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“You said you just moved to the area. What brought you here?”
“A job. I just started with the Kingsmen as an athletic trainer.”
He blinks a couple of times. “Wow, that’s amazing. I’ll bet that’s an interesting job. Do you have to travel with the team to all their away games?”
I nod and we chat while Bryce and William carry on their own conversation. I learn that Bennett is a California native but moved up here from San Diego eight years ago when he took a job with a tech start-up company. He has two sisters and is the baby of the family, and his parents are divorced.
By the time the waiter comes over with our drinks and takes our food order, I’ve decided that although Bennett is an attractive man who seems somewhat charming, it’s not a love match. There’s no spark.
Of course, there won’t be any love matches until a certain someone gets out of my head, and I have no idea how to go about doing that.
Regardless, I decide to give this date my all. Who knows? Maybe by the end of dinner, there will be a magic spark of romance between Bennett and me. God knows I’d welcome it.
Nineteen
Lee
The universe has a sick sense of humor.
Miles is a great best friend, but he’s been a thorn in my side lately. He’s so hell-bent on preventing me from falling into some depression, he’s been at my place more than his own since my injury. And then he planned this dinner with some of the guys to get me out of the house. I have no desire whatsoever to be here, but Brady insisted that Hard Rock distillery has better whiskey than what is served at other bars and restaurants around the city, that they keep their good stuff only at their place. Cole Webber, his family friend, told him so. Although I’m not supposed to be drinking, a nice stiff drink is the only thing that sounds good tonight.
So here I am with Miles, Chase, Brady—and apparently Shayna… and her date.
Because sure as shit, when I glance at the patio, I have a perfect view of Shayna on what appears to be a double date with Bryce. But she’s too wrapped up in her conversation with the Ken doll lookalike sitting beside her to notice me.
“You hear me, Burrows?”
Brady’s voice drags me back to where my attention should be.
“Sorry, what’d you say?” With my good arm, I bring my drink to my lips and down a decent-sized swig.
“I asked whether medical has told you what day you’re gonna get the sling off.”
“After this Sunday’s game. They have to run some more tests first to confirm.” I take another swig. Brady’s right. Whatever he asked for when the waitress came is the best whiskey I’ve ever tasted.
“You’ll be back on the field in no time,” Miles says. He gives me a look that says if I believe it, it will happen.
“I fucking hope so. Sitting around doing nothing all day isn’t for me. Fuck retirement, they’ll have to drag me off the field before I stop playing.”
Brady shrugs. “Hey now. You can settle down, start a family?”
“We can’t all be number one, dad,” Chase grumbles.
I met Brady’s son, Theo, at practice last week. That kid has buckets of energy and goes like the Energizer Bunny. I don’t know how Brady can split his focus between his son and the game, but I give him props for being so involved in his kid’s life. God knows I would’ve appreciated having a parent like him when I was growing up.
I glance at Shayna’s table as she throws her head back and laughs. Is that who does it for her these days? A fucking comedian?
“You’re right. There can only be one of us to hold that distinction.” Brady grins and takes a pull from his beer. “None of you ever think of getting serious with anyone?” He looks around the table at the three of us.
I can’t help the way my gaze darts to Shayna at his question.
Miles sits directly across from me and must notice that my attention is divided because he glances over his shoulder and turns to look back at me, then back at her table, then back at me with a frown. He’s obviously spotted Shayna.
“Not a fucking chance,” Chase says.
“You’d have to get more words in your vocabulary and a personality first,” Brady jokes.
Chase scowls. Nothing new there.
