“Jasmine! No way!” He puts the beers down on the table and wraps me in a hug that lifts me off my feet. “It's been years. You look amazing. Logan, you didn't tell me you were bringing Jasmine.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Logan says.
“Mission accomplished.” Nolan steps back and looks at me with open, uncomplicated warmth. “How are you? What are you doing now? Tell me everything.”
“She's a lawyer,” Logan says.
“A lawyer? That's awesome. What kind?”
“Corporate. I handle sponsorship contracts.”
“For the Renegades,” Logan adds.
Nolan's eyebrows go up. “You work for the Renegades? That's incredible. Does that mean you come to the games?”
“She does,” Logan says, and his hand finds the small of my back.
Dom appears from the kitchen, and his face breaks into a wide smile. “Jasmine. I was hoping it would be you.”
“You knew?”
“I had a feeling when Logan said he was bringing someone.” He hugs me and then steps back and reaches for the woman beside him. “Jasmine, this is my fiancée, Sarah.”
Sarah is petite with kind eyes and a warm smile. She extends her hand and I take it. “I've heard so much about you,” she says. “Dom talks about you all the time. The girl from the old neighborhood who became a big-shot lawyer.”
“I don't know about big-shot,” I say.
“Take the compliment,” Dom says. “Sarah doesn't give them out easily.”
“That's not true,” Sarah says, swatting his arm. “I'm very generous with compliments. I told your mother her lamb smells wonderful.”
“That's survival, not generosity,” Dom murmurs so Cat can’t hear.
Sarah laughs. I like her immediately. She's wearing a simple blue dress, flats, and her hair is pulled back in a ponytail.
She leans in close to my ear. “I'm so glad you're here. It's nice not to be the only outsider at the table.”
Cat calls us to the table. She's made a big effort tonight, which means she had time to prepare after Logan's call yesterday. She knew he was bringing someone. She just didn't know it would be me.
The lamb is perfect, and the potatoes are golden and crisp. The salad has pomegranate seeds, feta, and a dressing that tastes homemade. Cat Shaw is a wonderful cook. She always was. Still, sitting at this table eating her food while she watches me from the other end is a specific kind of torture.
The first half of dinner is fine. George asks Logan about the Carolina game. Logan gives him a short rundown. Nolan tellsa story about a road trip mishap with the Runners that makes everyone laugh. Dom talks about his thesis, and Sarah mentions they've started looking at wedding venues.
Cat visibly stiffens at the mention of the wedding but says nothing.
I eat my food and answer questions when they're directed at me. Nolan asks about the firm. George asks a surprisingly detailed question about sports sponsorship law that tells me he's been reading about it. Dom asks how I'm finding the Renegades organization, and I tell him they're a first-class operation.
Cat pours wine, smiles, and is the perfect host. But she doesn’t directly speak to me once.
Halfway through the main course, the conversation turns to Logan's career. George brings up the contract talks that are coming up next season. Logan's current deal expires in eighteen months, and the negotiation window opens soon.
“It's a critical time,” George says. “This season sets the tone for the rest of your career. You need to be focused.”
“I'm focused, Dad.”
“I know you are. I'm just saying that the season matters. Everything you do on and off the ice will be part of the negotiation.”
Cat sets her wine glass down. “Your father is right. This is the most important stretch of your career, Logan. You need to surround yourself with people who understand that.”
