Page 53 of Keeping it Real

Finn looked at Marissa before shifting his gaze back to Alek.The expression on his face was subdued.Sheridan appeared behind Finn almost immediately, as if the boy had unconsciously summoned her.She wore a wide smile.

“Are we ready to go?”The perky tone she spoke with was like fingers on a chalkboard.

“Yeah,” Finn murmured as he bolted in the direction of the exit.

“Good to see you,” Sheridan said to Marissa before racing after her nephew.

Alek’s dad cleared his throat.“I’ll go put this bag in the car.”

His mum extended her hand to Marissa.“It was so lovely chatting with you.Thank you for what you do for the children.I hope to see you again soon.”She rose to her toes and kissed Alek on the cheek.“See you at home later.”

Marissa watched them go.“Um, I need to get going, too.I have some papers to grade.”

Ask her out for a drink, Valentine mimed behind her.

Alek ignored his teammate.“I get that.It’s a busy weekend.I’ll pick you up at five thirty tomorrow?”

She nodded.“I’m looking forward to it.”

Asshole that he was, he let her slip out the door without even the courtesy of a chaste kiss on the cheek like the one his mother had just given him.

Alek arrivedhome a little after nine the following evening.As promised, Picard’s dinner was top-notch.He had to hand it to his teammate, the ambiance of the restaurant was among the best he’d ever eaten in.

Too bad he didn’t enjoy a single minute of it.

“Where is everyone?”he asked when he entered his great room to find only his mother wrapped up in a blanket, reading a book.Alek was surprised at the FOMO he felt when they’d left on their road trip early this morning.He was looking forward to Finn’s retelling of the day.

“Well, hello to you, too,” she said.“We didn’t expect you home so early.”

Alek shed his suit jacket.“We have a game tomorrow.Picard made sure dinner didn’t stretch too long.”

“Ah.”His mother fingered the corner of her paperback.“And Marissa has an early morning tomorrow, I assume.”

He knew what his mother was driving at, but he didn’t want to go there with her.Marissa had more than held her own with the WAGs tonight, wearing a stunning little black dress that did wonders for her generous curves.It didn’t escape his notice that all the guys had eyed her at one point or another.Alek seemed to be the only male who was ambivalent to her.

And that not only pissed him off, but it confused the hell out of him.

The dress had “do me” written all over it.Marissa had also dropped several hints that she’d finished grading her papers last night so that this evening, she’d be free.Allevening.Too bad the only action Alek had been capable of was a good night kiss that wouldn’t win him any style points.

“Yep.”He didn’t elaborate further, instead crouching in front of the fireplace to stoke the fire burning there.“You never answered my question.Where is everyone?”

His mother’s sigh filled the room.“Your father took Hattie for a walk.”

“What?”Alek got to his feet.“Should he be out walking alone?At night?”

“You are being absurd.Your father is perfectly capable of doing normal everyday things.When that changes, I will let you know.”Her tone left no room for argument.

He thrust his fingers through his hair.“Sorry.It’s easier on you because you see him every day.You go with him to see the doctors.I don’t.”

She put her book down on the ottoman, then wrapped her blanket more snuggly around herself.“I get that.Something tells me there is more than your father’s illness making you so edgy, though.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, my life has been turned upside down.”

“Having second thoughts?”

“No,” he answered without hesitation.“None.In fact, I want to hear about Finn’s day.He sounded really excited about the museum.”

“Mmm.”