She flipped him the bird before walking away. Dylan kept his eyes up, because he noted Jack Trainer was watching him. The hell of it was, the man was right, he did have lascivious thoughts about Piper. He just had to stop wanting to act on them.

Tip off went the way of the Pissants, as Dylan now thought of them. A tall, physical team, with no women. Right off, he knew he was going to enjoy the game. The verbal jabs just added to the fun, and in seconds he’d had an elbow to the ribs and one to the gut.

“Hell, you doing okay there, sweetheart?” Joe smiled at him. “That’s gotta hurt. You go on and take a break if you need it.”

“Well hell, Joe, you missed that shot. I hear your sight goes when you hit a certain age,” Dylan called back.

He caught the ball Jack Trainer rocketed at him, accompanied by a scowl.

Dylan dribbled it toward the hoop and saw Piper going wide; she then ran the baseline, and he looped the ball to her. She went up, caught it, and put it through the hoop.

“Nice work!” Mr. Goldhirsh yelled. He was sprinting up and down the sideline; the man had inexhaustible energy.

The game was fast and physical, and while he initially kept an eye on Piper he soon realized that there was no need. Her cousins ignored her and sent her balls that a few men would struggle to catch. She was fit, fast, and could jump.

“Slick move, city boy,” Joe said as they high-fived.

Dylan felt alive as the game progressed. Sweat poured off him, and his body would hurt like hell tomorrow, but he couldn’t remember enjoying a game more.

The rules were more loose guidelines, as far as he could see.

“Aww come on, Miss Sarah, that’s a foul!” Fin roared. “You’re killing me here.”

“You watch your mouth, Fin Hudson, or I won’t make you your weekly fix anymore!”

“She always says that,” the ranger groused. “But those little scones with the brown sugar on top are addictive.”

The Pissants were down by two and called a time-out. The Ryker team huddled.

“So is Aunt Jess setting up for the after match, Joe?” Fin asked.

“Doesn’t she always?”

“She’s making chili cheese dogs,” Jack said, wiping his forehead on Piper’s sleeve.

“Fuck, I love those.” Fin sighed. “My mouth’s watering thinking about a beer and chili cheese dogs.”

“Luke’s arrived,” Piper said, straightening.

“Sweet, he can sub for someone. Maybe the city boy, as he’s got to be getting tired,” Joe said.

“We have cheesecakes too,” Jack added.

“No shit!” Fin whistled. “I’m hoping one’s chocolate caramel with that stuff drizzled over the top.”

Buzz squeezed into the middle of the ring of sweaty players and licked faces.