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Playing Her Game

Page 14

by M.J. Fields

Lucy perks up immediately. "Did you see that goal!"

"Saw the whole thing, kiddo.”

Lenzin lifts Lucy off his shoulders and sets her down. She runs straight to him, and he scoops her up like she weighs nothing. He's good with her. Patient in a way that shows me what kind of father he’ll be one day.

Aleks drops down beside Sofie and lowers the ice pack. His jaw is already swelling, a dark bruise spreading along the bone.

"Jesus." Nalani leans closer. "That looks awful."

"Feels worse." He chuckles as he kisses the top of Sofie’s head.

"Good." Sofie presses a kiss to his temple. "Maybe next time you won't antagonize someone who outweighs you by twenty pounds."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Lenzin chuckles as he pulls Hildy in front of him, wraps his arms around her, kisses her cheek, while rubbing her belly.

I push off the wall. "I'm going to find the restroom."

"Want company?" Hildy asks.

"I'm fine."

I slip out of the family area before anyone can insist. The corridor stretches ahead, brightly lit and nearly empty now that most of the crowd has cleared out.

My heels click against the polished floor, the sound echoing in the quiet.

The restroom is down the hall, past a concession stand that's already closing. I step inside the ladies, take care of what I need, and wash my hands while looking into the mirror at a reflection of someone polished and composed. Hair still neat, my signature deep red lipstick perfect, my face, flawless. Fancy.

Exiting I notice three men stand near the corridor junction. Chicago jerseys. Beer cups in hand. One of them notices me immediately.

"Brooklyn fan?"

I do not entertain this question, as it’s very obvious, I keep walking.

"Hey. I'm talking to you."

“I wish you wouldn’t,” I say under my breath.

One of them moves into my path. "That's Faulker's number."

I meet his eyes. "Excuse me."

"Faulker and Kilovac, both pieces of shit."

"Move." I demand.

He doesn't.

Another one steps closer, swaying slightly. "You see what your boy Kilovac did? Dirty hit. Should've been suspended."

I straighten my posture. “I’m not having this conversation."

"Yeah, you are."

I try to step around him. He shifts, blocking me again.

The third man laughs. "She's scared."