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She clasps her hands. “Um… are you Titans players?”
The fact she has to ask tells me she’s not a Titans fan, but assuredly just someone dazzled by professional athletes. I’m prepared to admit the truth, but Van says, “It’s sweet that you think that, but we’re here for an insurance seminar.”
“Oh,” she replies, face crumpling slightly. “I just thought… you know, you are all so big.”
“Insurance is a demanding career,” Van explains with a straight face. “Long days carrying heavy briefcases. We all work out to stay in the best shape possible.”
“Right,” she drawls as she nods her head. “Well, at any rate, enjoy your meal. Your waiter will be right with you.”
When she leaves, Bain gives Van a light punch in his arm. “Man… I have to say, getting back with your wife suits you.”
“What are you talking about?” Van peruses the menu, his lips quirked.
“You’re just a lot funnier now that you’re getting laid regularly,” Bain pokes at him.
Van snorts but we all know it’s got nothing to do with getting laid. Although I’m sure that makes for a great marriage, he’s been on cloud nine since learning his wife, Simone, is pregnant.
“There’s Foster,” I say, noticing him come out onto the terrace. The hostess points at our table. “And he doesn’t look happy.”
“The bitch strikes again,” Bain mutters.
Foster has been put through the wringer over the last three weeks by his ex-wife, Sandra. She’s giving him the runaround on his visitation, refusing to bring Bowie Jane when promised and he’s going to have to get the court involved. Only problem is, he can’t do it until after the playoffs are over, so he’s stuck in limbo. On top of that, he’s feeling massive guilt for not being able to handle it right now, feeling as if his job has become more important than his kid.
None of us think that, though.
He flops down into the chair with a sigh, running his hand through his hair.
“Well?” Van prompts, setting the menu down. We all look expectantly at Foster.
He shakes his head. “She says she doesn’t have time to bring Bowie Jane to her parents. I’m going to have to go to California to get her after the playoffs.”
“But she can’t do that,” I point out. “Your custody arrangement says she has to bring her to the East Coast for the summer.”
“Yeah?” Foster grumbles, his eyes cutting over to me. “Well, she doesn’t seem to fucking care. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with her. I mean… she’s always made things hard but she’s never defied the court custody arrangement before.”
“Are you worried about Bowie Jane’s safety?”
“No, not really. I mean… Sandra’s a great mom. Just a lousy ex-wife.”
We’re interrupted by the arrival of the waiter who patiently waits for us to take a quick perusal of the menu. After giving him our food order, I nab my phone and stand up. “I’ll be back. Got to make a quick call.”
“Lilly?” Bain croons teasingly.
“Your mama,” I shoot back with a wink and they all laugh.
But yeah… Lilly. Need to check in.
She answers in a quiet voice on the third ring. “Hey.”
“Any news?” I ask.
“Hold on,” she whispers and I imagine she’s walking out of Aiden’s room. After a few seconds, she speaks in a normal voice. “Still waiting on blood test results but his fever is staying down on Tylenol.”
“You wouldn’t be holding out on me, would you?” I ask and I’m not teasing. I’m dead serious because I know she’s still struggling with sharing burdensome news with me.
This all started yesterday afternoon when I called her just before our team plane took off for the short flight to New Jersey. Aiden had a slight fever but she didn’t tell me that. Instead, she asked a dozen questions about the upcoming game and I could tell she was putting me off. I had to drill down with questions about Aiden to find out he wasn’t feeling well, and the minute she admitted it, I could hear the panic in her voice.
It took fucking everything I had in me to keep my seat on that plane and not run off to the hospital. It was a display of Oscar-worthy acting not to sound freaked out as I forced her to tell me how he was really doing and what the game plan was. And then I had to spend a little time chastising her for not being transparent about it. I reassured her, once again, that we’re in this together.
