“Joey the hurler.” “Mister Rugby,” I replied, lips twitching up in a smirk that mirrored his, as I stepped forward and accepted his handshake. “Thank you.” With steel-blue eyes full of unconcealed emotion, he offered me a stiff nod. “Anytime, brother.” And that was all that needed to be said between us. He knew it and so did I. The respect he directed toward me was returned in a handshake.
