Chapter 10 #2
“Thanks,” I said quietly to my sister while everyone else laughed.
“You’re welcome.” She took the whisk from my hand. “If you beat those eggs any more, they’re going to coagulate.”
My nose wrinkled. “Do eggs do that?”
“I don’t care to find out.”
Laughing, I went to grab the sausage and cheese while she added the eggs to two large glass dishes.
A short while later, a birthday breakfast was served, family style. And then it was party time.
“I should go introduce myself,” Braeden announced, staring down the kid currently walking right beside Nova.
“He’s one of your football players.” I reminded him. “Pretty sure you’ve met.”
Braeden pursed his lips, and we all looked back to see the kid say something and Nova laugh. Her long hair floated out around her, and her cheeks glowed a little pink.
The kid seemed happy with the reaction, and he leaned in to nudge her with his shoulder.
“Obviously, he doesn’t know me well enough,” Braeden growled and started forward.
Romeo caught him by the hood and towed him back. “Hold on there, Hulk.”
Nova’s giggle floated over from where the pair sat on a bench near the fire pit with his arm draped causally over her shoulder.
“Oh, hells no,” Romeo said, letting go of B so the pair of them could stalk their way over.
Drew and I shared a look and then went after them.
“If you ever want to see the field from somewhere other than the bench, you’d better move that arm, Falls,” Braeden intoned.
His arm was removed immediately. “Sorry, Coach.”
“Sorry for getting caught,” Romeo said, and B nodded.
“Mr. Anderson, sir,” the kid squeaked.
Drew and I stepped up, and he put his hands under his thighs.
Nova let out a loud sigh. “Seriously?”
“Introduce us to your date, midge,” Drew said, pinning those baby blues on him. I’m thinking this guy didn’t find them as appealing as me.
“Do not call me that,” Nova hissed. Pushing to her feet, she glanced beside her. “Come on, Jordan. Let’s go get some food.”
Jordan swallowed and stood but hesitated at the wall of men in front of him.
I took pity on him and offered my hand. “What’s up, man? I’m Nova’s uncle, Trent.”
He shook my hand. His palm was only a little sweaty.
I made sure to squeeze tight. “You make sure to treat my niece right.”
“Uncle Trent,” she whined.
I smiled nice and wide at him. “I’ll be sure to watch you during your next game.”
“Thanks,” the kid mumbled.
“What is going on over here?” Ivy called as she and Rimmel approached.
“Introducing ourselves to Nova’s friend,” Romeo said.
Ivy made a noise. “Why don’t you two go get some food? And there’s a dunk booth over there that your Uncle Arrow just sat in.”
Nova and her date rushed away.
“There ain’t no kissing booth here!” Braeden yelled after them.
Nova glared daggers over her shoulder.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” Ivy said, taking all four of us in with one disgusted look.
“Just being hospitable, princess,” Romeo said, flashing a white smile.
“That charm doesn’t work on me, Romeo.” Ivy sniffed.
“Just letting the kid know we got eyes on him,” Braeden said, pointing to his eyes.
Ivy stepped close, her average height and frame dwarfed by Braeden, but she didn’t back down. Jamming a finger into his chest, she said, “If you’ve scared that boy off from taking her to a movie later, you’re sleeping on the couch for a month.”
He scoffed.
“Do not mess with me, Braeden James.”
He grimaced. “But, baby—”
“Oh, look,” I said, seeing the black SUV coming down the road. “Gamble’s here.”
“Sorry, sis,” Drew was quick to say. “We gotta go greet him.”
All four of us took off, with her calling a warning behind us.
“You’d think she’d be thankful we were watching that hornball,” Braeden muttered.
“We’re just gonna have to be quieter about it,” Romeo surmised.
“I gave his hand a good squeeze,” I added.
“Good one,” B congratulated.
“I’ll hack his social media and sneak around,” Drew offered.
“Now this is the kind of brotherly love I need,” B drawled.
Gamble was getting out of the back seat when we walked up. “Why do you four look like you’re going to need my lawyers?”
“Us?” Drew asked. “We’re angels.”
“Lucifer was once an angel,” he deadpanned.
“We were just introducing ourselves to Nova’s date.”
Gamble’s eyes gleamed. “Date, you say? I’ll need his name for a background check.”
“I wish my wife were more like a man,” B said. Then he made a face. “Actually, no. I don’t.”
“I’ll introduce you to him later,” Romeo said, shaking his hand. “How are you, Ron?”
“Anderson. Retirement looks good on you.”
“It would probably look good on you too,” he suggested.
Gamble made a rude noise. “I’ll retire when I’m dead.” His eyes moved to my husband. “Guess you don’t have the same work ethic.”
Drew laughed. “Not everyone is made of steel like you.”
“I give you two years, tops, before you’re at my door asking for a job.”
Drew chuckled. “You’d give me one.”
“Well, I can’t have you working for my competition.”
“Do you have competition?” Braeden wondered.
“No.”
“We’re glad you could make it,” I said around a laugh. “Got a bottle of scotch and a steak waiting for you.”
“You know the way to a man’s heart.”
“He’s taken,” Drew said, making me look his way. When he winked, I considered dragging him into a room with a lock on the door.
“Keep your dick in your pants, Mask. I want to see my grandkids.”
“Right this way,” I said, leading him toward the sprawling deck off the back of the main house.
“Oh,” he said, stopping to look at me and Drew. “I’ve got Travis’s birthday present up on a truck at the gate. Wasn’t sure where you wanted it.”
“A truck?” Braeden wondered. “You had to have it trucked in?”
“It’s a Bronco,” I told him.
Romeo whistled.
“My birthday is next month,” Braeden told him.
“Buy your own car,” Gamble shot back. Turning to Drew, he said, “You got your panties out of the wad they were in over this?”
Drew sighed. “It isn’t that I’m not grateful. I just want you to know we don’t expect this kind of stuff.”
“I know.” Gamble was gruff. “But if I can’t spend my money on my family, what’s the point of having it?”
Abruptly, Drew leaned in and hugged him. Gamble stiffened a little in surprise, but Drew didn’t let go. If anything, he hugged him tighter.
Romeo and B gestured to the party, and I waved them off.
“Thank you,” Drew said, still hugging the man. “Not for the car. But for being there for our kids.”
Gamble made a sound and reached around to pat his back. “It’s been my pleasure.”
Drew pulled away and glanced at me, and I gave him a reassuring nod.
“I knew you’d be good parents from the first moment I saw you with those kids, and I’m never wrong.”
“You’re also very humble,” Drew noted.
“Being humble is like hiding a diamond in a sock drawer,” he declared. “Now, about the car…”
Hiding my snicker, I answered, “I’ll go let them through the gate in a few.”
“Good. Now, about GearShark,” he said, moving right along. I couldn’t help but wonder what it was like inside his brain. “You’ll meet them in two days.”
Wait, what? “Two days?” I echoed, glancing at Drew. He seemed just as clueless as me.
“They wanted to meet tomorrow. Always were afraid of being scooped,” he said as we headed toward the deck. “But I told them you needed time to fly over to Gamble Speedway.”
“Gamble Speedway?” Drew echoed.
Ron made an impatient sound. “As if you two didn’t know there’d be a GearShark interview. There’s always a GearShark interview.”
“What exactly is this interview for?” I asked.
“Drew’s retirement, of course. Every media outlet is scrambling and sending offers for the exclusive.”
Surprised, Drew looked at me. “Is that true?”
I grimaced. “To be honest, I haven’t checked the emails this week. I was too focused on Trav’s birthday and trying to find that woman.”
“Your priorities are where they should be,” Gamble butted in. “That’s why my office has been fielding the offers.”
“And I guess you chose one too?” Drew mused.
“Don’t be stupid.”
I laughed.
“Gamble Speedway. Two days. It goes without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway because you two aren’t the brightest in the bunch.”
Should I be insulted?
“Do not talk to any other press. This is an exclusive, and they are paying you very well for it.”
Drew hesitated.
“What now? You don’t like money?”
“I’m just not sure if it’s a good time,” he replied.
“Did you change your mind about retiring?”
“No.” He was succinct.
Gamble made a rude sound. “So it’s about that wackadoodle giving everyone the slip.”
“We thought she’d be in custody by now,” I told him. “We can’t keep them on lockdown forever. School starts soon.”
I gazed across the yard to the kids all gathered around the dunk tank we’d set up. Arrow was sitting inside, already soaked, while Travis picked up a football to throw at the target. Andi said something, and he held out the ball and she took it, putting her back into the throw.
It fell short and hit the ground. Arrow cheered that he got to stay above water.
Travis picked her up and ran at the tank, stopping in front of the button.
“Cheater!” Arrow hollered so loud I heard him where I was, and Andi’s laugh burst into the wind when she slammed her hand down on it and Arrow went under.
“We have to protect her.” Turning back to them, I said, “I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect them.”
Gamble nodded. “As will I. I’ll make a few calls. Light an inferno under some asses.”
I knew everyone was doing everything they could, but it just wasn’t enough.
“And you can bring them with. I’ll send my plane for you. My house is secure. You can stay with me,” Gamble added.
“What do you think, T?” Drew asked, and I met his unsure gaze.
I thought it over and nodded. “Okay. As long as you’re ready to announce your retirement.”
“I’m ready.” Drew was certain.
“Then in two days, we’ll make it GearShark official.”