Brett reached between the seats for the cord plugged into the stereo. “Time for some pump-up music.”
Tyler yawned and looked over his shoulder. Fly, Steve, and Suraj were all dead asleep in the backseat. They were going to appreciate this turn of events. “We still have three hours to drive.”
“Never too early to get amped.”
Sean flicked open a text message on his phone and glanced at it just as a heavy beat punched through the speakers. He looked back at the road, then over at Tyler. With his knees steadying the wheel, he typed a quick response and set his phone back in the console.
He turned to Tyler and said something but the music swallowed his words.
Tyler reached out and twisted the volume dial to the left. “What?”
“When were you going to mention you met my sister?” he repeated. His eyes were hard, and Tyler’s throat went dry.
“Wait, you met Emma?” Brett’s head was suddenly back between the seats. “Is that where you were last night?”
Darcy pulled out his earbud.
Tyler shrugged. “I didn’t know she was your sister.”How did Sean find out he met Emma?Tyler glanced at Sean’s phone sitting in his lap. “Did she tell you what happened?”
“Somethinghappened?” Mike piped up from the middle row. Why did he feel like he was suddenly on trial?
Sean’s jaw tensed. “It doesn’t matter what Emma told me. Why didn’t you say something?”
Tyler bristled. “Probably because I was half asleep when I crawled into this van.”
“Were you half asleep for the past three hours?”
Tyler scoffed. “Am I supposed to disclose information on every person I meet? Did I miss that on the team paperwork?”
Brett snorted. “Ask Suraj how asking for Emma’s number went for him.”
“What the hell, Brett!” Suraj threw his hands up in the backseat before adjusting his pillow.Not as asleep as he’d looked.
Tyler drew a deep breath and exhaled. “Listen, I get it, but it wasn’t like that. She found my driver’s licence in a parking lot and messaged me. We met up at Tim Horton’s so I could grab it before we left.”
They had to show ID at check-in for the tournament, and while he didn’t think they’d kick him off the ice, he was grateful he wouldn’t have to jump through hoops to play.
“That was it?” Sean scratched the scruff on his chin.
“Did you get her number? Suraj wants to know,” Country drawled.
Sean shook his head and glowered at them in the rearview mirror.
Tyler turned in his seat. “Wait, if you all know her, why have I never seen or heard of her before?”
Brett sat back and skipped past the next song on his playlist. “She used to come to plenty of games, but we haven’t seen her much this season. You probably crossed paths in exhibition.”
Tyler shook his head. He’d only joined the team in October. “Anyone else have a sister I should stay away from?”
Fly piped up. “My sister’s forty-two and just got divorced. She’d probably send me a gift card if I gave you her number.”
Tyler laughed and shook his head. “Sean, I’m sorry, man. I wasn’t trying to hide it. I only met her last night.”
Sean nodded. “She’s been through some stuff. Dated a hockey player. Total D-bag. She doesn’t need that in her life.”
Tyler turned back to the front and nodded once. Point taken. Sean thought he was a D-bag. First, he hadn’t heard that term since the nineties. Second,why did Sean think he was a D-bag?
He thought back to Brett’s comments that morning. Sure, he didn’t get serious with women, but that didn’t mean he treated them poorly.
