Jake, who approaches Phil and his friends at a table

[NOTE: This chapter happens in parallel with Abbie's narrative.]

Jake turned away from Abbie and meandered across the ballroom. He snagged another mushroom tart, and then quickly one more before the waiter disappeared. Jake wished he knew how to cook.

He wasn't surprised to see a sort of role reversal. It was he who had actually been invited, he who was actually related to someone here -- and yet it was Abbie who was making new friends and socializing.

He wasn't heading anywhere in particular, but soon realized that he was only a few feet away from a table occupied by Phil and a bunch of the guys he had seen earlier. One of them looked up at him and, making eye contact, gave a bit of a nod.

"Hey," said Jake.

"Hey, what's up?" the man asked. He was tall with curly hair. "I'm Arthur. You look like you're looking for something."

"Nah," said Jake. Then he smirked and said, "my date kinda ditched me for some snacks so I'm wandering."

"Join us. We're just day drinking and arguing about sports."

Jake chuckled. He could do those things. He walked over to the table, and caught the tail end of a sentence.

"-- he comes back from this injury, they're gonna be good." Jake recognized the face of the Italian-looking guy, but couldn't place his name.

"I'm telling you, give it two more seasons and Minnesota is going to win it all," the shorter Asian man with the shaggy hair said. "I'll bet you money. A lot of money." He paused. "Not a lot of money, because I don't have any money. But I'll bet you ..."

"You can bet me a night with your girlfriend," said the Italian man.

"Yeah, fuck you," the shaggy-haired man replied. "And fuck you, and fuck you, and fuck all of you. At least I have a girl here." He pointed at each of the guys as he cursed them, and then his eyes landed on Jake. "Okay, not fuck you. I don't know you."

Jake smiled. "I'm Jake. I'm related to Staci. We're cousins."

"Marshall Cousins, there's a guy who can turn Philly around," the Italian man said, steering the conversation back to sports. "He just needs confidence."

The Asian man shook his head. "You take Cousins. You take Oberfeller. You take your stupid fucking defensive 'method' or whatever it's called -- Minnesota is the team to beat. In two years."

"Bet your girlfriend," the Italian man said. "I mean, if you're even still with her in two years." He laughed and finished off his beer.

Jake glanced back toward the bar where he saw Abbie finish a taste of something and screw her face up in reaction to the flavor. She and Staci shared a laugh about something.

The Asian man shrugged his shoulders and turned to Jake, getting his attention. "Hi Jake. We're all being super rude. I'm sorry. I'm Aguri. I went to college with Phil."

Jake and Aguri shook hands and nodded to each other.

The Italian-looking man reached out a hand. "Danny DeMarco. Best man. And this is Arthur and Rick. All of us assholes went to college together. So this table is like a frat reunion. Not much we can do about it."

"You could be less of a dick," said Aguri.

"You could go get me another beer," said Danny. "Look, your girlfriend is over there. Go over, tell her hello for me, let her know I'll be fucking her in two years when Minnesota fucking sucks your asshole, and get a round of beers for the table."

Aguri scowled and stormed off to the bar.