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Seven heads inside without saying another word.
I take a few cautious steps towards her, unsure of what I’m in for.
“I have to get back in there. So, say whatever you need to say that can’t wait until after the game,” I tell her.
“I want to talk about the bet.”
My ears perk up at the word "bet".
How does she know about that and how long has she known?
“What do you know about the bet?” I ask, taking another step closer.
“Toby had a lot of information and I want to know what’s true.”
I hear clamoring behind Penelope, and when I look up towards security, I see the two people I could have avoided seeing before the game.
I hear my dad’s voice echo through the hallway.
“Slade.”
Penelope looks over her shoulder to see the two people getting their IDs checked by the guard, and then he lets them through when he sees I know them. So much for high-security measures around here.
This is not how I wanted Penelope to meet my parents. In fact, if she had agreed to be with me, I would have been happy to live our entire lives without her ever meeting them.
“How did you guys get back here?” I ask, as they continue towards us.
Penelope turns to face them, coming back to stand beside me.
“We’re your parents. Of course, they’re going to let us through.”
My mom is dressed in white linen pants and an expensive cashmere shawl with her hair perfectly in place, and my dad is in designer slacks and Hawkeyes limited edition jacket, his hair more peppered than the last time I saw him.
I look over to see Penelope's face plastered with a smile. She knows enough to know that I don’t get along with my parents.
“Congratulations, honey,” my mom says.
“At least you’ve accomplished something. I’ll be less of a joke at the country club tomorrow morning at tee time with the guys on the golf course if you can pull a Stanley Cup win off tonight,” my dad says.
I glance over at Penelope, watching her perfectly placed smile falter a little bit at my dad’s words. Embarrassment doesn’t express the full extent of how I feel with Penelope witnessing my father’s unwavering disappointment in me.
“Chad, you promised you’d be supportive,” my mom whispers in my dad’s ear, but he waves her off.
“Well, who is this?” my dad asks with the same smile that I inherited and the charm I learned to go with it.
“You are absolutely beautiful, my darling,” my mom says, beaming over at Penelope.
“Yes. Finally, someone normal. Please tell me you’re done sleeping around and you're getting serious with someone,” my dad says.
“Jesus, dad…”
My eyes clamp shut.
The last thing Penelope needs is to be reminded of the reputation I had in college.
“We’re not—” I start but Penelope cuts me off.
“Hi, I’m Penelope Roberts. The administrator of the Hawkeyes’ GM and Slade’s girlfriend.”
