“Hopefully, it won’t come to that. But Gabe was a total gentleman. He stood up to Roger and pretty much told him to fuck off. Roger finally left when Randy threatened to call the cops.”
“Fucking prick. So now you’re fake dating. That kiss wasn’t enough to convince him?”
“Ugh, apparently not. We were just going to let it fizzle out and not make a big deal about it, but Roger was still being an ass online and went at Gabe when they had a preseason game. So now we’re fake dating and everything will go back to normal soon. Hopefully.”
“Or you’ll fall in love and live happily ever after.”
“Nope. Not going to fall for a hockey player, especially a goalie. I don’t care that Gabe is nothing like our father or Roger, he’s still a hockey player.”
“We’ll see,” he sang smugly.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“Okay, sure. But on a more serious note, is Roger going to be an actual problem? How concerned should I be?”
“Ugh. I honestly didn’t expect him to put up this much of a stink when I ended it, but it turns out he’s an even bigger jackass than I realized. He doesn’t like being told no. I don’t think he’s physically a problem, he’s just irritating. He showed up at the charity thing last night and was a dick, but then he left, thank fuck.”
“Okay, that’s good. But if it becomes more, you have to tell me. I wasn’t a fan before, but now I don’t trust him at all. His reaction is not normal.”
I debated telling Mal that our father was in town, but there was no point. It’s not like Malcolm Senior’s one attempt to have a family dinner while he was here included his own damn son. He wasn’t a fan of my brother’s lifestyle, fucking asshole.
“So what’s up next on the fake dating agenda?”
“Opening night is tomorrow. You should come with me,” I said, giving him my hopeful eyes. I bit back a chuckle thinking of Gabe and those puppy-dog eyes he swore worked every time. Hell, they kind of did.
“And mess up your chance to truly bond with the WAGs? Absolutely not. Although I wouldn’t mind watching those boys stretch on the ice.”
I chuckled. “Of course you wouldn’t. And you know I’m not like a real WAG. This is just fake.”
“Please. You want to jump that man’s bones. Those pictures don’t lie, and neither does that wispy thing going on with your voice when you talk about him.”
“My voice is not wispy.”
“Generally, no, but tonight?” He fanned his face and pitched his voice high and thin. “He’s just so nice and I don’t know...”
“I do not sound like that, asshole.”
“Sure you don’t.”
“You are no longer my favorite brother.”
“Yes, I’m the worst. So tell me again how you get all fluttery when he sticks his tongue down your throat.”
I huffed. “I never said that.” He chuckled and I knew I had not successfully willed the heat away from my cheeks.
Fucking bastard.
TUCKS
“You in the zone and good to go?” Micah asked the following night as I rocked from side to side in the tunnel. We were about to hit the ice for warm-ups and I was so ready. It was opening night, the energy was already palpable, and I was pumped. I shook out my shoulders and rolled my head to each side three times, before moving through each step of my ritual.
“Yup,” I said, tapping my stick against Micah’s shins. One tap per side.
“Is Dani here?”
“As far as I know.” I was thrilled that she was coming tonight for the game. I needed to stay focused so we could win because these points were real, but I would have been lying if I saidI wasn’t hoping she was in those seats right behind me and wearing the jersey I’d given her. She’d been adorably annoyed when I’d handed it to her the other night.
“Everything still going okay?” he asked.
