Page 27 of All In: The Price We Pay

She exhales heavily. “I think it’s time for me to come visit. We have a lot to catch up on. I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”

“I’m still the same person,” I stammer.

“That’s not what I mean. I’m afraid we’re losing touch.”

My heartbeat slows down. “Ah. Yeah. That’s my fault, too. I’m always busy.”

“I should have made more of an effort.” She sighs. “All right, no Valentina for me in New York. I want to spend my time with you.”

I’m overwhelmed by relief at the way she’s handling the news.

“I’d love that, Sis.”

“All right, I’ll keep my mouth shut. Just one more question before you go see Valentina.”

“And that would be?”

“Who’s this other person who also knows about you?”

I shake my head, even though, or perhaps precisely because she can’t see me. “Actually, there are two people. But . . . no, I don’t want to talk about it. There’s nothing to tell.”

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Are you that much of a romantic, or are you curious?”

She laughs. “A mix of both, I guess. All right. I have to go now. Say hi to Valentina for me.”

“Will do,” I say.

“Seriously?”

I roll my eyes. “Why are you asking me if you don’t believe me, anyway?”

“That’s my secret.”

As it turns out, the little meal Blake organized for all of us is Sid’s birthday dinner. He’s turning twenty today. The captain is still insisting on a ban on parties. Renting this fancy restaurant for the team members Sid is closest to and a few WAGs is his peace offering. I don’t know how I could have missed that.

Valentina, however, is perfectly flexible.

We only had a moment to talk, and she was ecstatic about my news that I’d talked to my sister about being queer. Her joy is contagious and still resonates within me.

Now she’s charmingly flirting her way through our little group and heads over to Katleen and Sid. The three of them are engrossed in a conversation.

“She’s amazing.” Blake sits next to me and turns to his wife and my date.

“You must mean your wife.”

He turns his head toward me and narrows his eyes. “You idiot. Katleen is and always will be the only one for me. But I’m in full possession of my eyesight.”

“Are you sure? Wasn’t that one of the reasons you wanted to retire?”

He jabs his elbow into my side.

Laughing, I hold my side. “Hey. We have a game in two days. You can’t knock out your star player.”

Blake shakes his head. “You’re such an asshole. But seriously, how did you manage to win that woman over?”

My stomach clenches, and it’s not because of the excellent food. It’s one thing to put on a show for some strangers; it’s quite another to lie to the only people who are even remotely close to me. I fiddle with the knife in front of me and bite my lower lip. My gaze wanders around the small room. No one is paying any attention to Blake and me. Valentina hugs Sid, and the two of them start dancing. “Can you keep a secret?”