The Best Mistake - Cookie O'Gorman Page 0,44

sent my brain right into the gutter, and an image of Honor dressed in leather went through my mind, but I quickly recovered.

“Nope,” I said, “no dungeons.”

“Okay then, Captain, lead the way.”

Unlike with everyone else, my heart skipped when Honor called me that. I remembered what Baylor had told me, what I’d already admitted to myself if I was honest. Goner was a completely accurate description. Now, I just had to get Honor on the same page.

“This is what you do after a win?”

“What’d you expect?” I asked. “Loud music and beer pong?”

“Something like that,” she said.

“We’re in training.”

“I know, but…” Honor laughed in delight. “This is just so not what I imagined. So different than the last time I was here.”

I stared at her lips. They were red and smiling, so how could I not?

“Hey, watch out,” she said, nodding toward the pan in my hand. “Those are looking a little done.”

With a curse, I hurriedly got back to my task, flipping the bacon, removing four pancakes from the opposite pan and adding more batter. In the other pan, the eggs were still looking good—at least I’d remembered to turn those off—but cooking all that food at once required focus. Unfortunately, with Honor standing there, my attention was shot. Breakfast was the closest we could get to eating “unhealthy,” and honestly, some of the guys were drinking beer. We knew we’d have to work it all off at the next practice. But man, this was a celebration. It was good food with good people, and it was worth it.

“Thanks,” I said, “I haven’t burned anything since I first learned how to cook.”

“Really?” She sounded dubious as I flipped the pancakes over.

“Really. My dad taught me to be vigilant.” I shot her a look. “You’re just distracting.”

“Hey, that’s not fair,” she protested. “I’m not even doing anything.”

I didn’t get a chance to tell her that she didn’t have to do anything. It was just her. Honor. She distracted me like nothing else by just being in the same room. It had been that way since day one.

My teammate Shawn Reyes came up asking for more pancakes, so Honor put two on his plate while I cooked and asked about his little brother.

“How’s Miles been getting along?” I said. “School any easier?”

“Yeah, your baby bro really helped him,” Shawn said, adding syrup then taking a bite of his pancakes, eyes closing on a groan. A second later, he added, “He’s passing algebra now, says it’s his favorite class. Crazy, right?”

“Finn’s good like that,” I said, thinking of my youngest brother. “He’s basically a genius, always been the smartest of all of us. You think your parents will let Miles come to a game now?”

“Mom and Dad have been holding that over his head,” Shawn said. “But I think he’s all clear.”

“Better keep playing like you did today then.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

As Shawn left, T.J. slid into his place.

“Hey, I’m T.J. Can I get some bacon, eggs, and ketchup, please?” he said and threw Honor a grin.

“You sure can,” she said, placing the bacon on his plate while I ladled eggs on next. “And the ketchup’s right there, T.J.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“What’s with the polite act?” I asked. T.J. was going to town with the ketchup—I could hardly see any yellow left on those eggs—but what bothered me was the way he kept eyeing Honor. “You’re never nice to a girl unless you’re trying to get her into bed.”

T.J.’s face showed no shame as he shrugged. “First of all, I dispute that. I’m always nice. And second, I heard she was free. So I thought, maybe we could—”

“You thought wrong.” My words came out more as a growl, but I couldn’t help it. “Honor’s my…she’s my…friend.”

Even I knew it sounded weak.

T.J. blinked. After a moment, he said, “And?”

I crossed my arms, regaining some of my cool. “And if you want me to keep helping you with your swing, you’ll back off.”

“Okay, okay,” T.J. said, holding a palm out. “Let’s not get crazy. I just saw a hot chick and thought I’d take a shot. No offense, Honor.”

“None taken,” she said, though it sounded like she was trying not to laugh.

“But I didn’t know she was yours,” T.J. added, looking to me. “No harm, no foul. Right, Captain? I’ll just be on my way.”

“Hey,” I said, catching his arm before he could leave. Looking him in the eye, I said, “I meant to ask, how’s your grandma doing?”

T.J.’s voice lost its fun edge real quick.