Page 66 of Game Misconduct

“Oh yeah. Usually once a week or so, one of us will host.” He answered casually, as if this wasn’t something some of the guys on the team seemed to obsess over. Okay, maybe it was just Lance and Mikey that felt like the parties had some elusive invitation.

“Better hurry and get ready, or all the good food will be gone,” Schultz announced as he walked by.

“Really?” I started pulling off my wet clothing.

“No, Chloe orders enough for a small army. All the women do. There are leftovers for days after these. My boys love it when we have it at our house.”

I smiled. I’d seen his twins around, and they seemed like sweet kids. “Will they be there tonight?”

“Yeah, they like to watch all the babies. It makes them feel so old and mature.”

It was strange to think of most of these guys as husbands and fathers. I knew they all had lives outside of the team, but picturing Schultz holding a baby just seemed wrong.

After we got ready, I text Vivi to make sure she did have a ride. When she confirmed, Mitch and I headed out of downtown to the base of the mountains that bordered the city. Massive houses lined the bench, and he pointed out Letang’s street, then Schultz’s before turning into a cul-de-sac where he parked.

There were half a dozen other cars on the street, but I wasn’t sure if Vivi was already there. I couldn’t wait to see her.

“Are you ready for this?” Mitch asked.

“For dinner?” I shot him a questioning look. Was there something I needed to do to prepare for a meal?

“For your first official outing as a couple.”

I froze. We hadn’t really discussed our status or decided on a label. We liked each other and were planning on going on a date this weekend. Did that automatically mean we were a couple?

“Oh no. Did I break you?”

I shook my head. “No, I just hadn’t thought about it.”

Crap. Now I wanted to find her and talk to her before everyone else arrived and people started talking.

“Don’t worry. The piranhas will circle for a while before they bite.”

What was he talking about? I pulled out my phone and sent her a text, asking if she was here, before catching up to him on the steps leading to the front door.

“There he is!” Chloe beamed at me with a baby on her hip. “We’ve been waiting.”

The rest of the women emerged from thin air. Oh no.

“No sudden movements,” Mitch whispered. “They’ll attack.”

Twenty-Three

Vivian

Dani opened the door to Reese and Chloe’s house without knocking, and Jess and I followed behind her. A group was gathered just inside, taking up most of the entryway and adjoining living room.

The three of us shared a look.

“This is the first time we’ve all been together to celebrate the newest Fury!” Chloe raised a glass in the air. Seeing her with her baby was like seeing your teacher outside of school. It felt wrong even though you knew it was a reality. I was so used to her as the take-no-crap, boss-woman that seeing this softer side of her made me pause.

“To Parker!” the group said together.

I scanned the faces, looking for him.

“Come on, you should be with him,” Jess whispered.

She cut through the crowd and stopped next to him and Mitch.