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Finn offers a soft smile. “I know. I just…wanted to.”
6
FINN
“So, what d’you think?” Shay asks, once he’s done outlining one of the most ridiculous proposal plans I’ve ever heard. But, then again, Aidan recently proposed to his boyfriend at someone else’s wedding, so anything Shay does is bound to top that.
“Glitter?” I ask skeptically. “That seems a little…messy.”
“Let me worry about the clean up,” he says. “I just need your help with setting everything up. You’re going to be in Manhattan for Christmas, right?”
“Brooklyn, technically, but yeah.”
“Good, then you’ll be able to help.” And I can tell from the tone of his voice there’s no point even attempting to argue. Not that I really would anyway; yeah, it’s going to be a bitch helping Shay pull off this elaborate set up, but it’ll be worth it once I see that ring on Jamie’s finger. Shay’s done so much for me over the years—he deserves a little payback now.
After ending the call with Shay, I head into my bathroom and finally finish getting ready for my evening out. He called me just as I was getting everything ready for a shave, and after spending the past half hour talking on the phone, I’m now officially running late. I quickly shave and then get dressed in one of the few suits I own. I don’t really have time to style my hair like I’d planned, so I decide I’m going for the whole tousled bed hair look tonight.
Before I exit my bedroom, I remember to snap a picture of myself in the mirror and send it to Ellie.
Me:[photo]
Me:Can you guess what I’m wearing underneath?
Ellie Fox:Something like this?
Ellie Fox:[photo]
“Ah, fuck,” I groan. Just when I think I’m getting the upper hand, she goes and sends me a picture of her ass covered in black lace panties.
Me:Possibly…
Ellie Fox:What’s the occasion?
Me:Booster dinner. Biggest fundraiser of the year
Ellie Fox:Ahh the good old booster club. So many memories…
My brows creep up at that. I know Ellie’s fit and active, and she’s into a lot of the same extreme adventure stuff Aidan is, but I’ve never picked her as a varsity athlete.
Me:You played sport in high school?
Ellie Fox:Alas, no. I’ve been disappointing my father since LONG before my transition. He’s the head of the BC for my high school’s football team. He’s like a real life Buddy Garrity except not as jolly or fond of his daughter
My heart hurts as I read the text because, despite the flippant words I know her parents’ “disapproval” is a tender spot. Apparently things have only gotten more strained since Ellie and Aidan came out publicly a couple months ago; it’s something Ellie expected and says she was fully prepared for, but it doesn’t make it a whole lot easier.
Me:He sounds like a total dick. Fortunately none of the folks in our BC are like that. It’s not all political and shit. They just want what’s best for the team
I put my phone away as my Lyft pulls up to the restaurant where the event is being held. The crowd is already bustling when I get inside; as I said to Ellie, this is the biggest fundraiser of the year.
The first game of the season will be a few weeks after the winter break, so tonight is our opportunity to announce the team, introduce the new players, and reveal the new jersey design for this season. Not every team is lucky enough to get fresh jerseys every year, but we have a really amazing Booster Club, and, let’s face it, the vast majority of people here tonight have money to burn—why not invest it in their kid’s rugby team?
“Finn!”
I spin around at the sound of my name and find myself face-to-face with a beaming Ross Kenning—KC’s father and the head of the Booster Club. I grin and gladly accept the beer he’s offering me. “Thanks, buddy. Good to see you.”
I like Ross. He was a senior and the superstar of the Carmichael team when I first came here on a scholarship as a freshman. I was a fifteen-year-old who’d never been away from home before and Ross really looked out for me; I’ve always appreciated that. We lost touch for a while after he went off to college and I became busy with my professional career, but reconnected when I came back to Carmichael to coach about six years ago. He’s definitely a handy guy to have in your corner.
Ross runs his gaze over my attire, looking unimpressed. “When was the last time you pulled that thing out of mothballs before tonight?”
