“Jett and I can drive up if it’d make next week go smoother for you?”
“I appreciate it, but I’ve got it handled,” I say, even though we both know that’s a lie.
The silence on the line stretches long enough to make my skin itch.
“Si, man. Are you okay?” I can picture the questioning eyebrow lift he’s probably giving the screen right now. “Don’t bullshit with me. Do we need to drive up and give you some help this week so you can focus on skating fast and scoring?”
I stay silent for a minute, trying to turn my thoughts into words that won’t trigger every red flag a seasoned pro athlete could have. If I voice my true thoughts, Noah will be here by nightfall. He's a caretaker, like me. He has been since the day their dad died when we were teenagers.
I don’t want to lie to one of my longtime friends, but I also don’t want him taking anything extra onto his shoulders. Day one of seeing Oakley Kate already has me trying to figure out how to fill her in on everything. Speaking of Kates…
“Ran into your sister today,” I mumble, deciding a change in topic is safer than Noah’s current line of questioning.
“You sure it was her?” The hesitancy in his tone speaks volumes. “She’s supposed to be on a flight to Seattle tonight.”
Well, I guess that’s confirmation that she hasn’t told big brother anything.
“Pretty sure I know when I’m holding my ex in my arms, unless she had herself cloned at some point.” Best ten seconds of my month.
“Huh. Wonder why she didn’t tell me or Jett she’d be around. Those two get together every chance they can.”
I bite my tongue, knowing if she didn’t tell him about coming home, then she didn’t tell him about the injury either. Clearly, she didn’t want to worry big brother.
“Nice subject change, by the way,” he grumbles. “Be serious. How are you holding up with balancing hockey and your kid sister? Ready to accept help yet?”
My fingers roughly knead the base of my neck, trying to relieve the building tension. The conversations with Rooks, Thorn, and Hannah are happening more and more often—damn near daily at this point—about how I need a nanny, but I can’t trust anyone with Aubrey. Finding anyone who isn’t in it to get in bed with a hockey player is impossible.
Noah clears his throat, and I realize I’ve been quiet too long when I hear his keys jingle on the other end. “I’ll be there this afternoon.”
“What? No, Noah. You don’t need to do that.” Am I panicking? Is this what panicking feels like? Like my lungs are seizing up and my heart just bottomed out into my stomach?
Noah chooses to stay oblivious to my distress as he continues. “I can take PTO. And it sounds like I have a baby sister to check on, anyway. I’ll be there in a few hours.”
The weight that lifts from my chest at his words would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already on the couch. Pressure builds behind my eyes, tears threatening, but I refuse to let them fall. Clearing my throat, I mumble, “Gate code’s the same,” before hanging up. Maybe this won’t blow up in our faces.
Chapter 7
Oakley Kate
When my cell rings a little while after Mom and I get home from lunch, I answer without glancing at the caller ID. Terrible decision, because Noah’s protective big brother growl vibrates in my ear.
“Since when can you answer your cell phone when you’re on the job?” he asks, and I wish this phone was one of those tiny flip phones from 2008 so I could slam it shut and feel some kind of satisfaction. Because that tone in my brother’s voice? He knows. Of course, he does.
Deciding to play dumb, I withhold the groan and force a cheery voice. “Hello to you too, big brother. What do you mean?”
“You’re in Steele Valley,” he deadpans.
Damn it all to hell. I know Mama didn’t tell him. I made her swear to secrecy at least until after my next appointment. And Jett would have told me if she’d slipped up. Which means there’s only one source.
“You talked to Silas?”
“I did.”
“That blabbermouth,” I huff, flinging myself back against the couch cushions and immediately regretting it as pain ricochets up and down my leg.
“That’s the best insult you have for seeing your famous ex in the local supermarket during preseason?” he asks, and I can hear the stupid grin on his face. Noah never got the full story of why we split up, and if I have my way, he never will. My brother has been dealt enough trauma in his lifetime. He doesn't need mine added to it.
“Why’s he running his mouth to you?”
