Page 64 of Offside

"You at Luca's already?" I asked. "It sounds full."

"Theo needed help moving a table," he said. "Luca was supervising."

"I declined Denver," I said. "I just sent the email."

The voices behind him faded as he moved into a quieter room.

"What tipped the decision?" he asked.

"You're part of it, but not all of it," I said. "I want the work here, my colleagues, and the life I've built. The imperfect parts belong to something I still choose."

He breathed once into the phone before he spoke again.

"So Chicago is yours."

"The life here is," I said. "You're a part of that, if you want to be."

"Yeah," Bishop said. "I understand the difference."

He didn't thank me for staying. He didn't promise his contract would keep him here.

"Bring the potatoes," he said. "Volkov brought a homemade pie nobody can identify."

"Is it sweet or savory?" I asked. "That seems important."

"He won't say," Bishop told me.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Luca and Theo had opened their home to enough players and staff that every flat surface held food.

The team didn't know about us yet. Garrett did, and Vicki, Zoe, and Reyes knew because work required it. Everyone else knew only that Bishop and I arrived within an hour of each other and spent Christmas Day on opposite ends of the same crowded table.

Volkov's mystery pie contained salmon, potatoes, and hard-boiled eggs. It was excellent, and he accepted praise as his due. Nico beat Hayes at cards. Kieran sat behind him with one hand on the back of his chair. Abbott fell asleep on Jamie's shoulder during the second half of a movie. Luca told Theo three times that nobody needed more food, then brought out another plate himself.

Bishop passed me the rolls and gave me a secret smile.

Our privacy felt temporary, something we'd change when we were ready.

We left separately and met at his apartment.

The green mug waited beside the black one on the kitchen counter. Bishop poured my coffee without asking how I took it.

"Your contract is still unresolved," I said. "The assessment could change what the club will do."

"I know," Bishop said. "Nothing's settled yet."

"I didn't stay to make you stay," I said. "I need you to know that."

"I know," he said. "You chose before my contract was safe." He put my coffee down and leaned against the counter.

"Do you want company tonight?" he asked.

23

Bishop

The independent specialist asked me to lift my right arm until I couldn't. I stopped before the hand reached the level of my ear.