “You know, I’ve spent quite a bit of time with her at various fundraisers and whatnot. She’s actually really cool. Probably yanking your chain about not knowing your name and position. You do play for her dad’s football team.”

“I don’t know.” I squint, trying to decide whether I should fold this hand. “Like you said, it’s her dad’s team. You would think she’d be embarrassed to admit she doesn’t know the starting quarterback. Or that there aren’t three-pointers in the game.”

“She definitely doesn’t believe that,” Kane argues. “There’s no chance she didn’t grow up going to football games all the time. She has to have at least a basic understanding of how it all works.”