“Yeah. You’re stuck with us. This was technically our school first.”
“I don’t know about that. Leighton’s kids were coming here way before any of your kids.”
The Falcons and Colts rivalry to own this city will probably never die.
“Jade and Henry went here as kids. So sorry.” Her shoulders lift. “You lose.”
I catch sight of Penelope across the room, talking to Leighton and another mom. “I didn’t lose.”
“Oh my, you’re a goner already.” She leans in. “Is she the one? The one you were talking about that time we had donuts and hot chocolate?”
I nod.
“Ah, Deck.” She punches me in the chest. “I’m so happy for you. But the manager’s daughter.” She cringes. “Oh, hey!” She pulls her phone out of her back pocket and thumbs around before lifting it to show me something. “I’m a follower.”
She shows me that @HandsOffDeck Insta account that has made it their job to try to save my spot on the team. It’s truly a waste of their time, but I appreciate the sentiment.
“Thanks.”
“You’ll be fine. Want to take up hockey again?” She laughs, knowing I sucked at hockey as a kid when I played with her brothers. “Tweetie’s retiring this year.”
“I heard something about that.”
“This one is all his.” She runs her hands down her belly again. “And it’s a boy, so be on the lookout. I have a feeling he won’t be as guarded as my little girl.” She glances back and smiles.
The few times I’ve met Addison, she doesn’t seem like the hellion you might expect would come from Tweetie and Tedi. More cautious, like Hazel.
“Anyway.” She hugs me again. “Congrats on finally stepping out of your own way. Don’t be a stranger.” Then she walks away and shouts across the gym, “Babe, Decker’s here.”
Tweetie nods at me but doesn’t smile. Not sure he ever got over me pretending to be Tedi’s boyfriend to keep him at arm’s length.
“Thanks.” A hand grips my shoulder, and I look to my right, seeing Ripley.
“For what?”
“For making my granddaughter the best hula hooper in the world.”
I chuckle and stuff my hands in my pockets. I don’t like feeling as if I’m keeping things from Mark, but at the same time, if we tell him, it puts him in a bad position we don’t want to put him in. I’m probably not going to be a Colt next year, so we can hold off and tell him after the season ends.
“She’s a natural,” I say. “I didn’t see you come in.”
“I slid in the back. Chicago traffic.” The way he’s looking at me, I have to wonder if he’s telling the complete truth. “Anyway, I gotta go and prepare for tomorrow. Keep this up, Deck, and you’ll be buying the stuffed animals at the airport gift shops soon, not me.” He raises his eyebrows and claps me on the shoulder again before walking toward Hazel.
I watch him say goodbye, hug her, then Penelope. There’s no way he knows. He’s just suspicious.
“I say we just take them right here,” Easton says, as my three teammates huddle around me with juice cups and cookies in their hands.
What world have we morphed into?
“What are you talking about?” I frown.
“The Falcons. Do you see everyone eyeing them and trying to ask them questions? I mean, we’re the Colts. We’re just as good.”
“Technically, they have how many Cups, and how many series have we won?” I raise my eyebrows.
Foster and Hayes look at the Falcons in the corner of the room.
“Tweetie’s retiring,” I say. “We all have our golden years left and they’re retiring soon. They’ll start having more babies.”
