Drake held out his hand for Barrett, who glared at him. “Flag football, remember?”
Drake grinned. “Oh, yeah. Must have forgotten that.”
By the time their makeshift game was near the end, they were tied. Now Barrett’s sense of competition had really set in. He huddled with his kids.
“We’ve got this. Their defense is weak. I’ve got the blocking. Ray, you toss it to either Layton or Rachelle, whoever is open.”
They all nodded and broke the huddle, then set into game formation. At the snap, Barrett went hard after Drake, shoving him to the ground.
“Goddammit, Barrett,” Drake said through clenched teeth.
Barrett just laughed, helped haul Drake to his feet, then they watched the play unfold.
Ray had tossed the ball to Rachelle, who was running like a sprinter on fire down the field toward their makeshift end zone.
She scored and everyone cheered. Hell, even the other side cheered for her.
“Girl’s got some speed,” Drake said.
“She sure has.”
At the end of the game they all came together. “You played tough,” Drake said. “You’re all athletes, and you should be proud of yourselves.”
Barrett took in the grins on their sweaty faces. “Come on. Let’s go get something cold to drink.”
He slung his arm around Drake as they followed behind the kids. “I’m exhausted.”
“Me, too. And what the hell was up with that hit, man. My hip hurts.”
“Baby.”
“Kiss my ass.”
Barrett laughed as they made their way back into the center.
They cleaned up a little, got something to drink, and found Greg.
“Those kids will wear you out,” Greg said.
Drake nodded. “They sure will. But we had fun today.”
“They appreciate you stopping in. And so do we. You’re welcome anytime.”
They shook hands with Greg, then headed out to the parking lot.
Barrett felt exhilarated. “Now I’m ready to take on the world.”
Drake laughed. “Good. Come back to my place.”
“I need a shower first.”
“Okay. Go shower, then meet me at my place.”
“All right. See you in a few.”
He drove to his condo, took a quick shower and put on clean clothes, then went to Drake’s. He rang the bell and Drake answered. He’d already showered and was dressed.
“I can’t believe you’re ready.”
“Whatever, man. Doesn’t take me long to look this good.”
Barrett rolled his eyes.
Drake grabbed his keys. “Come on. Got an errand to run, then we’ll go grab something to eat.”
“Sounds good. All that kid play made me hungry.”
Drake headed downtown, which was strange, because they never went downtown to eat. But he was game for whatever Drake had in mind. Maybe he had a meeting with someone and he had to do it downtown.
Drake pulled into a parking garage in some upscale building. He parked and shut off the engine, then turned to Barrett. “You should come upstairs with me.”
Barrett shrugged. “Sure.”
He wondered who would meet with Drake after five p.m., but it wasn’t his gig. He was just along for the ride—and the food that was going to come after.
They rode the elevator to the fifteenth floor to the law firm of somebody somebody and somebody whose names Barrett immediately forgot.
“Got a meeting with your lawyer?” Barrett asked.
“Not exactly.”
The receptionist was gone for the day, and Drake seemed to know where he was going, since he turned left down the hall and went right to the door of—
Uh-oh. That name on the door looked familiar.
Levon Powell.
A very good-looking man dressed in a very expensive suit sat at a very expensive desk. He was on the phone, and when he saw Drake, he said, “Let me call you back.”
Levon stood, then smiled. “Drake. What brings you here?”
“You know why I’m here. It’s about Harmony.”
“What about her?”
This was so not a good idea. Barrett wanted to be anywhere but here right now.
“You broke up with her.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
Levon tilted his head to the side. “I think that’s between Harmony and me.”
Barrett could feel the tension emanating off Drake. “You messed with my sister’s feelings. You hurt her.”
Drake advanced, and Levon held up his hands. “It wasn’t like that. It was a mutual breakup.”
Barrett needed to put a stop to this. He grasped Drake’s arm. “Drake. Let’s go.”
“You stay away from her,” Drake said.
“Hey, I intend to. We’re finished.”
“Hell yes, you are. And if you ever speak to her or come near her again, we’re going to have a problem.”
“Man, we don’t have a problem. It’s over. Mutual, remember?”
Barrett could tell Drake was pissed at Levon and wanted to get physical with him. He felt the need to step in, so he laid a gentle hand on Drake’s chest.
“Like Levon said, it’s over, right?”
Drake nodded. “Yeah.”
Barrett sent an apologetic look Levon’s way, then waited for Drake to walk out the door before expelling the breath he was holding. When they got into the elevator, he turned to Drake. “What the hell was that all about?”