Page 90 of The Curveball
“Skye arranged for Carter to talk to Noah Hayden about stunt auditions.”
Parker steps next to his wife. “Nah, that was Griff.”
“What?”
Skye laughs. “I’ll take the credit, but your man here knew Noah was coming tonight and passed on the info to Rees. The rest is history. Or it will be hopefully.”
I turn around in Griffin’s arms, hugging his waist. He sort of avoids my eyes. This is why I love the man. He’s bright and busy, but doesn’t like the spotlight. Not really. I don’t say anything at first, go up on my toes, and kiss him. “Thank you.”
“Pretty cool of you, man,” Darren says, clapping Griffin on the shoulder.
“Yeah, well, what good are connections if you don’t use them once in a while? We’re supposed to sit now, so Dallas will do his welcome thing. Should we leave these peasants and sit at the high table?”
I laugh as the table of rock stars shouts out qualms to their peasantry, and follow Griffin to a large round table in the center of the room. Alice and Calvin are there. She instantly pulls Emma next to her to chat about a nearby elementary school and thoughts on the language immersion program for kindergarteners.
Alice’s mom and dad are next in line. Her mom gives me a wave, and continues her conversation with Mike, Skye’s brother.
Ryder and Dax finally found their places with their dates. Ryder seems more than relieved when Parker and Griffin arrive, but Dax is looking somewhere in the crowd of tables. Almost longingly.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get him. Sweet, nerdy-sexy, but Dax seems to exist somewhere else most days.
Marti and Griffin’s aunt are next to his teammates, fussing over if they’re eating enough or being too lazy in the offseason.
“Wren, you look sexy,” Marti says.
“Thank you, so do you,” I say back, squeezing her hand.
A few months ago, I thought I didn’t people well. I think I was wrong. I simply hadn’t foundmy people.
Griffin pulls out my seat, but when I go to sit, my gaze catches a table three rows back.
Like a magnet connects our eyes, my dad tips his chin and waves two fingers. He’s well-built and handsome in his slim suit, with a few silver flecks in the sideburns of his dark hair. His smile is soft, but the sight of him breaks my heart a little.
What could we have been if he’d gotten to know us?
There is so much more to being a parent than buying things, giving kids free reign, or checking in on birthdays.
Carter returns to our table, a big smile spread over his face, but when he catches sight of me, he looks. “Ah, there’s good old dad.”
Darren’s mouth tightens as he sits. Carter nods his chin at our father, but it’s neither kind nor welcoming. It’s almost threatening. My teeth dig into the inside of my cheek as an ache blossoms in my chest. There is a part of me that blames myself for my brothers’ bitterness. They’ve never forgiven our dad for how he reacted to the incident, but at the same time I love these two wolfish men for how much they love me.
I had a horrific experience, but so did they.
Cleo hasn’t said much, but she’s hinted that Darren didn’t sleep well for longer than is healthy after that night.
Griffin takes my hand once he’s seated beside me. He draws my fingers to his lips. “You good, Birdie?”
“I’m good,” I say. “Tonight, I’m focused only on you.”
I meant it, too, until I look again and take in my dad’s table, really looking at those who came with him. My heart stutters a few times before it seems to lose power and stop completely.
Seated five people away from my father is a face I only see when nightmares of suffocating take hold.
“Birdie?” Griffin whispers.
I’m not entirely sure I’m conscious until I hear the breathy sound of my own voice form the name.
“Clay.”