For all his reputation for being a rule breaker on the pitch, Rico was, in fact, never stupid about which rules he broke. His father hadn’t had a chance to teach him much, but the one thing he had taught Rico was that you couldn’t win if you got thrown out for committing fouls. Staying in the game was a requirement for winning.

“Does that mean there’s no chance of you and Myra getting back together, then?” Zee asked, running his hand through his blond-highlighted hair, his very obvious worry tell.

“That would be hard given that she just got engaged to her new boyfriend. Apparently, he wasn’t emotionally unavailable.” To her credit, Myra had tried not to break up with Rico before the spate of surgeries started almost a year ago. But he hadn’t wanted her nursing him through sickness if she was done with him in health.

Zee gave him the kind of look only a happily-in-love person could give a single friend, especially one they believed had no idea what being in love felt like.

“So, on to the next relationship, then?” Zee said, meeting Rico’s gaze over his almost-empty glass. “Frederico Webster Silva and his string of lovely women, each one of whom has gone on to make someone else a lovely wife.”

“You sound like you’re trying to say something, mate. Blokes like you who have it all always have something to say about things you know nothing about.” Rico held up his club soda and clinked glasses with his friend.

“Hey, all I know is that you’re my best mate and you have no interest in playing the field. You’re an excellent boyfriend—my old woman’s words, not mine. I don’t understand what it is you’re waiting for.”

“I’m waiting for someone like Tanya who keeps the ball and chain tight without letting it chafe.”

Zee let out the deepest sigh any human should be allowed to sigh. Seriously, if all those rabid female fans saw him moon over Tanya, there would be a serious threat to the poor woman’s life.

“I do love my ball and chain.” Zee punched his phone screen and a sleepy “Baby? You all right?” came across the phone.

“Never all right without you, love. My mates are knobs. I want to be home, baby. Home with you, not here with these hairy, stinky bastards.” Then he dropped his voice. “All I want is to be buried deep inside you right now.”

Rico turned away and started scrolling through his phone, blocking out the lovestruck whispering.

“You can stop pretending to check your phone now, I’m done being a sop,” Zee said when he was done, and Rico had to smile.

“It’s okay. But only because Tanya deserves a sop like you,” he said less lightly than he’d intended.