Dakota and Alexa both shake their heads in unison and now I’m confused.
“No, my brother, unfortunately, doesn’t do interviews during games. He’s even added it to this contract that he can’t be penalized for refusingan interview before or during games,” Dakota explains. “He’s weird about that after an interview gone wrong earlier in his career.”
“Yeah, and I’m typically in charge of interviewing the visiting players post-game anyways,” Alexa adds.
“Ah, bummer! Well, we’ll be watching and wishing you luck,” Kenna tells her.
“Do you go to a lot of your brother’s home games?” I ask Dakota, biting back a moan that wants to slip free when the nail tech begins massaging my feet.
“As many as I’m able to, though I haven’t been to any of his holiday games since the twins were born. They love going with us to watch uncle Brody whenever they can. What are y’all doing, Scar?”
I let a half-contented and half-frustrated sigh slip free. “Well, this has been a point of contention because Bennett’s father refuses to celebrate the holiday on any day other than Thanksgiving. So we’ll be spending the early afternoon with his family, and having a late dinner with my grandparents. Honestly, it’s my first time bringing a significant other to a holiday, so juggling between families is new for me.”
“For Bennett too, I’m sure. I don’t think in all the years I’ve known him that he’s had a serious relationship,” Kenna tells me.
“What are y’all doing with your free Saturday next weekend?” Dakota asks. “The guys don’t have a game, they won’t be on the road, and they have a late home game Sunday so Coach said they could have the day off.”
“Really? I guess I hadn’t noticed. Some days I can barely remember what day of the week it is lately,” Kenna admits, covering her mouth as she yawns.
“Well if you’re all free, maybe we could do a Friendsgiving at our place,” I suggest before I can think better of it.
“Wait, that would be amazing! We’ve never done that before. We could do a combination Friendsgiving slash engagement party slash housewarming party for you and Bennett!” Kenna sounds far too excited for someone who was just yawning, and now I’m immediately overwhelmed.
I’m also second-guessing if Bennett will think I’ve overstepped by inserting myself into his friend group. Becoming friends with the ladies is one thing, intruding on his friendships with his teammates is another.
Before I can think of a way out of it, Kenna’s phone rings and Griff is on speaker telling her he hopes she’s having fun and to take her time, but asks if she wants him to thaw milk for a bottle or if she’d prefer to nurse Rowen.
“I’ll be home in probably fifteen minutes, we’re just finishing up. If you can hold off the hangry little guy, I’d prefer to nurse him, but I get it if he’s being a gremlin,” Kenna says into the phone.
“My little man? He’s never a gremlin,” Griff says with a chuckle. “Oh, the guys are also over with the kids, and we just ordered food so tell the girls if they want to join us for lunch, they’re more than welcome.”
“Which guys are there?” she asks him.
“Carse, Jax, and Benny,” he says simply.
His answer sends alarm bells ringing through my ears. Shit, I typically don’t leave Gunner with Gemma alone for very long just because I worry she’ll have sugar issues and Gunner is too little to know what to do.
I pull up my text thread with Gemma and send her a quick message.
Me:
Hey, how’s everything going?
Gemma:
Great . . . just like the three other times you’ve asked.
Me:
That’s good! Doing anything fun?
Gemma:
Well I was about to hold a super cute baby until you decided to be paranoid for the tenth time today.
Guilt floods me for not only assuming Bennett left them alone, but I also need to do a better job of trusting that he can take care of them if I’m not there. Easier said than done when I’ve been doing this alone for the most part over the past five years.
“I think I’ve got to talk to Benny and Scar, though. Gunner is far too enamored with Cadence for my liking,” Griff says over the phone and my heart squeezes at the thought of Gunner making new friends, even if said friend’s dad is clearly overbearing.
