“Hannah.” He buries his face in his hands. “Relationships, jobs, sports… all of those things come and go, but this?Thisis who you are. It’s your identity, and it’s something Iwantto know about even if there’s a damn microphone in front of me.” Grant slowly lowers his hand, revealing tear-stained cheeks. “I want to know about everything—including Coach… Brody… what the fuck am I supposed to call him now?—because Ilove you. And when you love someone, you get over yourself. You put your personal opinions aside, and you listen. Which is what I should’ve done originally. I’m so fucking sorry that I didn’t.”
I stand, moving to where he’s sitting. I perch on the edge of the chair and put an arm around him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I’m sorry for not telling you. We told Olivia, Brody’s daughter, because she’s the most important person in his life. You’re the most important person inmylife, and I should’ve been honest with you from the beginning,” I say.
“I probably wouldn’t have believed you,” he mumbles. “It’sCoach. And you hooked up with him the night Riley was hurt too? Wait a fucking minute.” Grant sits up. “His shirt was on inside out that night.Youdid that?”
“Guilty.” I laugh. “I”m not the only one who deserves an apology from you. Brody does too.”
“Where is he?” Grant asks.
“BB,” I call out. “Can you come in here?”
“What the hell does BB mean?”
“Broody Brody,” I say.
“Ah. Okay. Yeah. That checks out.”
The floor creaks, and Brody emerges from down the hall. He smiles at me, and I motion for him to join us.
“How’s everything going in here?” he asks.
“Grant?” I say.
“I’m sorry for the things I said to you, Coach. I was caught up in the moment, but that doesn’t excuse my actions. I was out of line, and while I’m still trying to process the two of you together, my behavior was inappropriate,” Grant says.
“I get it. I would burn the world to ash for Liv, and if I saw something that caught me off guard like what you saw between Hannah and I, I’d probably react the same way,” Brody tells him. “But I need to know that you’re not going to hold this against me. Away from the rink, you can think whatever you want about me. But when you’re under my roof, wearing my team’s name, you’re going to have to show me some respect.”
“I understand. And if you need to bench me, I know I deserve it.”
“Let’s consider today a fresh start. There’s a lot of emotion, a lot of feelings. We can acknowledge that none of us are perfect, and we’ll try to be better going forward,” Brody offers.
Grant stands. He walks around the coffee table to Brody, holding out his hand. “Since we’re away from the ice, I’ll add this: if you hurt Hannah, I will not hold back on how I take care of you.”
“That’s fair, Everett. But I promise I won’t.” Brody looks over at me. “I’m in it for the long haul with her.”
“Good. And, hey. Please no PDA when I’m around.” Grant groans. “I’m not ready to see any of that yet.”
“Fine, but only because you said you’re really fucking sorry, and I felt every syllable of that apology.” I throw a pillow at Grant’s back. “Are we all good?”
“We’re good. I appreciate you all listening to me.” It’s Grant’s turn to glance my way. “Please don’t hide any other parts of yourself from me, Han. Fifty years from now, I won’t be hitting a puck, but you’ll still be my sister. I don’t want to not know who you are.”
“I promise I won’t.” I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Thank you for coming by, G.”
“I should go. Ethan mentioned something about a human Mario Kart game in his living room, and I’m concerned someone is going to wind up with a concussion.” Grant sighs. “One day he’ll grow up.”
“See you at practice tomorrow, Everett,” Brody says, shaking his hand. “Big game five coming up.”
“Yeah. You two have a good rest of your day.” He gives me a hug. “Text me, Han.”
“I will.” I smile and let him out, a weight lifted off my shoulders when I close the door. “That went well.”
“I’m proud of you for accepting his apology.” Brody pops to his feet and gives me a hug, swaying us back and forth. “Because I’m going to put him through hell at practice.”
“Knowing Grant, he’ll willingly suffer.” I laugh and bury my face in his shirt. “Can you stay for a little bit?”
“Depends. What did you have in mind?”
