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Nicole waited while Drew held the door for a couple coming out with their little boy, who still had his Drayton jersey on and was carrying a box of leftovers. The boy stopped and tugged at his father’s sleeve.

“Dad,” he whispered, loud enough for all of them to hear. “That’s the quarterback.”

“Hey, little man.” Drew bent down and held out his fist.

The boy shifted his leftovers into his other hand to bump it, then looked up at his father with a grin.

Nicole followed his parents inside, smiling herself. Behind the counter, the hostess was already reaching for menus.

“Congratulations, Drew. Four tonight?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Nicole unbuttoned her coat. Tommy was looking toward the back, where two pool tables sat under hanging lights. A couple of men were finishing a game at one, but the other was empty.

“Oh, we’re getting a game in before we leave,” Tommy said.

Drew followed his gaze. “You sure you want to do that to yourself today?”

“I’ve been playing longer than you’ve been alive, son.”

“Then I’m about to hurt your feelings.”

Nicole laughed, and Tommy pointed at him. “We’ll see.”

Before they’d finished eating, she’d heard enough stories about Drew as a kid to understand where he got some of that mouth. His dad could give it right back to him, and his mother had no trouble telling either of them when she’d had enough. Between the food and the conversation, Nicole had started feeling better about the way things had gone outside the locker room.

Then Tommy got up and nodded toward the pool tables. “Come on. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Drew leaned down to kiss Nicole before following him. “I’ll be right back.”

“Go ahead. I want to see this.”

Nicole settled back in her chair as they reached the pool tables. Tommy was choosing a cue when Drew leaned against the empty table.

“Take your time, Dad. Find one you can blame when you lose.”

His dad picked out a cue and pointed it at Drew. “Put your money where your mouth is, son.”

Drew was still smiling as he reached for a cue of his own.

For a while, she and Drew’s mother watched them play. Tommy missed a shot and stayed bent over the table, looking at where the ball had gone while Drew stood beside him offering advice his father clearly hadn’t asked for.

“He’s crazy about you.”

Nicole turned toward Mrs. Kiernan, who was still watching her son with a small smile.

“I’m crazy about him too.”

Mrs. Kiernan looked at her then, and Nicole kept her face easy, though something about the way she was being studied made her wish she’d said a little more. Or maybe less. She wasn’t used to worrying this much about an ordinary answer.

“He told us who your father is.”

“I know.”

“Well, then you know what my son’s getting into. Trying to keep a relationship going through all of that . . . I don’t think it would be good for either of you.”

Nicole’s smile faded a little. “I’m sorry. What do you mean?”