Page 151 of Hell Bent

“Where’s the excitement if you don’t bet?” he said. “Got to have skin in the game.”

“Not sure I could have stood any extra excitement,” I said.

“Yeah,” LouAnn said, “but that’s because he’s your boyfriend, and he probably gets in a really pissy mood if they lose. I had a boyfriend who put his fist through the wallbecause his fast-pitch softball team lost, and that was recreational. Idiot. I moved out, but not fast enough. I guess Sebastian doesn’t do that, or you’d be gone, because I bet you don’t put up with that kind of shit. But seriously? Stress in your life? You’re going out with an NFL player! I wishIhad that kind of stress.”

This was “none of your business” territory all the way, but I couldn’t help answering. “Sebastian doesn’t get in a pissy mood. He’s an even-keel guy.”

“Well, yeah,” Carlton said. “He’s a kicker. Got to have that real low resting heart rate.”

LouAnn wasn’t done. “Is he going to get, like, millions more dollars a year after this? It seems like they’d pay him millions more dollars. He basically won the game. He got about half their points.”

Carlton said, “More than half. Ten points out of sixteen. He was the difference, all right.”

“I don’t know anything about the money,” I said, even though I probably had a clue. “Not my business.”

“He’s off contract now,” Carlton said, “and you bet he’ll be getting offers. A kicker like that? That’s money in the bank, because he’s, like, Steady Eddie.” He snapped his fingers. “Iceman, that should be his nickname. He’s cool, and he can kick in the snow. I bet he has five, six teams looking at him at least, trying to snap him up once the free-agent market opens in March. That’s going to be a bidding war. Hey, know what’s funny?”

“No,” I said, “but I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.” Unfortunately, we were on break, so I couldn’t do my usual get-back-to-work thing.

Carlton said, “The three teams that popped into my head right off? Jets, Giants, Bills. All New York teams, and he’s from Ottawa, right? Probably likes the snow. I bet that’s where he ends up. Choosing between Buffalo, though, or New YorkCity, with a bunch of money? I mean, Buffalo’s a way better team right now, but Buffalo? You got rainandsnow. I did North Dakota for a while, in the oil shale fields, and no thanks on working outside in that weather.”

“Wait,” LouAnn said. “If he goes to another team, he’s going to take you, right?”

“What?” I asked stupidly.

She said, “I heard a rumor that you’re quitting. It’s the day after the Super Bowl, and suddenly you’re quitting? Not that I blame you. If some big, strong, good-looking guy swooped me up and said, ‘Ditch the Carhartts, because you’re coming to New York City with me to help spend my ten million dollars,’ I’d be out of here so fast, the only thing anybody’d see is my hard hat. That’s because I’dthrowmy hard hat. Is he going to buy you a new car? If he does, ask for a Range Rover, or maybe a Genesis EV70. Those cars are so classy, and they’re SUVs, so you can still carry stuff and go off-road. The Genesis is electric, so you wouldn’t even have to buy gas.”

“Boring, though,” Carlton said. “An SUV instead of a sports car? She’s not going to have to carry anything, and what does she care about gas prices? Not like she’ll be driving to work anymore. Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe, or maybe the Corvette Z06, that’s what I’d get. The Corvette’s got the looks, but the Porsche beats the Ferrariandthe Lamborghini for speed and handling. That thing’s beast mode. Probably a pretty stiff ride, but who cares?”

“Except that no NFL player’s ever going to sweep you off your feet,” LouAnn said.

“Look who’s talking,” Carlton said. “That true, though, Alix? You’re quitting?”

I said, “Rumors get a whole lot wrong. I wouldn’t listen to them. Break’s over. Let’s get back to work.”

That breakfast was sitting pretty heavily in my stomach,and I hadn’t even had whipped cream. I hadn’t been making any life decisions with Sebastian in mind. Had I?

Boy, I hoped not.

Sebastian

If Alix called and told me she was going to the trailer after work, I’d decided, I was going after her. I didn’t know what was going on here, and I needed to.

She showed up, though, at six, same as always. She kissed me like usual, and held my face the way she did when she was emotional, but I thought there could be some tears there.

I made my decision fast. “Let’s take a walk,” I said. “Come on, Lexi.”

Ben said, “She already had two walks today. Lexi, I mean.”

“She doesn’t seem bothered by taking another one,” I said. Since Lexi was standing next to the door at the word “walk” with her tail waving madly and a Golden Retriever smile on her face, that was a safe bet. “Tell you what, Ben. You’re in charge of the dinner order tonight.”

“Seriously?” he said. “So I can order pizza?”

“Yeah,” I said. “But get a salad, too.”

“Dude,” Ben said, “pizza has vegetables already.”

“Salad.” I pulled my jacket from the hook and realized, “Oh. Need a shower first, Alix?”