Page 51 of Icebound

“It was very necessary.” I keep my eyes on Cruz, whose lips curve in a dare.

She tightens her ponytail. “Okay, anyway. I think me and Chicken are friends. My back’s stopped throbbing, but he let me pet him before running off, so I feel like that was an apology. Oh, and who’s this cutie?” She squeezes Betty’s tiny feet, but she may as well be squeezing my heart.

Patty smiles, lifting one of Betty’s hands to wave. “Nina, meet my daughter, Elizabeth, but we call her Betty because Patty and Betty is the stuff daddy-daughter dance competitions are made of. She’s eight months, twelve days, and fourteen hours old, loves blueberries, and she finally smiles when you make eye contact with her. Watch.” He plays peek-a-boo, and Betty starts giggling.

“She also does more than cry and shit now, so that’s fun,” Cruz adds.

Nina keeps her grin on Betty, but smacks Cruz’s arm. “Okay, she’s adorable. She looks just like you, Wyatt. Can I hold her?”

I try not to frown at the fact that she sort of called Patty adorable. He is, but fuck, I don’t want Nina thinking that about my friends.

“You can try, but fair warning, she’s kind of going through a stranger danger phase, where she doesn’t like anyone she doesn’t know holding her, but go for it… Maybe you’ll be the exception.”

Patty hands Betty over, and Nina holds her like a football. The girl’s not a natural, but she gets points for trying. Betty’s cute smile twists into a scowl, and she starts wailing.

Cruz covers his ears. “Fuck, make it stop.”

“Language!” Patty shouts, pointing a finger at Cruz.

Nina coos in her ear and tries to bounce Betty, but when that does shit-all for the crying, she hands her back to Patty. The girl instantly calms in his arms, nuzzling into his chest.

“Well,” Nina chuckles. “That could’ve gone better. I guess she doesn’t like me.”

“I would’ve been jealous if she liked you instantly. Took her months to warm up to me.” I nudge her shoulder and regret it a second later when I brush the side of her tits. Is she not wearing a bra? This dinner is going to be brutal.

“I warned you.” Patty snorts. “She’s probably not used to your smell. It’s not like we like everyone when we first meet them. I hated Cruz at first—”

“Dick.”

“Language,” Patty shouts. “But Cruz writes everyone on the team handwritten cards for their birthdays, so now he’s alright. Why should Betty have to be all friendly? My girl’s allowed to be a little mean.”

Patty grins at Betty in a way that makes me think if the world were to go up in flames, he wouldn’t notice. I frown, wishing I had someone to look at like that, and pull my gaze away to find Cruz staring at Nina’s chest.

I slap a hand on the counter to get his attention, and his eyes snap to mine. “What’s up, old man?”

“You did not just call Rhode that,” Nina interjects. “That’s so rude.”

I’m speechless for a second. No one’s ever come to my defense that fast besides Patty. Cruz rubs the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. “Sorry, it’s just an old habit.”

“Called out.” Patty gives her a high five. “I like you, Nina. I’m glad you’re our good luck charm.”

“I’m not your good luck charm, but you can believe whatever you want. That was all you guys.”

Cruz stuffs another chip in his mouth. “Yeah, you are, and now you’ve got to come to our next home game and watch us play live.”

“No, I hate crowds,” she says.

I file that fact away under my mental cabinet with the name Nina Alstyne.

“Please, Phil?” Cruz begs.

She nudges him, and I scowl at where she touched his arm. “We’re not doing this again, you big flirt. I’m not going. You don’t need me to win. You’re fine.”

“Come on, please? No one ever comes to my games,” he says, getting on his knees and clasping his hands in front of her. “I’ll do anything. Anything.”

“She said no,” I interject in a hard voice, hating seeing Cruz on his knees for Nina.

She smiles at me, but then turns back to Cruz, giving him an exasperated look. “Can I think about it?”