25. Hunter

HUNTER

“ W elcome,” Evren says, opening the door to his house. I wave for Stella, Nina, and Aria to enter ahead of me. Evren invited the team over to celebrate our win from yesterday’s game and the fact that it’s our bye week and almost Thanksgiving. It should be fun, to relax and enjoy the night, but it’s not. Not when Elodie’s still in New York and I can’t wait to see her tomorrow.

“Damn.” Nina whistles, walking inside the house. “Whose dick do I have to suck to live in a house like this?”

Evren chokes on the whiskey he just took a sip of, and I clap him on the back. “Evren, meet Nina, Stella’s best friend.”

“I would say it’s a pleasure,” he says, making a slow scan of Nina from head to toe. “But I’m not so sure.”

Nina huffs and puts her hands on her hips. “I’ll take that as a compliment since you might have a good decorator, but clearly your opinion of people is lacking if you can’t see how amazing I am.”

Nina storms into the living room and heads over to a group of my teammates.

Aria chuckles. “I’m Aria.” She extends her hand toward Evren like she’s a queen. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you,” Evren says, taking her hand, but keeping his gaze on Nina.

Nina who’s now downing a glass of champagne like it’s a shot and my friends are cheering her on. When she finishes, she curtsies before setting the flute back onto the tray.

“Nice to see you again,” Stella says quickly before hurrying to catch up to her friends. Elodie gave her the rundown of the people she’s met and knows, but Stella brought Nina and Aria as a buffer to distract from the fact that she’s not the Stella everyone has already met. Elodie is also on standby via text to help her navigate the event.

“She always like that?” Evren asks.

“Who? Stella?” I ask, worried he knows something’s up. Elodie would’ve said more to Evren than a passing hi.

“No, Nina.”

I glance at him. “If you mean blunt, fun, and a little scary? Then yes.”

“Hmm,” Evren says, staring at her for a moment longer before focusing on me. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you.”

“Yes?” I ask, confused.

“You know, when I took over the team, I had my doubts if you’d be a player I’d want to keep on. But I can say confidently that you’ve proven me wrong this season. We’d be happy to extend your contract for another two years.”

A lump the size of a football forms in my throat. “Thank you, sir.”

He inclines his head. “Your manager will be informed of the decision, and he can work out the details of the extension starting this week.”

“You won’t regret it.” I shake his hand.

“I’ll hold you to that.” He lifts his chin toward Stella, Nina, and Aria laughing with my teammates. “Go celebrate with your loved ones.”

I walk toward the group, but for some reason I can’t help but glance back at Evren. He’s still standing by the door with a look of longing on his face as he takes in the party around him. I think back to the last party here, and I can’t remember if he interacted with anyone or not. If Elodie were here, she’d invite him to join us, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Come do a shot with me?” I call over my shoulder.

Evren shakes his head. “I’m needed here to greet the guests.”

“I’m sure someone on your staff can do that? ”

Evren looks from the group to me and back multiple times. “Fine, one drink.”

I hide my grin behind my hand. “What’s your poison?”

“Have you ever had Turkish raki?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

It’s his turn to grin. “Let me make it for us.”

I head to the group with Jake, Quincy, Trey, and Marcus chatting with Nina, Aria, and Stella. I stand next to Stella, but I don’t touch her. I can’t, not when it feels like I’m cheating on Elodie by even touching Stella’s hand. All I want to do is call Elodie and tell her about the good news, but I have to wait until I can sneak away for a few minutes of privacy.

“Good news,” I say to everyone. “My contract is getting extended.”

Cheers and congratulations follow from my friends. Aria elbows Stella and she turns to face me.

“Right. Congrats,” Stella says and, in what feels like slow motion, she wraps her arms around me in some semblance of a hug. I pat her on the back, my body stiff. Shit, I can’t pretend like I’m into her.

“Thanks,” I say, pulling away. Jake and Quincy look at me like I’m someone else, so I grab Stella’s hand in mine and hold it.

“Thanks, boss,” Marcus says, looking at someone behind me. “For extending Hunter’s contract.”

“He deserves it,” Evren says, handing me a highball glass of cloudy liquid and keeping one for himself .

“He does,” Jake says. My other teammates nod in agreement. It feels good they have my back and that I have their support.

I flash them a grateful smile and sniff the glass. It smells like black licorice. Evren clinks his glass against mine, and I chug it…and almost choke.

Nina slaps me on the back, with more force than necessary. I glare at her and she smirks. “What? Wanted to make sure you were okay.” But her innocent expression doesn’t fool me.

“Raki is supposed to be sipped and savored.” Evren chuckles.

“Couldn’t you have told me that earlier?” I ask.

Evren shrugs. “Never expected you to shoot a highball.”

“Now I need to try it,” Marcus says.

“Same,” Trey says. “I have a feeling Hunter is just a wuss.”

“Agreed,” Quincy says. “Let’s get a round for everyone.”

My thoughts earlier? That my teammates have my back? I take it back. Those traitors.

Evren brings back a tray of drinks for everyone. Aria and Stella take dainty sips. Evren’s right, sips are the way to go. It’s not as overpowering. I dare the guys to chug it like I did, and they all have the same reaction as me.

“What was that about me being a wuss?” I ask, laughing .

“We call it lion’s milk for a reason,” Evren says.

Nina rolls her eyes and says, “Let me show you how it’s done.” She then shoots her drink back like a shot, chugging the entire thing. She doesn’t have a single reaction. No tears, no gasp, no cough. Instead, she licks her lips. “That was delicious.”

“Holy shit,” Marcus says in awe.

“I bow down to you,” Trey says, bending at the waist.

Nina laughs and curtsies again. “I’m around all night to sign autographs.”

“Get a Sharpie,” Marcus says. “I’ll be your first.”

Aria digs into her purse and hands him one.

“You carry a Sharpie around in there?” Jake asks her.

“Of course,” she says simply, as if it’s a normal thing to bring to a party. “You never know when you may need to draw on someone who passes out early.”

Trey laughs. “If anyone gets too drunk, we’ll draw penises on them.”

“Deal.” Aria grins.

While Nina signs Marcus’s shirt, Quincy comes to stand next to Stella.

“Nora sends her thanks for the muffin recipe. The kids devoured them, and they’re our new staple for breakfast.”

“No problem at all. I’m glad it worked out well,” Stella says politely. She doesn’t say anything else, and Quincy gives her a confused look .

I ask Aria about her plans for the week to take the attention off Stella, and Aria launches into a story about how she’s been offered to DJ at a club, even if she has no experience. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom, so I can finally message Elodie and also collect myself. Pretending to be with the real Stella is more difficult than I thought. Being with Elodie was never difficult or awkward, even in the beginning. Maybe I never really pretended with Elodie, and it was all real from the start.

I wash my hands in the ocean-scented bathroom. Everything is falling into place, and I’m finally content with my life. Elodie’s someone I never knew I needed, until I got to know her. A few months of sneaking around isn’t ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Opening our message thread, I finally tell her about the good news.

Me: I miss you. Evren just told me I’m getting a contract extension for two years, and all I want to do is celebrate with you.

Ella: AHHHHH!!!! CONGRATS!!!! I knew you could do it!!! I wish I was there.

Me: Tomorrow night can’t come soon enough.

Ella: You’ll see the new me. We’re dyeing my hair tomorrow morning.

Me: Can’t wait.

When I exit the bathroom, Jake and Quincy are waiting for me.

“This is fucking weird,” I say, looking between the two of them. “What’s up?”

“Are you and Stella in a fight?” Jake asks.

“No, why?”

“You’re not touching her,” Quincy says. “And she’s acting different.”

“Oh, that.” I rub the back of my neck. “It’s complicated.”

“Don’t fuck it up,” Jake says.

“She’s good for you,” Quincy adds on.

“I know,” I say. “She’s just nervous since Jax’s accusations, and feels weird showing PDA with me. But we’re okay.”

Jake and Quincy accept the lie easily, and I throw my arms around their shoulders and ask, “Now who wants more lion’s milk?”