Always Only You by Chloe Liese (z-lib.org).epub

Playlist: “Neighborhood #2,” Arcade Fire
“BERGMAN!” ONE OF THE GUYS YELLS FROM THE KITCHEN. “I CAN’T FIND THE
honey mustard!”
I come in from the deck with another tray of grilled chicken. “I’m going to
take a wild guess and assume you didn’t check the refrigerator.”
Lin frowns. “Why would I do that?”
Sliding the tray onto the range, I yank open the fridge and pull out a slew of
condiments, including honey mustard, and shove them into his arms.
“Wow,” he says.
I pat his arm. “You wear your bachelorhood on your sleeve, my friend.”
Lin gives me a look. “Says the guy who doesn’t even look at women.”
“Please. It’s called subtlety. Unlike you, I’ve learned not to drool at them.
And when it’s time to settle down, I’ll even know how to navigate my own
kitchen.”
Spinning Lin, I shove him toward the table where all the food’s laid out and
then survey the state of my home. It’s currently tipping the scales from quiet
beachfront oasis to frat house. I shudder. Like my mom, I’m a neurotically tidy
person. It’s one of the few things I share in common with most of my siblings,
except for Freya and Viggo, who, like Dad, are unrepentant slobs.
The entire team is here at my place after practice. I’m feeding them before
we hop a flight later tonight to Minnesota and start our first stretch on the road
for playoffs. Virtually all the guys live in Manhattan Beach, so it isn’t unusual to
get together here, but there’s a specific reason for this gathering: superstition.
Two years ago, we barely clawed our way to the playoffs. Tensions were
high, the guys were a nervous wreck, and Rob, our captain, for the first time
turned to me for help. I’d recently been named alternate captain, which was a
huge honor after just finishing my rookie season.