Dean (Face-Off 6)

Duke lifts two highball glasses from the table and hands one to my dad. I roll my eyes because I know what’s coming.

“I hope you don’t think I’m going to keep you in whiskey,” Dad says to Duke, taking the glass from his hand.

“I don’t buy that, I confiscate it,” Duke says, quoting John Wayne, accent and all. “And a touch of it wouldn’t do you any harm against the night air!”

They clang their glasses together and tip their heads back in laughter.

When Duke is around my dad, it’s one of the few times he looks truly happy. Otherwise, I imagine he stews inside the apartment he shares with his teammates in Washington D.C. He’s an enforcer for the Washington Capitals and one of the best in the league. Hockey has always been his outlet. It’s how he copes with all of the shit he bottles inside.

After my dad finishes up with Duke, he hugs me so tight that he lifts my feet off the ground.

“Kat,” he whispers. “I missed you, baby girl.”

“I missed you, too, Dad.” I wiggle free from his strong grip. “But I think you’re going to crush me if you don’t let me go.”

He holds me at arm's length and studies my face. “You look so much like your mother, even more so since the last time I saw you.”

I smile at his comment. “Where’s Austin?”

“He’s on his way,” he says with a wink.

He knows why Austin is late, though I was hoping he would be here sooner. I thought he would at least catch the end of Dean’s game. That was part of the plan that went to shit. At least I tried to make today special for Dean.

My dad pulls Dean into a hug. “Great game, son.”

Dean smiles so wide it lights up his face. “Thanks, Nick.”

“You keep that up, and you’ll be making the big bucks soon enough.”

“I hope so.” Dean’s eyes widen, and a childlike expression crosses his face. He gets so star struck around my dad. It’s cute because he has no clue that he does it.

My dad slaps his hand on Dean’s shoulder. “You hungry?”

“Starving.”

Dad’s eyes travel from Dean to me to my brother. “Good. Let’s eat.”

After my dad congratulates the twins, we take our seats at the table. Dad sits at the head next to Duke. I skip over a chair to leave room for Austin. Despite having a lack of consistency growing up, we have a structure to our family. Duke and Austin always sit at my dad’s sides, with me on Austin’s right and the twins on Duke’s left.

“That was one hell of a game you played today,” Dad says, staring down the table at Dean. “You too, boys,” he says to Theo and Travis, who both smile. “I’m glad we could all get together to celebrate without any of our schedules getting in the way.”

While the men exchange pleasantries and talk about the Strickland Senators victory, our waitress comes into the room to take our orders. I remove my cell phone from my purse. I’m about to send Austin a text message when I hear his voice cut through the conversation.

“Look who I found on my way home,” Austin says.

Emma Crawford smiles in my direction, wearing an emerald sundress that fits her petite frame. My surprise for Dean is finally here. He wanted his mom to see his last college game since she’s missed so many, but he couldn’t afford to buy her plane ticket. So, I made the plans behind his back, hoping she would get to see Dean play.

Drawn to the sound of her singsong voice, Dean looks over at his mother in disbelief. “Mom?”

He rushes over to her and wraps his arms around her, burying his face in her neck.

“Hey, baby.” She runs her painted nails along his back. “I’m sorry I missed the game. My flight was delayed twice.”

“But…” He struggles to find the right words. “We can’t afford this.” Dean lowers his voice, though it’s not hard to hear him with the silence in the room.

“I didn’t pay for a thing, sweetie.” She smiles, a gesture he returns immediately.

Dean turns his head to me. “You didn’t?”