“Whatever, Aunt Adie. You know you love me,” a teenage boy a few inches shorter than Reed says as he playfully shoulders Adrienne. He’s got a tight fade leading up to short, dark hair, warm brown eyes, and an impish grin.
“Of course I do, Eddie. That’s why Bryse and I dragged you along with us.” She ruffles the boy’s hair, much to his annoyance. “Reed, this is my nephew, Eduardo. He’s thirteen too.”
“Eddie,” the boy says, doing that teenage boy chin lift thing Reed did earlier. “Sup.”
“Hey, man. I’m Reed. D’you know where they’re hiding the sundae bar? My sister promised they’d have one.”
“Yeah, follow me. Have you been here before?”
Reed shakes his head as Eddie leads him toward the other side of the room.
“It’s pretty sweet. I’ll show you around.”
I sag a little at Reed’s answering smile, watching as he and Eddie head toward a metal bar manned by two young men with ice cream scoops. Maybe he’ll actually have some fun today. God knows he deserves it.
“When Bryse told me you were bringing your brother, I made him snag an extra ticket for Eddie. Figured you’d have more fun if you weren’t worried about keeping a sullen teenager occupied.” Adrienne gives me a knowing look, her kind eyes sparkling.
“Thank you,” I tell them both. “Seriously, we’ll both have more fun this way. The move has been hard on him.” I absently rub at my sternum, trying to banish the phantom ache that tends to pop up whenever I worry I’m not doing enough for Reed.
“Can’t imagine it’s been any easier on you,” Adrienne says kindly. “Bryse has told me just a little about your story, and Irealize we don’t know each other, but I hope that eventually you come to feel you can ask Bryse and me for help if you ever need it. I cart my nephew around some days when my sister has to work, and I’d be happy to do the same for Reed.”
There’s a lump in my throat, and my eyes prickle because, after all these years of taking care of Reed on my own, I can tell a genuine offer from a polite, hollow one, and Adrienne means it. She can’t possibly understand how deeply that touches me. I clear my throat and say, “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”
She grins. “Eh, it’s a little selfish too. Bryse told me he thought we’d hit it off, and one of my closest friends moved halfway across the country last year. I could use another cool girlfriend.”
“Me too.” There’s a bit of a commotion at the door and laughter breaks out. I scan the room, worried that Logan and the other players are here. I’m not ready to deal with him right now. For some reason, I’m feeling…fragile.
Bryson notices my frown and wandering eyes and must catch on to my thoughts because he says, “The players don’t come to this part of the night. They all have their pregame rituals and preparations.”
“Oh,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. “I wasn’t looking for them.”
My coworker raises one eyebrow. “You sure about that? Byrne sure seems to hang around you whenever he can. Is there something going on there?”
Oh, no. This is one of those times I’m extra grateful to my mother for my amber skin tone, because I can feel heat creeping up my neck and flushing my face, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable. My dad used to turn beet-red when he was embarrassed. “What? No, of course not. I don’t even know Logan.”
Not a lie, really. I mean, I may know the ridges of his abs and the planes of his back, I may know he has a Jacob’s Ladder piercing and be very familiar with how it feels when he’s thrusting into me, but I don’tknowhim. The extent of my knowledge about Logan Byrne as a person is that he’s a colossal asshat.
“Wait,” Adrienne says, leaning closer conspiratorially, “Logan Byrne, as in the winger?”
Shit. This is the last thing I need.
A nervous chuckle escapes the confines of my lips. “Uh, yeah. But I’ve really only talked to him a few times, and once was so he could bring me a Sharpie I forgot.”
Adrienne’s shrewd eyes don’t miss my discomfort, and luckily, she has mercy on me. “I hear he’s quite the charmer.”
“Honestly, he’s kind of an asshole.”
That has her laughing, and Bryse nods. “He does seem to have an attitude with you. I don’t know why all the ladies love him.”
“Because he’s hot,” Adrienne replies matter-of-factly.
Bryson rolls his eyes. “Right. Thanks, babe.”
“Aw, don’t worry babe, so are you.” She goes up on her toes and presses a kiss to Bryson’s cheek, which makes him blush. They’re adorable together, and when I glance at Reed to check on him, he seems to be having fun with Adrienne’s nephew. Maybe this will all work out and the two of us could have some friends here.
“So, tell me what to expect tonight. I’ve never been to a hockey game.”
We walk toward the catering stations to grab food, and I remind Reed that he can’t only eat ice cream tonight.
