I catch the look that passes between Billie and Rome, but they just exchange what I can only describe as a secret message—something they understand as a couple without having to say anything out loud.
“We’re leaving all of our options open until Rome retires from hockey,” Billie says. “But tell us about your life there.”
“I just work at the library and study since my classes are online,” I reply dryly. “Not a lot to tell.”
“I can’t imagine things at your house are ever quiet with Lourdes living there,” Rome says dryly.
I grimace. “No, I wouldn’t say it’s quiet, but my life is generally quiet. At least, I try to keep it that way. Dating one of my dad’s players probably wasn’t my smartest move in that department, but we just couldn’t seem to stay away from each other.”
Billie smiles. “I think it’s romantic. Kind of like Rome and me.”
“Yeah, sneaking around issuperromantic,” Bodi says, shaking his head.
“Well—” Billie starts to say something but Bodi cuts her off.
“You promised you wouldn’t rub it in if I got therapy and did everything you asked of me.”
The siblings exchange a compelling look and though Billie’s eyes are still twinkling, she nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Then they laugh and it’s kind of sweet seeing them together.
“Look, make sure you watch yourself around Lourdes,” Rome says. “She’s not a good…person.”
I don’t like her but I don’t think of her in terms of not being a good human being, even though I’m sure it’s true. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“She’s a liar, she’s sneaky, and she’s a thief. In addition to cheating on me, I found nine credit cards that she opened in my name, without me knowing about them, maxed them out and then let them default. It wasn’t until the divorce that I found them, and at that point, I just wanted out.”
“That’s shitty,” I grunt. “And I’ll bet she’s charging up everything on my dad’s credit too. They fight about money a lot.”
“We fought about money too. And babies.” He shakes his head. “She hated them, never wanted to hold our friends’ babies or anything, had no patience with toddlers, but then would come home saying we should have one. I asked her why, and she said because it’s expected. But we’d have to hire a nanny to take care of it.”
“Lourdes doesn’t do much of anything for Lindy beyond the basics. We have a nanny who picks her up from school and watches her when Lourdes needs to go somewhere, but I’ve picked up the slack since Lindy was born. I’m more her mom than Lourdes is.”
“That’s good for the kid,” Rome says gently. “Lourdes isn’t a good example for anyone. And she’ll step on anyone who gets in her way when she has a goal.”
“That’s kind of terrifying,” I whisper.
“All the more reason for you to come up with an exit plan,” Bodi says, reaching for my hand.
I nod. “Believe me, I’m working on it.”
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Bodi
The mood in the locker room is tense before the game against the Phantoms.
It’s weird for me to be here in the visiting team’s locker room, especially when I recognize the support staff and security guards, most of whom say hello. For some reason, that annoys Coach Morrison and he grunts out a reminder to “get going” when I stop to say hello to Burt, who works the elevator that opens onto the floor where the locker rooms are located.
“I understand you had company in Vegas,” he growls, pulling me aside.
My heart skips a beat but I do my best to look confused. “Is that a problem? You said we had to stay in, you didn’t say we couldn’t see friends and family. My sister and her boyfriend came to the hotel for a little while.”
That seems to briefly take the wind out of his sails—I don’t think he was expecting me to mention family.
“I guess I’ll have to be more specific in the future. When you’re on lockdown, no going out, no one coming in. Understand?”
