AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Yeah. I do this kinda stuff all the time. I'm used to it," he replied.
Eli nodded. "Hunter, I know things are tough for your family financially right now, but does your mom ever have a night off of work?"
"Yeah, she's off Sundays."
"Awesome. Listen, I'm going to leave three tickets to the second game on Sunday at Will Call. Just give them your name, okay? It's on me."
Hunter's mouth fell open. "W-what? To a playoff game?"
Holly smiled at his reaction. This kid was getting the red-carpet treatment, and his reactions were truly priceless.
"Yep. Accessible seating too. I got someone who can hook you up. Food and drinks will be free, too."
"For real? I've never been to a game in person," he said, sounding awed. "Thank you! Are you sure it's okay?"
"Sure." Eli handed him the box of cupcakes. "Go with your family and have a good time. And be our good luck charm, okay?"
"This has been the best day of my whole life," Hunter declared. "The best day ever."
Eli smiled as Hunter threw his arms around his waist. He bent down to return the boy’s hug. "I'm glad you're happy. What do you say, want Holly to take a few more pictures of us before we take off?"
"Yeah!"
Hunter handed over his phone again, and she snapped a bunch of photos. Hunter couldn’t stop grinning as he and Eli joked around, taking a few silly pics together before taking some regular selfies.
She handed him back the phone, and he looked through the photos. "These are so awesome. I can't wait to show Jackson all of these pics."
As they headed back out into the Vegas heat, Hunter stopped his chair next to them. "Thank you so much, Eli. For everything."
"No worries. Be careful going home, okay?" Eli told him. "We'll catch up soon. Remember, I'm going to come to one of your games. Just have fun out there. That's all that matters."
"I will. And go Kingsnakes! You guys have to win the Cup!"
Eli laughed as they bumped fists. "I promise, we'll do our best. See you later, bud."
"That was so awesome of you." Holly elbowed him gently in the ribs. "I'm excited for Hunter. I'm not sure there's a happier little boy in Vegas right now."
He shrugged as they entered the parking garage. "The kid has had it tough, and his family is still struggling. He needs some happiness. I almost lost it when he got all choked up about the sled league. Fuck, I can't imagine what it must be like for him, you know? He's such a cool little guy, too."
"You made a fan for life. Lunch, selfies, sled league, a playoff game..." She hesitated. "Are you really going to go see him play?"
"Hell yeah! I love doing that kind of stuff. It makes their day when you do something personal for them, and it takes so little effort. I've been on the other side where he is. Not facing that much adversity, of course, but I know what it's like to hope your favorite player will stop to take a picture or sign an autograph. I've had good experiences and shitty ones as a kid fan, and I promised myself if I ever got into the league, I'd do everything I could to make sure the little fans went home happy if they met me."
"Do you do stuff like this often?"
He held the key fob out in front of him and unlocked the car. "I do. But I don't want that listed in your feature. I don't want accolades for that."
"Okay, but I have to say, I like this side of you," she told him as they got into the car. "Way more than the cocky, swagger-filled dude who was always chasing skirts and banging bunnies."
"Those days are gone, because I'm only chasing you, kitten. But you act like I can't be one if I'm the other," he pointed out. "And that's not true."
"Point taken. You're fantastic with kids, though."
"I guess. It's funny though, as much as I like kids, I don't want any myself. I have no interest in being a father."
"Seriously?"
"Are we off the record?"
