Page 7 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“For the brainstorming session we’re going to do tomorrow.”

“We are?”

She winks. “We are.” A beat. “I, for one, can’t wait to try out your new office.”

The laughter in my chest escapes, joining the laughter all around.

But there’s one voice that’s not laughing.

Sawyer pulls his phone out of his pocket, looks at the screen and says something to Ollie that has him grinning and Smitty laughing as they start up the next round of shenanigans.

I get a glimpse of his face as he slips into the house, and something strange slides through me.

Because even though he’s smiling, it doesn’t feel real.

It’s…

Well, it’s like he’s wearing a mask.

Three

Sawyer

“Yo, Cupcake!” Smitty says, chucking a balled-up piece of sock tape at me. “When are you going to tell us about the minivan?”

“I told you,” I say, picking up the tape and tossing it in the trash can so the cleaning staff don’t have to clean it up later, “I just really like the sliding doors.”

He rolls his eyes, but Aiden distracts him with a picture of baby Reese, her hair finally long enough to be pulled up into a ponytail, complete with a pink bow, so I’m let off the shit-giving hook.

At least until the rookie decides to try his hand at the task.

“What’s with the name Cupcake?” Rip asks as he undoes his laces and toes off his skates.

“You know the rule,” I say, shrugging off my jersey.

“What rule?”

“The nickname rule,” I supply, moving on to my shoulder pads. Then adding when he just looks at me with confusion etched into the lines of his young face, “Once a nickname is given there’s no arguing with it.”

Clarity slides through his eyes and he leans closer. “Seriously?”

I stifle a sigh.

Kids these days.

“Yeah,” I say. “Seriously.”

“He’s not wrong, Yellowstone!” Smitty calls from across the room.

Aiden shakes his head. “Not gonna work, Smitty.”

“Nope,” Gray says.

“But it makes sense,” Smitty protests. “The silent, hardworking Rip from the show and our quiet rookie have a lot in common.”

“Except I don’t think Rip has it in him to murder someone and take them to the Train Station.”

Rip gulps and looks at me, concern in his blue eyes. “I haven’t watched that show. Is that bad?”