Carson interrupts, “Are you kidding me? Brody Meyer, one of the league’s all-time greatest quarterbacks, is your older brother?”
Her cheeks heat darker, if that’s possible.
“My one and only.”
Knowing I need to put Dakota out of her misery, I ask, “Hey, Carse, could you go check on Cadence? I think I heard her just now. She might have woken up from her nap.”
Without another word, Carson runs from the room. “I’m coming, Cadey Cat!” If there’s one person he loves most in this world, it’s Cadence.
Shaking my head, I turn back to Dakota. “I’m sorry about him. He’s a great guy, I swear. He just—he can be like a puppy dog sometimes.”
She covers her mouth to hide her chuckles. “I think he and I will get along just fine. If I get the job, that is.”
“I’m going to cut to the chase. I’m very much a person who picks up on vibes others put off. And I sense you’re wanting this job for more reasons than just to occupy your time,” I pause, and Dakota looks down at her hands folded in her lap.
“When it comes down to it, I’m looking for something to do while my husband works. He has a very demanding job, working long hours, and I’m bored of only being a housewife.” Her tone shifts, and maybe it’s just that she’s shy, but she sounds hesitant to admit that aloud.
“Well, I’m just glad you applied for the job. I’d love to have you meet Cadence when she wakes up. If you pass the final test—getting her approval—then you’re hired.”
“Oh my goodness, I was not expecting this. I mean, I had hoped it would go well. But I thought my interviewing skills were so rusty you’d pick someone else for sure.”
Just then, Carson enters the room with a smiling Cadence on his hip.
“What’d we miss?” He raises a brow. Cadence looks from me to Dakota and smiles so big her little dimple pops. Cadence claps her hands together, wiggling her body excitedly in Carson’s arms.
“I offered Dakota the position. And I’m hoping she’s about to accept the offer.”
She stands up and heads over to Carson and Cadence. “Of course, I accept! Look at this darlin’. How could I say no to this smile?”
Carson’s face lights up. “I do have a great smile, don’t I? I had braces for two years in middle school and haven’t lost any teeth on the ice yet.”
“I wasn’t talking about you, Golden Boy,” Dakota taunts so quietly I barely hear it.
“Hear that, Mack? She’s already got a nickname for me.” He ruefully wiggles his eyebrows, then looks at Dakota, “Careful, Austin, I might develop a crush.”
“I’m actually from Dallas.”
Carson just shakes his head and smiles at her. I haven’t seen this look from him before. It’s like he’s enamored. I’ll have to break it to him later that she said she’s married.
It’s Carson’s and my twenty-first birthday today. We didn’t go out last night at midnight because I had a match earlier today. But Carse is refusing to let me back out of going out. He even arranged for Dakota to watch Cadence for me.
Our parents are joining us tonight at the bars. It might seem strange to have your parents join your twenty-first birthday, but we’re both so close with them that it wouldn’t feel right to celebrate this milestone without them.
A group of our friends met us downtown tonight to celebrate and we’re at a bar by the arena Carson plays at, The Wolf Den. Brooke, Alexa, and a few of my other teammates are on the dance floor while I’m at the long table we reserved for the night, taking a shot with Carson and Ian.
Ian was Carson’s roommate for the past two years, up until Carson signed with the Wolverines and bought his house this summer.
When I grabbed a shot from his hand earlier and took it, Ian teased me, “You already stole my roommate. Now you’re stealing my liquor? That’s it. You owe me a dance.”
Ian and I have had an easygoing friendship since Carson introduced me to him. Over the past few months, though, he’s turned up the charm and flirted endlessly with me. I can’t say I hate the attention though. It’s been almost two years since I’ve danced with a guy.
I’m laughing, and my cheeks are flushed as Ian leads me out onto the makeshift dance floor. Wrapping his arms around my waist, Ian pulls my back flush to his chest and before I know it, we’re getting lost in the music, finding our rhythm together. After a few songs go by, I’m buzzed from the liquor and the music flowing through me.
Wait, I’m literally buzzing.
I realize then that it’s my phone vibrating in the back pocket of my jeans.
Looking down at my phone, I see it’s a call from an unknown caller. I’m not even sure why I do it, but I pull away from Ian before hitting the green button.
