I lifted up the scotch they’d ordered me and tried to ignorehow awkward it was that James hadn’t said a word since I’d arrived.
“Did you finish all those papers you had to grade?” I finallyasked him, hoping to break the awkward silence.
“Yup,” James said, his eyes trained on me. But hesurprisingly didn’t look mad at all. If anything, he looked…happy?
Why did he look so happy? I was pretty sure it was because hewas about to try to break my nose.
“How was the game last night?” James asked.
“Good. We won again. Undefeated so far.” I stared at him,waiting for him to punch me in the face or something, but he just smiled. Weird.“It might be fun if you guys came to a game one of these days.”
“The Untouchables back at it again?” Rob said and slung hisarm around my neck before hugging James and doing a weird handshake with Mason.
No one called us the Untouchables anymore. Not after we allrealized that we weren’t untouchable back in high school. That real life couldbreak through a good last name and an exorbitant amount of money. I’d learnedthe lesson the hardest.
“Sorry I’m late,” Rob said. “I swear RJ is actually aiming tokill me. Whenever I change his diaper it’s like a freaking golden shower.”
We all laughed, but I was pretty sure Mason and I looked morehorrified than anything. We were the only ones without kids. Rob’s hair stilllooked wet and I had so many questions.
“I have so many questions,” Mason said, reading my mind.
“Right,” I said. “The most important being…did you shower afteryour kid’s golden shower or…”
“Of course I took a shower. RJ hit me right in the face.” Heshook his head but he was smiling. “Straight shot into my left nostril.”
I laughed. “Why do you seem proud of that?”
“I think it means he’s going to be great at whatever sport hechooses. Don’t you think most kids just spray everything all over? My boy zeroesin on a target and hits it. He’s a total baller.”
James laughed. “Smart kid.”
Rob nodded. “I bet Liam just pisses all willy nilly withouttrue purpose.”
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing. My son has never pissed in myface. I consider that a win.”
I had to agree with James on this one.
“Whatever,” Rob said. “Just wait until RJ makes varsity and Liamgets cut. Now enough about piss and back to Matt’s game. We really should allgo to one. It would be fun.”
“I’m pretty busy on the weekends,” James said. Even though wewere all sitting here together with nothing else to do on a Saturday night. Buteven as he said it, he still didn’t look pissed at me.
What was his game here? I’d snuck around behind his back withhis wife. He should have been threatening to kill me by now. I shrugged. “Mostof the games are on Fridays.” I didn’t really care if they came to my gamesthough. And I also didn’t expect them to.
“Maybe we can come to the next one,” Rob said. “Geez, Ihaven’t stepped foot in Empire High since graduation. I bet the girls wouldlike a tour. Do you think you can arrange for us to walk around the school?” heasked me.
“Yeah, probably.” As long as Jefferson stops putting dingsin the principal’s car.
“Well, let us know. Even if James and Mason can’t make it,I’m sure I can convince Daphne to come with me. It would be fun. And it wouldbe nice to have a familiar face in the crowd, huh?”
James didn’t mention the fact that Penny had already been toone of my games. And I wasn’t going to mention it either. I cleared my throat. “Myparents come to some of the games. And Tanner always comes.”
“Tanner?” Rob shook his head. “Psh. That guy.”
I laughed. “I really don’t understand what you have againsthim.”
Rob stared at me like I was insane. “He’s just so…Tannery.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I know you guys don’t believe me, but I swear I’ve seen him rockinga man bun walking around the city in a neon green tux. And these weird little goblinshoes.”
“Goblin shoes?”
“The ones with the curvy tops.”
“Elf shoes?” James offered.
“Whatever you want to call them. Weird little goblin elfshoes. The guy is clearly bonkers,” Rob said.
“I’ve only ever seen him in normal colored tuxedos,” I said. “Andnormal shoes. And I don’t think his hair is long enough for a man bun.” Thesides of Tanner’s head were shaved, and even though his hair was long on thetop, I’d never even seen him touch it, let alone pull it into a bun.
“It was him. I swear it was. He’s up to something sketchy,I’m telling you.”
“Of course he’s up to something sketchy,” Mason said. “Heowns Club Onyx.”
“But you didn’t strut around in weird clothes when you ownedit,” Rob said. “I’m telling you, Matt, I really don’t think you should behanging out with him. The guy’s hiding something.”
I laughed. “Yeah, it’s like Mason said. He is hidingsomething. Club Onyx is literally a secret club.”
“I’m not talking about Club Onyx. He’s hiding something else.I’m sure of it. And I think it would be best if you stopped seeing him.”
“Stopped seeing him? What are you, my mom?”
“Nah, I’m not as good of a cook as Mrs. Caldwell.”
No, he most definitely was not. “Could you just try to benice? Tanner’s supposed to join us tonight.” I looked over my shoulder to seeif he’d arrived yet. Tanner was rarely late, but he was nowhere to be seen.
“You invited him here?” Rob sighed. “To hang out with us?So much for a fun night.”
“Rob, give him a chance,” Mason said. “Yeah, he’s a littledifferent, but he’s a nice guy.”
Rob mumbled something under his breath.
James cleared his throat and turned to me. “Help me grabanother round, Matt?”
I looked down at his glass that was still full. I’d been waitingfor him to pull me to the side and threaten me to stay away from his wife. Mightas well get it over with. “Sure.” I followed him to the bar.
He didn’t say a word as he waved down the bartender for
