The Cost Of Winning

ASHLEY'S POV :

I park my car at the curb as Ryan pulls into his driveway , and we get out and walk up to the SUV as he's taking little Brenna out of her seat .

"I had a text from 'Kaela that they made a grocery run , so they should be back soon ." , he informs us . "Also , I didn't think to mention it earlier , but there won't be any alcohol since Bren is here , I hope y'all are OK with that ."

"Not a problem here , Jules and I both quit drinking a few months back ." , Andy says .

"Hey , man , your house , your rules !" , I respond . "I think I can manage a few hours without a drink ."

He unlocks the door , and we all walk into the the house . He puts the little one down , and she makes a beeline for a small table in the far corner , carrying Pickle the Extraterrestrial Cat by one ear . She puts the toy on the table and dives underneath , coming back up with familiar - looking green and yellow box , and several books .

"Unca Wy , you play colors with me ? Pwease ?"

He looks over at her , then out the sliding doors , toward the backyard . "I was hoping to get the grill going before the girls get back , but it's too hot to take her back outside ."

"You guys go ahead and do your manly grill things . I'll color with Miss Brenna , if she's OK with that ." , Juliet tells him .

"Yay ! Miss Joowie colors with me !" , Brenna yells , spreading out the coloring books . "You's dests , so you gets to pick . You wants ammals , or futterbyes , or scawies ?" , as she shows books with wild animals , butterflies , and dragons .

"I'll color the scaries , sweetie ." , Juliet says , taking the book and rifling through it .

Brenna opens up the animal book , and announces , "I colors the oppytoose , I will makes him purble !"

We leave them to their artistic endeavors and head out onto the deck , and down a short flight of stairs , toward the large freestanding brick grill at the edge of the yard .

"I'm assuming that translated into a purple octopus ." Andy says as we reach the grill .

"That would be my best guess ." , Ryan answers , as he grabs the grill scraper and starts cleaning .

"Well , hell , I actually find it pretty impressive at that age that she even knows what it is , let alone gets that close to saying it correctly ." , I tell them .

"Yeah , I told you she's smart !" , Ryan responds . "About a month ago , just after her second birthday , one of 'Kaela's friends needed some kids to take some sort of a test for some class she's taking to get her Masters . So Bren took it , and apparently she tested at something like a four - year - old level ."

As he reaches for the bag of briquets , his phone makes an " Artoo Detoo being shot by a Tie fighter" sort of noise . He pulls it out , looks at it , and types a reply .

"The girls just finished up at the store , so they'll be here in a few . Now how about giving me a hand with this behemoth ?"

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MIKAELA'S POV :

I just finished texting Ryan to let him know that we're on our way back , and receive a reply almost instantly . I read it , and pass my phone over . "Apparently your daughter has a new friend ."

The text reads :
"Out back w / the guys , doing 'manly grill things'. Bren
in l/r coloring w / 'Miss Joowie' . C ya soon !"

" Yeah , I'm not sure whether to be glad she's such a little social butterfly , or worried . She'll talk to ANYBODY !"

"Hey , you know Ryan wouldn't let her be around these people if he didn't think they were trust worthy , hon . I know he was pretty psyched to run into his old buddy yesterday . Apparently , this guy was a couple of years ahead of him , and sort of took him under his wing when he joined the football team . So I'm thinking we may be seeing more of him after this ." , I say .

"I guess it's good that he has somebody to do guy stuff with , since his friend Doug got transferred out of state ." , she replies .

We pull into the driveway and park next to Ryan's SUV , take the groceries out of the trunk , and enter through the side door in the kitchen . We put the food away , and I say , "We should probably go let them know we're back , kid !"

"Mik , you know Bren is going to want something to drink , so you go ahead , and I'll make up some lemonade for everybody .' , my friend says .

I leave the kitchen , and walk through the living room , where Smidge is absorbed in coloring with a brunette woman in a red shirt and cutoffs . I walk out through the sliding doors onto the deck , and see Ryan by the grill with two dark haired guys , one of whom is nearly as tall as he is , the other a few inches shorter , with longer hair .

He looks up and sees me , and shouts , " Hey , come on down and meet the guys , babe !" , while making a "come here" motion with his arm .

I start down the stairs , but about halfway down , I suddenly get the feeling that something isn't right . I stop , look again , and realize that there is something familiar about the taller guy , but I can't quite put my finger on it .

Then the shorter one looks up from the grill , and even though it's July and over 90 degrees , I'm suddenly ice - cold . What the FUCK did you do , Ryan ? We talked about this !

"Sweet bleeding crucified Jesus !" , I hear myself say , as I turn and dash back up the stairs and into the house , as the three guys stare at me in utter confusion .

I think I may be setting a new land - speed record as I hurtle through the living room , causing Brenna and her coloring - buddy to look up in surprise as I blow past and nearly take the kitchen door off the frame .

"Jeez , Mik , it's hot as hell today ! Are you trying to give yourself a heatstroke ?"

"He's here !" , I manage to gasp out .

"Big shocker , he flippin' lives here , you dork !" , I'm informed by my rather puzzled friend .

I look her in the eye and say , "No , sweetie , I'm not talking about Ryan . Not even close ."

She sort of tilts her head to the side as she tries to absorb what I've just told her , and as it finally sinks in , the color drains out of her face , and her fingers lose their grip on the lemonade pitcher , which hits the tile floor and shatters , with a horrendous crash , sending thousands of pieces of colorless shrapnel flying across the floor .

"But that's impossible !" , she says .


"I'm sorry , Fi , but apparently it's not ."


"

Notes