“Thanks.” He ducks his head as if embarrassed. Then he lifts his chin and stares determinedly into my eyes. His deep blue eyes are oddly piercing for one so young. I sense a kindred spirit who’s seen things he should never see and can’t forget them. I wonder what his story is. Then I silently slam myself for caring. Aria is to be avoided, and by association, so is her nephew. Except the poor kid can’t help who his aunt is.
I wait him out. He has more to say.
“Will you really show me your slap shot?”
“I said I would, didn’t I?” I grin and squeeze his shoulder. He beams with joy. I have to admit I’m happy to be the one to put a smile on his face.
“Yes. Just checking. Sometimes grown-ups say stuff they don’t mean.”
“Ahh. Well, not this grown-up. Now let’s get you back to your aunt.” Before she castrates me for spending too much time with you. She’s already sending a death curse in my direction.
As we approach, I put a brotherly hand on Noah’s shoulder and guide him. Aria stands in a cluster with Gardenia and Heidi, Trent’s girlfriend. I haven’t heard they’re engaged yet, but the way he looks at her it’s only a matter of time. She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met and a real survivor. Despite her tragic background, she hasn’t let it make her bitter, nor does she play the victim.
Aria watches my every move, as if I’m some kind of child abuser or something. Noah, unaware of his aunt’s boiling anger toward me, runs up to her. He hugs her before stepping back and turning toward me. I’m attempting a subtle escape, but the kid isn’t letting me off that easy. He shocks me to my core by throwing his arms around me.
“Thank you, Mr. Drakos.”
I stare down at this earnest boy who has a hint of sadness in his eyes, as if he’s been exposed to too much of the adult world before he was ready. My heart squeezes with sympathy, and I’m taken aback by my reaction.
I don’t understand my response to him on a surface level, yet somewhere deep down, I feel something different, almost protective.
And fuck if I can figure out what’s going on with me.
Chapter 8
Juicy and Salacious
~~Aria~~
I’m seething with anger and fear.
Drakos and Noah saunter toward my little group. Drakos has his hand on Noah’s shoulder as if he has a right, which he fucking doesn’t. I’m ready to dress him down, but I caution myself. At the least, this crowd is wary around me. At the most, they don’t trust me one little bit. A scene right now would drive the wary ones over to the distrust side. Do I really want that? I’ve been working on my credibility with the team, an effort that proves difficult when my boss wants gossip and exposés instead of well-thought-out articles on the sport and the players.
I close my eyes for a brief moment and rein in my temper.
“Aunt Aria, can Mr. Drakos come to dinner?” Noah is earnest in his request. I glance at Drakos, trying to determine if he put Noah up to this. Drakos’s expression is completely unreadable, yet I imagine he’s amused by the position I’ve been forced into.
Despite my irritation, I’ll let Noah down easy. The less he sees of Drakos the better.
I bite back the smart-ass reply sitting on the tip of my tongue. My nephew wouldn’t understand my sarcasm, and he’ll never know why this man is off-limits. Finding out your father didn’t want you would be devastating as fragile as he is. I struggle for a way to gracefully get out of this without causing suspicion.
“Noah, Mr. Drakos is very busy. He doesn’t have time to come to dinner.”
Drakos crosses his arms over his chest and smirks. The bastard is enjoying my discomfort.
“I’m sure he can make time.”
Both Drakos’s head and mine spin around toward the speaker. It’s Kirby. I can’t decide if he’s merely exercising his odd sense of humor, or if he’s seriously trying to push us together.
“Thanks, but we’re fine.” I hope I don’t sound as rude as I think I do.
“You heard her. She’s the boss. I’ll see you at the rink.” Drakos smiles to soften the blow.
Noah looks ready to cry, but I hold firm. I won’t back down on this. I can’t.
Noah’s lower lip quivers. I feel like a selfish shit, but no good will come of Noah getting close to Drakos. He’ll only get his heart broken, and I won’t allow it. Drakos had his chance. He didn’t want a relationship, and I’ll be damned if he’ll have one now, even if he doesn’t know who Noah really is. Besides, the more distance between these two, the more likely my secret will be kept.
“We should be leaving too. These boys are uncontrollable if they don’t get enough sleep.” Gardenia winks in my direction. Jakob takes the hint and rises to his feet.
