Page 72 of Off the Post

The rest of the day is one fire after another. By the time I finish up at the office and go home for the evening, my brain is mush, and I’m dead on my feet. There’s still plenty of work I must get done at home, but I need sustenance first.

When I open the apartment door, looking forward to a quiet evening, I walk into a scene out of Animal House. Tanner and four of his friends are watching a soccer game on the big screen and yelling loudly over the bad calls.

“Hey, Ali-kins,” Tanner calls out from his chair, glancing back briefly to confirm it’s me before turning back to the game and yelling an obscenity. “There’s pizza on the counter if you’re hungry.”

“Thanks. Hey, guys.” I wave and scan the room, hoping I’ll see Soren, but he’s not here.

I drop my laptop bag and purse on the barstool and check out the pizza boxes. The one bright spot in my day is the idea of plain cheese pizza. BINGO. I grab two slices and find a clean plate in the cupboard before joining the guys.

I don’t want to make it seem obvious that I’m interested in Soren, but I am curious why he’s not here tonight. Is he on a mission to avoid me now? Did I do something to make things awkward between us?

I suppose nearly getting caught by my brother the other morning could be reason enough to steer clear.

I take a bite of my pizza, savoring the delicious garlic and pesto flavors, and listen in while the guys talk, my ears prickling any time Soren’s name is mentioned. Anyone who says men don’t gossip is full of shit. These dudes chatter a lot about other people’s lives.

“Anyone seen Costa lately? What’s he up to? Does he look ready for preseason?”

The question reminds me of the conversation Sommer and I had had at the pool party. She’d said Cale had been injured in a game toward the end of last season and was rehabbing after a surgery.

“Yeah, man. He seems good,” my brother says, then takes a swig of his beer. “Seems pretty pussy-whipped, too.”

I clear my throat. “Uh-huh.”

“Sorry,” he grumbles apologetically over his comment. “I mean, he’s totally in love with and would do anything for his wife.”

The corners of my mouth quirk up in a grin. “Much better.”

The guys all chuckle and then something big happens on screen and they stand and cheer raucously. When they return to their positions, they continue their light chatter and banter as if nothing had interrupted them.

I finish my dinner and go to the kitchen to wash my hands, then pause to consider if I want to take a drink to my room while I work. Meanwhile, I half listen to the guys’ talk as I putter a bit more.

“Speaking of wife, Lyons’s wedding is next Saturday. You going, Rossy? And anyone bringing a date?”

“I’m going, of course, but not sure about date,” Tanner says noncommittally. “I like to weigh my options for weddings. Sometimes not bringing a date is better. Single bridesmaids make for good fucks.”

“Sure, Rossy,” Oliver teases, slapping his knee. “We all know you just can’t get anyone to date you.” Tanner flips him off and snarls.

“What about Wolf? Is he bringing someone?”

Duncan’s comment makes my breath catch in my throat, and I stop in my tracks.

My brother snorts. “Fuck that motherfucker. He’s too picky. He probably has a contact list of puck bunnies a mile long who all want the distinction of being the woman who nails down The Wolf.”

The guys all laugh, but I don’t hear the rest of the conversation. I’ve closed my bedroom door and am leaning against it to hold myself upright. Ernie comes out of his hiding place under my bed to rub against my leg, possibly knowing that my heart twinges at the mention of Soren.

Soren never mentioned anything about a wedding or even the possibility of inviting me along as his plus-one.

It’s ridiculous that I think he would. Bringing me as his wedding date to an event where all his teammates would be in attendance, including my brother, is out of the question and, considering our agreement, the last thing he would ever think of doing.

But it doesn’t stop me from wondering what if… And as I open my email to finish out my day, Ernie curled up against me, I can barely focus on anything else.

My mind reels back to that morning after we’d nearly been caught by Tanner.

I saw the lights in Soren’s eyes grow shadowed when they’d just been an open valley of green.

My heart sinks to my toes. Soren ultimately running away from me as fast as he could must be tied to whatever Tanner told him about my past.

Although Soren said it hadn’t changed how he felt about me, I now know he was lying.