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“To teamwork and being world champions,” I echo before taking a sip.
“I have a toast too,” Evie announces, raising her glass. “To hockey season being over.” She grins as our drinks meet in the middle.
“Now that’s an awesome toast,” Rori says.
“Hell yes,” Wendy agrees. “I love watching you guys play, but hockey season is long as fuck. I’m looking forward to some quiet time with my man.”
“What are you planning to do with me?” Murphy asks, wiggling his eyebrows lecherously.
“All right, we don’t need details,” Evie cuts in before her best friend can elaborate. “We’re all glad our guys will have a break.”
“I can’t wait to relax on the beach with you,” Rori tells Kaiden.
He leans over, pressing a brief kiss to her lips. “Me too.”
The conversation continues around me as I sip my beer. They’re all looking forward to the offseason so they can spend time together. This will be the first summer with all my friends in serious relationships, and I’m not sure what that’s going to look like for me. As happy as I am for them, I can’t help but mourn the good old days.
Change sucks.
CHAPTER2
CALISTA
“Hi, Mom,”I say, squeezing her tightly. “It’s nice to be home.”
When we part she cups my face. “Thank you, gliko mou. I love when you visit us.”
I smile. I’m thirty-one years old and she still calls me sweet girl. “Where’s Dad?”
She waves her hand toward the windows. “He’s out back with everyone.”
“The boys are already here?” I ask, referring to my younger brothers.
“They are.”
I’m sure my face shows my surprise. “Wow, that’s a first. I never thought I’d see the day they’d be on time.”
“Well, Darius has Evie to keep him on schedule, and Christos and Orion could smell the food for miles,” she explains.
“Yeah, no doubt.” My stomach rumbles loudly, reminding me I haven’t eaten yet.
“Are you hungry, gliko mou?” she asks.
“Yeah, with the catering job I had today, I didn’t have a chance to eat.”
“Let’s get everything set up outside on the table,” she suggests.
“I’ve got this.” I march over to the open sliding glass door. “Boys, get your asses in here and help out.”
Evie is the first to hurry over. Her lips curve as she slides the screen open. “I didn’t know you were here.” Once she’s inside, she gives me a quick hug.
“How have you been?” I ask.
“Great, thanks. And you?”
“Working hard, but I’m not complaining. It beats being unemployed.”
“Right? Or working a job you don’t like.”
