Page 153 of Hat Trick
The answer is stilted, and I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it, so I switch gears. “What else is on the agenda tonight?”
“Besides hoping all those dudes lose their parlays? I thought maybe we could go bowling or to see a late-night movie. My apartment is starting to feel lonely when I’m there by myself, and as much as I like to be alone, I don’t like to be isolated and sad.”
“My door is always open,” I say, putting a hand back on her knee. “If you ever want company. Any time of day or night.”
“Thanks, Mitchy. I’ll keep that in mind.” Her foot kicks mine, and it feels like we’re the only people in the room. “Let’s order eight rounds of french fries. Shared custody and all of that.”
“Co-parenting. Very mature of us.”
She laughs and so do I. We go through three baskets of fries and start making up stories about who we think the finance bros might be. Her theories make me cackle until my sides hurt, and we never make it to bowling. We close down the restaurant, only leaving when the server turns off the lights and kicks us out. On the walk back to my place, I do the cheesy shoulder trick on her so she’s in my arms. I bend my neck to hear what she has to say and kiss her cheek. And when I drag her to my bed and pull her close, her thigh thrown over mine, I fuck her nice and slow until she’s begging me for more, and it’s the best non-date I’ve ever been on.
FORTY-ONE
RILEY
Puck Kings
Me
This is embarrassing, but is anyone free to help me with something this afternoon?
Easy E
Uh oh. Did you get something stuck somewhere it shouldn’t be stuck?
Been there, man. Sucks.
Me
Uh, no.
G-Money
Sometimes it amazes me you’re just out there walking around with the rest of the population, Ethan.
Easy E
I’ve made it 23 years. I’m doing justtttttt fine.
Huddy Boy
Madeline and Lucy are having a girls’ day, and I’d love to help.
Mavvy
Emmy is out of town, and if I sit around the apartment by myself for another second, I’m going to go out of my mind. Count me in.
Huddy Boy
Liam?
Sully
No.
Mavvy
Come on, Liam. It’s Mitchy.
