“True.” He pauses. “So, my sister has been hanging out with you while she’s been there, by the sounds of it?”
If there’s any suspicion at all on his part of any wrongdoing between us, he doesn’t show it. I’m sure it’s the last thing he’d be thinking. “Yeah, kinda. She’s a superb cook,” I say. No point lying about that, but also not adding that she made me breakfast. I don’t want it to sound weird. “I don’t know about these dance lessons, though.”
“A little late in the game to be worrying about that,” Tanner says. “Deb hauled my ass to dance lessons months ago for our bridal waltz.”
“Fuck, really? That sounds intense.”
“Tell me about it,” he sighs.
“I guess you are the ones getting hitched, so all eyes will be on you.”
“As long as I don’t trip over my own feet, I should be okay.”
I laugh. “Well, I’ve no idea what Jade has planned for us, but I guess as the maid of honor and best man, she wanted us to put our best foot forward just for you guys.”
“You know Jade,” he laughs.
“Don’t I ever. Determined little thing when she wants something.”
“Well, don’t let her boss you around too much. The last thing you want is to twist an ankle or something right before the game and the wedding.”
I laugh at the idea of me even attempting to put a dance routine together. Though a part of me is intrigued because I’ve always been good at anything I put my mind to. I will ensure this will be no different, no matter what I say. “I’ll be careful. I’m looking forward to coming out there,” I say. “Nevada will be a definite change of pace.” Of course, we played plenty in Vegaslast year when we beat Vegas Heat in the playoffs, and won the Stanley Cup, but I haven’t spent much time there.
“It’s gonna be epic,” he says. “You should see how much Luca has grown, too.”
Ah. My favorite little guy. I can’t help but smile at hearing his son’s name. He’s the sweetest little thing, and he loves his Uncle JJ. “I’m looking forward to seeing you all, especially my favorite little man.”
“He’ll be beside himself. Deb and I are looking forward to seeing you, too.”
“Thanks man.”
“Well, good luck with this afternoon, just remember you’re the one that’s supposed to lead, so our dance instructor keeps telling me, anyway.”
I laugh. “I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Give Jade a hug for me. She’s been a bit down lately, hopefully Beth is helping her take her mind off things.”
My eyebrows pull together as I drive into the stadium, navigating my way to my regular parking spot. I’m listening to Tanner on speaker phone. “What things?”
“With that asshole, Aaron.”
My face drops hearing her ex’s name. I don’t know much about the guy, but already I sense I don’t like him. “Yeah, she mentioned she broke up with someone. I didn’t think it was overly serious, she kinda down played it.”
“Have you heard of Aaron Carson?”
“No, but he already sounds like a schmuck.”
“Yeah, well, he’s a huge one. He’s some up-and-coming basketball dick for the South Bay Lakers, in the G League. In my opinion he shacked up with Jade way too fast, and I don’t think Jade is telling us the full story of how they broke up.”
I balk at the screen in my car, even though I can’t see Tanner. “Uh, what?” Nope. She never mentioned any of that.
“Okay, so I’m guessing she didn’t tell you anything.”
“Why the hell would she tell me?”
“You two have always had that common ground I guess, after—” His long pause isn’t lost on me, but one thing I’ve always been able to do is fill in the gaps.
“After your parents thought I was gonna jump off that cliff?” I hate going back to that time in my mind, not one of my finest moments in time.
