Page 25 of Over the Line

“If they had a special where you could just order that,” Temo declared, “I’d fucking order it.”

“Same,” Chris said. “It’s so good.”

Garrett eyed us all skeptically. “Hot… cheese? With honey? What?”

“Yeah, it’s some kind of white cheese,” Temo said. “I thought it was halloumi, but my wife said it’s something else.” He smiled fondly. “She knows food way better than I do.”

“That’s because she’s smarter than you,” I said.

Temo kicked me under the table hard enough I almost yelped. “Quiet, pendejo.”

I elbowed him just in time to nearly make him choke on his drink, which earned me another kick to the same damn spot. “Agh. Fuck you, Temo.”

He shrugged. “Don’t call me stupid.”

“I didn’t!” I leaned down to rub my shin. “I just said your wife is smarter than you.” I smirked. “Do you want me to tell her that you said she’s stupid because being smarter than you is⁠—”

“Saints, I swear to God…” He held up his fist.

I just snickered.

“C’mon, Temo,” Chris said with a laugh. “Don’t beat up Saints. We just got him off the injured list.”

“Yeah, fucker.” I kicked Temo this time. “You put me back on LTIR, I’ll make sure Coach has you bag skating for a month.”

Temo just rolled his eyes and muttered something I didn’t catch.

Right then, Travis, our PR director leaned into the lounge. “Hey, Kanes? Temo?” He jerked his head toward the hallway. “Can I borrow you two for media availability?”

They both groaned theatrically like schoolkids hearing the bell at the end of recess, but they got up.

To his dad, Chris said, “I shouldn’t be too long.”

“Don’t sweat it.” Garrett smiled and gestured at his food. “I’ll be here.”

Chris flashed a quick smile, then followed Temo out of the lounge.

I watched them disappear through the door, leaving me alone at this table with…

Oh God. With him.

Hoping my dignity didn’t fail me, I turned to Garrett and forced a relaxed smile despite my thumping heart. “So, you’re living in Pittsburgh now, huh?”

Ugh. What a stupid thing to say. But it was hard not to sound stupid when I was stupid because Garrett was here. What was wrong with me? I’d been around plenty of attractive men. What was it about him that reduced me to that stammering dork who’d had a crush on his linemate in major juniors? Or that goalie in U14?

Lucky for me, Garrett either didn’t notice or had the good graces not to let on. His smile seemed genuine, though he also shifted nervously and broke eye contact. “Yeah. Yeah, my, uh, my company has an office here, so I requested a transfer.” He looked at me again and gestured at the chair Chris had been occupying. “Gave me the perfect opportunity to be close to him.”

“Can’t really pass that up, can you?”

“No, definitely not. Especially now that I know I’ve got a grandson on the way.”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that.” I smiled despite my heart still pounding stupidly. “That must be exciting.”

Oh, fuck. His smile did nothing to de-stupid my heart. God, he was gorgeous.

Lucky for me and my dignity, he couldn’t see through to me internally flailing. “Never thought I’d be a grandfather before I turned fifty, but…” He half-shrugged. “I can’t complain.”

I chuckled. “Yeah? This your first grandkid?”