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“I a a break tonight to watch the hockey gaood, Tony”

“Okay, good Can we co to hit some poker tables with you”

His enthusiasoals in life right now—earn what I need to sit across froet both of rees I miss et drawn in by the glitz and easy as Poker ultimately killed our father, and I won’t let that happen to them

“Maybe,” I say “Or I ht want to come home We’ll see”

“I have to go to roup, sis Talk to you soon, okay?”

“Sure Love you”

“Love you, too And thanks again”

“Anytime”

I end the call and walk back into the sports bar The stools at the bar are all taken, so I stand to the side and watch one of the big screens on the wall The Saints are down 2–0, and a rowdy fan at one of the tables is yelling at the TV

“Bunch of fuckin’ amateurs! I waited et? Horseshit!”

“Calame just started”

“They suck!” he cries, throwing his hands in the air

“They’ve been a team for like two minutes, for fuck’s sake”

I saze back on the TV screen Maverick and I aren’t close by any ot to talk to hiio last week, but I’ve thought about that conversation every day since There’s so about him It’s not just that he’s attractive, he’s also incredibly likable I’ for him

Sincehere, I’ve never seen the city this collectively excited about anything Everywhere I go, I see the Saints logo and pictures of the players for our new team Most of the pictures are of Maverick and two other players naston Bryant