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“Since she’s been with Bradley, your time with her has been limited, right?”
I nod again.
“So, eventually one of you is going to meet and marry someone else and your time with her will be even more limited. Plus, I don’t know a lot of women who are okay with their boyfriend having a best friend who is a girl and spending so much time with her.”
He and Damon nod in unison as if it were choreographed.
“Then she’s not the one for me.” I shrug. “And if I met someone, she would never take me away from Ellery.”
I get where Miles is coming from. I’ve had the same thoughts over the years. The older we get, the better the chances are of one of us meeting someone serious and our friendship becoming strained. I hope it’s not Bradley, but she’s spent a lot of time with him lately. And she’s always smiling and laughing, so I assume she really likes him. I can’t stomach asking her about it.
The pilot gets on the intercom and announces that we’re starting our descent.
“I hope it turns out for you,” Miles says.
“Even if you’re being delusional about the whole thing. The only way to keep her in your life is to admit you want her and take the plunge.” Damon chimes in with his two cents.
“I’m not delusional. Haven’t you ever worried about losing someone?” I ask.
“Do you have any idea how horrible it could’ve been for me if Adeline and I hadn’t turned out the way we have? She would’ve been a part of my life, no matter what, for the rest of my life. We share a child. But I took the chance. And it paid off—big time.” He grins.
The difference is that we’re completely different people, and they have no idea what Ellery and I have been through together. Damon and Adeline have never almost lost the other one for good.
The plane lands on the runway, and I’m thankful to end this conversation. Neither of them understands what’s at stake if I lose my friendship with Ellery.
We win the game against the Kingsmen, and since fog has descended on the area, we’re stuck in San Francisco until morning. Usually, I only go out with the team a couple of times in a season, but since Miles used to play for the Kingsmen and still has friends on the team, I decided to join them.
We’re at the hotel bar, having a drink while we wait for the cars we ordered. Looks like a lot of the single guys are going out tonight. We’re at the part of the season where everyone needs to blow off some steam.
“Lee, Brady, and Chase are all meeting us at the club. Already reserved a few VIP sections.” Miles shoves his phone into his pocket.
I tip my beer to my lips. “Sounds good.”
Bradley hangs out farther down the bar with a few of the newer guys. He appears to be the loudest one between them, which doesn’t surprise me. I’ve wondered why Ellery likes him because she was attracted to me at one time too, and we’re very different. I’m more reserved, keeping to myself while Bradley makes sure everyone knows he’s in the room.
I’ve got to shake this comparison game I’ve got going on in my head. It’s not like I’ve made myself available to Ellery after that night. Nothing scared me more.
Someone comes in and tells us our rides are here, so we all tally the bills and file out to the cars. As usual, I’m with Damon and Miles.
The club has a long line outside—probably because it’s a Thursday night. I hate the weekday games, but at least I’ve got Sunday off this week.
We get out, and the doormen surround us, allowing us in while people either call our names or say we suck ass since we beat their team. The three Kingsmen are already in the VIP section, drinking around a round table.
“You look like a bunch of old men,” Miles says, yawning.
“Talk to your nephew,” Chase says.
It’s obvious to me that Chase doesn’t really want to be here, but he’s marrying Miles’s sister. I’m not sure this is his scene.
“And I owe Twyla…” Miles cuts him a look, and Chase chuckles. “I’ll keep it to myself. But I’m indebted to her for letting me go out tonight, even if I’d rather be anywhere else than at a club.”
“None of your wives came?” Damon asks.
“Please, your ass wouldn’t even be here if they played in Chicago,” I say.
“I did enough partying before Adeline that it’s out of my system.” He smiles and waves over the waitress with that usual charm of his.
She’s all smiles, looking over each one of us. “What can I get you?”
