“Hey, man, hurry up,” Marco urges, phone in hand. “The girls are waiting on us.”
Nick nods apologetically and grabs his shirt, pulling it over his head.
“Oh, yeah, I saw your sister’s in town, dude!” Sunny enthuses a couple stalls over. “She gonna be at the game on Saturday? Marlowe would be psyched to see her again.”
“That’s the plan, yeah,” Marco confirms. “I’ll tell her to text Mars tomorrow.” Sunny’s girlfriend is the same age as Marco’s sister, and Nick remembers them getting along pretty well last season.
The three women are gathered in the players’ lounge by the time they make it out, and Sofia immediately launches herself at her big brother.
“Get off’a me,” Marco grumbles, making her laugh.
“Good to see you too, jerk.” She kisses his cheek, letting him go. “Good game tonight. Let’s go home, I’m freakingwiped.” Then she drapes an arm around Nick’s waist, tucking herself under his arm. “Hey, Nick. I hear you have a surprise for us?”
Nick looks up at his best friend in alarm—surely he didn’t tell her about Matt?—but Marco just grins.
“She doesn’t know about the tickets.”
Oh. That kind of surprise. “Right. Well, ladies”—he reaches out for Bianca, settling between the pair of petite women—“how would you two feel like going out on Halloween to a little party some friends of ours are throwing at the House of Blues?”
“Nofuckingway!” Bianca squeals in his ear. “Sticks+Stones? You got tickets?”
“Trixy here made friends with the frontman,” Marco teases, tweaking the brim of Nick’s ball cap.
“Wait, I’m sorry, what’s your Snapchat streak with Casey these days?” He’s not the only one making fast friends with rockstars.
“You’ve been holding out on us,” Sofia accuses, clicking her tongue in disapproval.
“I’ll tell you everything when we get home. Promise,” Nick vows. In front of him, Lindsay giggles impishly.
Well, maybe noteverything.
While they’re driving back to Marco’s from the arena—Nick in the front passenger seat with the three women squeezed into the back—Nick’s phone buzzes, and he surreptitiously pulls it out of his pocket.
Matt
Hey, congrats on the win! I figured you have plans tonight but I’m finally back from that interview in Reno, so if you don’t… ;)
Nick
Sorry babe, I’ve been captured already, staying at Marco’s tonight.
Matt
Bummer.
Think you’ll be able to make some time for me before Halloween? I miss you
Nick’s heart jumps, and he has to swallow hard—he probably doesn’t mean that the way it sounds, right?
Nick
Aww, did you get lonely while I was gone? ;)
Idk tho my schedule is pretty tight, especially evening-wise. Got a charity thing tomorrow night. I could maybe do Sunday? Just gotta leave early for morning skate
Matt
Double bummer :P
