He rakes a hand through his jet-black hair and exhales. “You’re right, though.”
I quirk a brow. “Do you mean that?”
He smiles sheepishly at me. “Yeah.” Jamie’s expression grows serious. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. My instinct has always been to protect my baby sister. I don’t apologize for that. But I do apologize for stepping over the line tonight. You’re the smartest woman I know. You wouldn’t risk all of this if the guy weren’t a good guy. You know what you’re doing, and I trust you. Especially after hearing all of that. You grew up while I’ve been off playing in Switzerland. I just missed the memo.”
“I promise you, he’s a great guy.”
“Yeah, Aiden is,” Jamie says knowingly.
I refuse to comment.
He grins. “It’s definitely Aiden.”
“I’m not telling you, Jamie. Not yet.”
His expression shifts from teasing to serious again. “I won’t say anything to Ethan or Mom and Dad. This is your business. You’re right about that.”
Inside, I heave a huge sigh of relief. Jamie has always been true to his word, and if he tells me it’s my business, he means it.
“If the guy I’m seeing is okay with it, I’ll tell you who it is,” I promise. “But I have to ask him first. We talk about everything together.”
“Shit, this is an adult relationship, isn’t it?”
I giggle at that. “You might want to try one.”
He shakes his head. “No thank you. I’m busy trying to get my game perfected so I can get a crack at the NHL again. A relationship is asking for drama, which I can’t stand.”
“Why do you think all relationships are drama?”
He lifts one shoulder in a lazy shrug. “Aren’t they?”
“No!”
“Whatever. I don’t have time to seriously commit to a girl.”
I study him carefully. My oldest brother is handsome, with his dark hair and inked body. Funny. Protective. Hardworking. Honest. Loyal. He has a lot of the traits I admire in Aiden. I have no doubt he’ll be an excellent boyfriend someday.
When he chooses to be one,I think slyly.
“What?” Jamie asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Why do I think some girl is going to come along and make you change your mind about everything you just said?” I tease.
“If she’s super-hot, I might consider it.”
I roll my eyes, and he laughs.
Our conversation shifts to hockey, talking about his schedule for the upcoming week in the National League, which is the top-tier league in Switzerland. Then we talk about Real Miami and my job before we finally get off the phone just as Aiden’s game is about to begin.
Aiden’s game.
Not Dad’s game, not the Manatees game, butAiden’sgame.
I sit down on the sofa, lifting my gaze to the TV screen. Aiden has been in my life for a short period of time, but he’s alreadybecome my focus. That’s how different this relationship is—and how much this man means to me.
The announcers are going over some of the things to look for in tonight’s game, and I patiently wait to see if they discuss Aiden. Or show me Aiden. That would be preferable. I love seeing him on the ice, playing the sport he loves, and looking impossibly hot while doing it.
I think about our last date—joking about my in-house Mexican food restaurant, playing with Mochi and Matcha, then making out so much my lips were swollen by the time he left. Because we talk a lot, I already feel as if I know him almost better than I do anyone else. Aiden gets me on a whole new level, in a way nobody else ever has.
