Page 8

8

EMMETT

“ I ’m not sure, I think that Cooper could beat him so god damn fast it’s not even funny.” Owen says it with such conviction I almost start to believe it myself.

“Are you fucking kidding me, man?” Leo asks, tightening the towel around his hips. “Do you know who the fuck I’m used to playing?”

When Cooper opens his mouth to argue, Leo smacks his hands together in his face. “A six year old. Do you know how fucking ruthless six-year-olds are, Cooper? I swear to god the entire time I play anything with her I have to constantly check behind my back. I am being hunted. I bought the kid a damn Switch the other day so we could slow it down and play Stardew Valley. I was hunted.” Leo’s voice breaks at the last word. “Do you know how hard it is to feel hunted playing that game? It’s hard, man.”

Cooper sinks into his locker, eyebrow raised. “I don’t know, Leo.”

Leo throws his hands in the air. “You know what, forget about me. I think you need to play Elara. I’m only trying to protect you.”

Owen nods solemnly. “He’s unfortunately telling the truth,” he tells Cooper. “Saw the kid in action the other day and holy shit. She’s a cold-hearted killer, that’s for sure.”

“I mean crap, I’m new around here and I’ve still heard the story of the kid delivering the final blow to Leo two seconds before he finally defeated Vader,” Noah says as he peeks around Owen. He’s one of our new, rookie offensive linemen that has been getting closer and closer to us. We all love him, but he and Coop have developed a strong bond in a short time.

“It took me hours to get over,” Leo nods, eyes wide.

“You’re a fucking idiot,” Cooper rolls his eyes, standing as he grabs his coat.

Leo scoffs. “And you’re just scared.”

It’s always entertaining to listen to the new ways that the guys will absolutely obliterate each other day in and day out.

I love my teammates and I love my friends, but it’s also no secret that I’ve never been the most talkative out of all of them. Although I love my job and I love this sport, I look at it more as a job than the other guys. I go to work, get whatever I need done, but my ultimate goal is to get home and be with my kid for as long as possible. Well, Juniper and my car in the garage.

“You guys going to Lulu’s tonight?” Cooper asks the guys. He probably shouldn’t be going out tonight, but Cooper is a special breed.

When there’s a quick break in conversation, I stand, leaning into Leo. “Hey man, can I talk to you for a few?”

Without a word, Leo pulls me into one of the side rooms. “What’s up?” he asks, his chest practically touching mine.

“Why does this feel like we’re participating in a drug deal or something?” I ask with a laugh, stepping back.

Leo takes a step closer. “You’re the one making it awkward. What did you have to tell me?”

I close my eyes, completely aware that after I ask this, there’s no real going back. “I need you to do me a favor, if you’re open to it.”

He takes another step forward. “You know I got you man.”

Needing to get this over with, I spit it out. “I just hired Heidi to help me with Juni. I was wondering if you could make sure she has a ticket and a place to hang at the game this weekend with her, is that okay?”

Leo smirks. “It’s more than okay. I got you.”

But the little glint in his eye tells me that he’s more than okay with it. He’s elated with the idea of Heidi being there for me.

The man has been trying to get me to date forever, and when he realized that I was talking to Heidi more than just every once in awhile, or when she was watching Juniper for short bouts of time, he was an absolute menace.

I can’t date. I won’t date. Sure, I’ve had some flings every once in awhile, but they were few and far between, not that a lot of the team knows that.

Leo has been the only person on the whole team that I’ve trusted with my whole life. The guy may be a complete idiot sometimes, but I love him. He’s always had my back no matter what and he’s cared for my family as his own.

He was the only one up until recently who even knew I had a daughter. Owen didn’t even know for the longest time. I love being a dad, but I didn’t want to explain where her mom is.

I wasn’t trying to hide her, but I was trying to protect her.

“I’ll talk to Briar tonight, alright?” I can feel his breath against my neck, and it makes me want to die.

“Yeah. Thanks. Now please get away from me.”