Unbreakable(70)

She gives me a strained smile. “They’re waiting to celebrate with you. That’s important, too. Talking can wait a while longer.”

“Let’s talk after dinner,” I say urgently. “Come back to my place?”

She takes a deep breath and forces another smile. “Okay. I can do that.”

Man, I just want to end this weird vibe we have going on. But I have to focus on getting through dinner with our friends first.

I stop to sign autographs for a few fans from the driver’s side window before heading over to the restaurant. The short, ten-minute ride to Grano’s is a silent one. Emmy stares out of the passenger window while I grit my teeth and wish I could fast forward through this dinner.

Once inside Grano’s, Peyton waves us over to a table near the back of the restaurant.

“Hey guys!” she calls. “Em, I saved you a seat.”

I try to hide my disappointment as Emmy walks over and takes the empty seat next to Peyton. I wanted her by my side, even if it’s just to steal a few moments here and there during dinner. I thought it would give me a chance to try and diffuse the weirdness before we go back to my place. Dylan waves me over to sit next to him at the opposite end of the table.

My dinner—a huge steak, baked potato and assorted grilled veggies—is fantastic. Most of the next hour is spent talking with the guys about the game. They pester me about absolutely everything, firing off question after question. Sully, to my surprise, toasts me during dinner. Any apprehension about whether there would be left over, lingering weirdness between us is put to rest for good. Though I wish I could say the same about his sister.

An hour later, after they’ve exhausted me with their endless inquisition, Dylan and Axel excuse themselves to use the washroom. As the waitress clears our plates, Sully glances over at me.

“I’m just gonna man up and tell you that I’m sorry, Mav. I was a complete and total * about everything. And if you want a few punches, go ahead and take them. I f*cking deserve it after what I did to you.”

“No man, it’s done,” I tell him, leaning back in my chair. “We’re good here, brother.”

“I apologized to Emmy, too,” he admits. “I didn’t make her life very easy during the past two months by being a stubborn *.”

“It’s been a rough couple of months for everyone.”

He glances over at the girls, where Emmy’s laughing at something Violet’s just said.

“Everything okay with you guys?” he asks.

“I’m not really sure,” I say, shrugging. “I can’t get a read on her right now. Things seem awkward and stilted between us. I asked her to come back to my place tonight so we can talk about everything.”

“You’ll get it all worked out, don’t worry.”

“I hope so.”

The waitress brings the check and credit card machine over to him. “This one’s on me.” He gives me a mock glare. “And thanks for ordering the most expensive steak dinner on the menu, *.”

I grin. “C’mon man, it’s not every day I get an assist with the Wolverines.”

“Yeah, that was f*cking awesome,” he says, handing the machine back to the waitress. “I hope you get to play another game.”

“Me, too.”

He stands and pulls on his coat as Dylan and Axel come back to the table, and everyone thanks Sully for dinner.

Emmy and I say our goodbyes and walk back to my truck. The drive to my condo is almost as quiet as the ride to the restaurant was; I have to work hard for every word I pull out of her.

Jesus, I hope this gets a little easier.

She peers up at my building as I drive into the parking garage. “Wow. Fancy.”

It’s the first thing she’s said voluntarily during the entire ride.

“It’s a place to put my stuff, that’s all.”

I bought the condo last year because I couldn’t stand rambling around in my parents’ house a minute longer. I couldn’t bring myself to sell it, though. So, for now, I rent out their place and live here. Getting out of that house made it a little bit easier to move on. Not much, but at least I’m not reminded of them every time I step foot inside my condo. When I was living in their house, it was like being in a time warp.

We ride up the elevator to the 28th floor in silence. Emmy studies her phone while I try to find something to talk with her about for the millionth time.

“I’m this way,” I say, leading her down the hall to an end unit. I fish around in my jacket pocket for my keys and open the door.

“This is really gorgeous,” Emmy says, glancing around the condo.

I hired a decorator to fix up the place and ended up with a lot of gray and white in the design scheme. Gray couch, white curtains, gray and white rugs. It’s pretty basic and boring, but I don’t really care about stuff like that. Like I told Emmy earlier, it’s just a place to sleep. Thankfully, the decorator hung up some large, brightly colored artwork on the walls to balance everything out, and that brightens the place up a little.

“Admit it. It’s a total bachelor pad.”

She sets her purse down and shrugs out of her coat. “It’s not too bad. And it’s way better than Sully’s place. All that black leather furniture he has and the stupid furry rugs? Yuck.”