Page 107 of Use Me

It was going to be awesome.

He let me borrow his Crawford jersey again, and after I arrived at the stadium with Abby and Kenny, we met up with everyone else and waited to be escorted to the suite. A lady finally appeared, and after confirming our tickets were for the penthouse suite, she took us in groups up to the room. I was in the last group to go up.

“Sis,” Carter said, slinging his arm across my shoulder as we walked into the room. We stopped in front of the muted TV where Rhys and Jett were broadcasting. “Rhys is the best guy you’ve ever dated.”

I pushed him away playfully. “I know that, but you’re only saying it because your dream of getting free Hawk tickets has come true.”

“I saved his life,” he countered.

“True, but he was only shot in the shoulder.”

“Just be lucky we approve,” Ethan chimed in.

“Leave your sister alone,” my mother chastised, “and tend to your children.”

They each had two kids, and said kids were leaning against the railing of the suite that overlooked the stadium. Tyson, the youngest of Ethan’s, had his belly balancing on the black rail and looking straight down as though he were Superman. Cohen, Ethan’s oldest son, and Jacob, Carter’s youngest son, were all looking at Tyson as though they were two-seconds away from doing the exact same thing.

“Shit,” Ethan muttered and went to save his son from falling. Carter followed.

I looked toward the bar to see both of their wives ordering a drink. I needed one too. “Thanks, Mom. Can I get you a drink?”

“Sure. A glass of wine. I’m going to go talk to Claire for a bit.”

I smiled and turned toward the bar. My friends had already formed a line. “So, when are you two moving in together?” I asked Abby and Kenny.

Kenny’s eyes widened.

“We don’t move as fast as you and Rhys,” Abby replied.

“Please,” I snorted and hooked my thumb in Kenny’s direction. “This one keeps gossiping with the guys weekly about how much he stays at your place and stuff. ‘Abby has the best coffee.’ ‘Abby makes me an omelet every morning.’ ‘Tonight when I go over to Abby’s—’”

“We get it.” Kenny chuckled as though he were embarrassed.

I grinned. “So again, you two moving in together soon?”

They looked at each other and shrugged. I laughed slightly and moved up in the line after my sister-in-laws were done getting their drinks. “Ash, what are you having?” Jaime asked.

I stepped forward to stand next to her. “Two red wines, please.”

The bartender started to pour a glass of the burgundy wine.

“How’s the house?” Kylie asked.

“It’s good. Big.” I laughed.

“Have you christened the entire place?” Jaime asked.

My eyes widened, and I looked toward mine and Rhys’s parents. Then I turned my head back to the girls and grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“That’s a yes,” Colleen stated.

I shrugged, not confirming that they were, in fact, correct. Even the pool once. It was still too cold to actually enjoy the pool, but I knew we’d spend a lot more time in there this summer.

Without further grilling and teasing, the lights over the ice dimmed, indicating the game was about to start. After sliding my mother her drink, I went to sit next to my dad and Andy in the front row seats of our suite.

“Hey, kiddo,” Dad greeted me.

“Hey, Daddy.”