“Well, how do you think he got that son?” she asks, smirking and folding her arms over her chest.
“You cannot toy with him,” I tell her, and Allison comes to my side as Karrie goes to Vivienne.
“And why not?” Vivienne asks. “We are two consenting adults.”
“Because I’m asking you not to,” I say, and I have no idea why I’m doing this or asking it, but the thought of him with Vivienne makes me want to barf. It also makes me want to strangle her French skinny little ass.
“D’accord,” Fine, she says, “but mon amie, you should ask yourself why.” She smiles at me. “Maybe you want him?”
“Game, set, match,” Karrie says, following Vivienne out of the entrance.
I look at Allison, who just stands there. “It’s not like that.”
“You don’t have to explain anything,” she tells me, “to no one.”
“It’s just she’s Vivienne and her vagina has special powers,” I tell her. “Remember Ryder?”
“I do,” she tells me, “but I also know that it wouldn’t bother you one bit if she chose anyone else on the team. Am I right?”
I don’t bother to answer her, and she just smiles and walks out of the room. I stand here for a second, trying to make sense of this when I see blue eyes approaching. “Hey,” he says, looking around. “Did you hang up our jackets?” he asks, looking at the floor.
“Yeah,” I say. He puts his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. It should be an innocent touch, but my stomach flips a little, and my neck starts to get hot.
“Thank you,” he says, and I just nod, turning to walk into the house and to the kitchen where everyone is talking. I look in the back and see that Zack settles at the table between the kitchen and the family room where he can keep an eye on Jack, who is playing Legos with Michael and Cooper.
The conversation flows from hockey, to the weather, to the Kardashians. We sit at the huge dining room table, the families all sitting together, and Jack sits between me and Zack. After the kids finish their meals, everyone gets up and helps clear the table. It feels really good, and we laugh at all the stories that Max and Matthew tell.
“Okay,” I say when Vivienne brings in the cake and sets it on the table. “What’s this big thing you want to do for the foundation?” I ask, looking around the table. Karrie and Matthew sit next to each other while Max and Allison sit down with Alex on Max’s lap. Vivienne sits next to me while I sit next to Zack.
“So hear me out,” Karrie starts, then looks at Allison, “what do you think about doing a casino night?” I look at Max and Matthew, who just look at each other. “And the players will be the dealers for the night.”
“Oh, I can be the cabaret girl,” Vivienne says, and we all look at her. “You know, the one who walks around with the tray of cigarettes wearing a little Playboy bunny outfit.”
“It’s illegal to smoke inside,” Karrie says.
“Then I can hand out condoms,” she says. “Play wise and safe. That should be our motto.” Matthew and Max both moan while the girls laugh at her.
“Okay, that isn’t going to happen,” Matthew says, and Max agrees.
“But I love the idea of casino night,” I say. “We can have some of the big benefactors help also.”
“I think everyone is going to want to help. It’s a great foundation, and it’s growing rapidly,” Allison says, and I see Max reach over and bring her closer to him with his arm, kissing her temple.
Alex whines when she sees this, and Allison looks down at her. “I had him first,” she says, smiling at her daughter and then leaning down and kissing her.
“Well, I’m happy we all agree because we already locked down a date and sent out the invitations, and we already have almost everyone confirmed,” Karrie says, looking at Matthew. “It’s in three weeks. I’m sending out an email to all the players tomorrow.”
“Well, count me in,” Zack says, and I look over while Jack and Michael come running into the room. Michael climbs onto Allison’s lap while Jack uses my lap to push up and sit with his dad, reaching out and grabbing a water bottle. “You having fun?” Zack leans in and whispers.
Jack just nods his head while he drinks water, his chest heaving. When he puts down the water bottle, he uses his sleeve to wipe the remaining water from his mouth. “We played Legos, and we made it so tall, but it fell over,” he says, laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. His laughter is contagious, his eyes bright. It makes my heart squeeze, and I can’t hold myself back when I lean over and kiss his cheek, wearing a smile.