The Guy on the Left (The Underdogs, #2)(77)
“Worth the money?”
“Let’s hope so.”
“You still going to graduate in May?”
“Yes. It’s going to be a bitch to catch up, but I should be good.”
“That’s my boy. You know your dad called not too long ago.”
“Yeah, he on the ‘what if my son becomes a millionaire’ train?”
“Probably.”
“Won’t that be a kick in the teeth.”
“God, I know I’m not supposed to rejoice, but I love that you feel that way.”
“I’ve got nothing for him,” I say honestly. “Let’s not talk about this now.” I lift my chin, and she nods in understanding.
“Right. Little ears.”
“So, will you tell Clarissa to call me when she gets in? She’s been hard to reach lately. Everything okay?”
“She’s got a job and a child.”
“I know.”
“Don’t give her a hard time for it,” she says in her business tone.
“Well, well, well, look who’s tap-dancing over enemy lines. You two seem to be getting along.” I can’t help my smile. I was worried it might not happen, but I should have known.
“She’s a good woman. I’m having a hard time staying pissed off.”
“Now you see how I feel.”
This gets her attention. “How do you feel?”
“Like I want to be sitting where you are.”
Mom smiles. “I like her. I really do. I like her for you. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, she’s beautiful, and makes beautiful babies.”
“That she does.”
“I can’t wait for the next one.”
“Cart before the horse, Mom.”
“You two little shits started it that way.”
“You owe me two more bucks, Nonny,” Dante says. “I got your checkers too.”
“That ought to teach you,” I say.
She sighs. “Love you, son. I’m going to go put this little light out.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, Troy!” Dante shouts just as she ends the call, and my heart flips in my chest.
Lauren’s Eggs Benedict
Commercial Specialist, New Jersey
Makes 6 servings
20 minutes
Hollandaise Sauce
2 Egg yolks
1 stick of butter
1 tbsp real lemon juice
3 English muffins
Margarine
6 Thin Slices Fully Cooked Canadian-style Bacon or Smoked Ham 1 Tsp. Butter
6 Poached Eggs
To prepare Hollandaise Sauce; slightly beat egg yolks, add one half stick of butter and lemon juice, stir over low flame until butter melts. Add the rest of the butter and stir until it thickens. * increase the amount of lemon juice to suit your taste. Keep warm. Split English muffins and toast. Spread each muffin half with margarine and keep warm. Cook Canadian-style bacon in 1 teaspoon margarine over medium heat until light brown. Prepare poached eggs. Place 1 slice bacon on split side of each muffin half and top with poached egg. Spoon warm sauce over eggs
Clarissa
“You look tired,” Troy says as I settle into bed.
“Thanks.”
“That’s not the way I meant it.”
“I know. I am tired. You spoiled me when you were here, and I guess I got used to it.”
“I’ll be home soon.”
“I know.”
“It’s been hard to get ahold of you.”
“I’m sorry. I meant to call you back last night and fell asleep when I put Dante to bed.”
“It’s cool. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Why?”
“Parker’s been trying to get ahold of you too.”
“Yeah, I spoke to her, thanks for ratting me out.”
He winces. “My bad.”
“Yeah, you’re going to pay for that.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“I’m going to hold you to it. It feels like forever since I’ve seen you.” My eyes water and I curse my stupid hormones.
His expression grows serious. “What’s wrong?”
I sniffle and do my best to get it together. “I just miss you. It’s stupid, right? You’ll be back in a couple weeks.”
“It’s been a long fucking month. The longest of my life, if I’m honest. Too much time away, from Dante, from you. I don’t know how I’m going to feel when I’m on the road.”
“You’ll be playing, not training. Doing what you love. Right now, you’re jumping through hoops to make it happen. It’ll all work out in your favor.”
His beautiful blue eyes penetrate me through the screen as he lays on a pillow, his hand behind his head, bicep bulging. “Fuck, I wish I was there.”
“Me too, I would lick the shit out of that bicep.”
“You like that?”
“Uh huh.”
His mouth lifts. “Will you like me when I’m old, fat, and have saggy man butt?”