“And with the team out of town, all his friends are gone. I could try finding one of the girls he’s seen recently, but I really don’t want to go down that road. I couldn’t get ahold of Shai.”
“She’s right in front of me.” I covered the bottom of the phone. “You free to Teddy-sit tonight?”
“Nope.” She popped the “p,” a satisfied smirk on her face. “I’m busy. But I have time to drive you over there as long as it’s soon.”
Damn her. I closed my eyes. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
A little over an hour later,I stood outside Teddy’s house in Alameda. It was much bigger than I’d expected, but size wasn’t the real surprise. The gardens were impeccably manicured, the faux lawn pristine, with not a weed or bramble in sight. The pathway to the door was lined with rose bushes in shades of pink and yellow, leading to an explosion of flowers flanking either side of the front stoop.
Shai left the moment I arrived at the door. Bitch. She seemed to take some twisted pleasure in the fact that I was here after last night. But Griff had asked me to look out for Teddy during my leave.
A leave I hadn’t wanted to take.
And yet, here I was, staring up at this giant house.
The door swung open before I knocked, and Sydney rushed out. “You are a lifesaver.” She grabbed both my arms, her keys dangling from one finger. “I have to go prepare the guys, but Teddy’s upstairs in bed. I just fed and watered him.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Is he some kind of pet?”
“May as well be with how poorly he takes care of himself.” She smiled fondly, and for a moment, I wondered what it must be like to have a sibling to go through life with. Sydney obviously loved her brother fiercely, and it stirred something in my chest.
She gave me one last squeeze—she was so touchy-feely—before hurrying toward her car. It had a dent from when she first got back into town and had been hit by Ryder. Teddy never made it a secret that he used his trust fund for his lifestyle, but Sydney never paid to fix her car.
Shaking off those thoughts, I entered the house. I wasn’t sure what I expected—maybe a bachelor pad with sketchy couches and a stained carpet.
Instead, dark hardwood floors stretched all the way to the far wall of the living room. A plush white couch sat at the center, facing a giant television. There were coffee tables, end tables, and even plants scattered around.
Everything about this house screamed money. It was surprisingly clean too. My footsteps echoed off the high ceilings as I walked farther in, setting my purse down on the console table. This felt weird, didn’t it? Standing alone in Teddy’s house, surrounded by his things—the framed photos of him and his friends on the walls, books casually placed on the table in front of the couch, a San Jose Sharks pillow propped up on the seat.
His hockey bag was casually thrown in the corner by the door, waiting for the day he could play again. Damn, weren’t we all?
I continued my quiet exploration, stepping through a doorway into the spacious kitchen. Unlike my place with its mismatched green cabinets and Formica countertops, everything here felt sleek and modern—marble surfaces, dark cabinetry, warmth that invited you in.
Even the refrigerator had one of those fancy screens that told you what was inside with no need to open the door. I searched for traces of Teddy—his wide eyes, his warm smile—but they were few and far between.
My mouth suddenly felt dry, so I yanked open the fridge, looking for something to drink. It was stocked with sportsdrinks, bottled green smoothies, and containers of pre-made meals.
One of the three of them cooked. I tried to wrap my head around that as I grabbed a bottle of Perrier. Ryder with his unshakeable focus, the way he could take charge without a word. No, cooking had to be a labor of love, and I couldn’t picture him standing over a stove, stirring something up.
Could it be Teddy? Did he laugh with his friends while chopping vegetables? Was that signature grin of his there as he sautéed them?
No, that wasn’t him.
Rowan. It made so much sense. He was always checking in on his teammates, always trying to take care of them, even though he was one of the younger guys. Yeah, he was definitely the cook of this house.
Closing the fridge, I turned at the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs.
“Syd?” Teddy called. “Do we have anything sugary or is Rowan trying to kill me?”
I stepped into the living room just as he stumbled down the last few steps. Setting the glass bottle on a side table, I rushed toward him, catching him just in time to keep him from toppling over. His arm draped around me, and I helped support his weight.
“All right, big guy. Let’s get you to the couch.”
“Coach?” he asked, his voice laced with confusion. “What are you doing here?”
I helped him sit. “The better question is, what the hell are you doing out of bed? Sydney had to leave, and she said you couldn’t be alone. Now, I see why. You’re being a jackass.”
“Excuse me?” He looked up at me as if he hadn’t heard me right.
