Page 52 of Taking Sides

“So you didn’t hook up?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Twice,” Penn adds.

When I told him that, I meant we’d hung out again twice, but in this case, both are correct.

They all gape at me.

“The drought is over.” D-Low grins. “Congrats.” Then he looks around, pointing at himself. “I’m the best wingman.”

“How are you the best wingman?” Travis asks him.

“I gave him a pep talk and went to the game with him,” he says.

“No.” Travis shakes his head. “You don’t get credit for that. I’ve set him up with way more people.”

“And they all went terribly,” D-Low reminds him. “That makes you the worst.”

“Practice makes perfect,” Travis insists.

“If anyone is to thank, it’s me.” Penn crosses both arms over his chest. “I was with him when he met her, and I was the one who made sure he knew about the game last week.”

“Wait. I’m confused. Why haven’t you said anything before now?” D-Low asks.

“It’s complicated,” Penn repeats my words from earlier and uses air quotes for emphasis.

“Meaning?” Travis asks.

“Bad hookup?” D-Low asks, grimacing.

“Why would he do it twice if it were bad the first time?” Nick asks.

But then they’re all staring at me again, waiting for an answer.

“It wasn’t bad. The opposite.”

“How exactly does that make it complicated?” Travis asks.

“It doesn’t. Everything is great in that department. She’s sexy and smart and I really like her.”

My best friends in the whole world hang on my every word. I’ve done a fairly good job of ignoring the problem by not thinking about it and I know telling my teammates is going to make it all the more real. But they’ll get it out of me eventually, so I take a breath and prepare to let reality in.

“She’s Victor Aven’s sister.”

THIRTEEN

After practice, the guys come over to D-Low’s and my apartment. They didn’t get to grill me enough earlier. I plop down onto the couch, tired from a long workout. Trav drops down beside me with a beer. Galaxy files in on his other side. D-Low takes his usual spot on the opposite end of the couch, and Penn stands in front of the TV, arms crossed.

“When you say she’s Victor Aven’s sister . . .” Trav trails off, staring into the distance.

“For the love of god.” Penn rubs two fingers along his forehead. “How many times does he have to explain?”

“Is this why you and Aven got into it when we played Houston last?” Galaxy asks.

“No. He’s had it out for me ever since I beat him in the fastest skater skill test at the All-Star game my rookie season.” We weren’t friendly or anything before then, but that was the catalyst that turned him into an outright bully every time we meet.

“I forgot about that,” Galaxy says. “What a fucking sore loser.”