“Anything you need to tell us?” Mom asks hopefully.
She’s made no secret of the fact that she thinks I should calm my fuckboy ways and settle down. Of course, Linc did exactlythat with my sister earlier in the year, only forcing her to bring it up that much more often.
I get it; no mother wants to read the kind of things that are written about me online. She’d much rather I be a sweet boy like Monroe. But I’m pretty sure she learned early on that I was never going to be that kind of man. I was feral as a toddler, from what I’ve heard, and not a lot has changed. Dad said he knew the very first time I took to the ice, wanting to be just like him, that I was going to be a D man. Apparently, I took down a three-year-old like I had a chance at winning the Stanley Cup single-handedly during my very first game. My fate was set right then and there. There isn’t anything else I've ever wanted to do.
“Mom,” I groan, scrubbing my hand down my face.
I’ve got so much I need to tell them. So many things, I’m sure, that’ll disappoint them.
“Everett, are you okay?” Dad asks, his voice suddenly taking on a serious tone.
Shit. I don’t want to worry them. I just …
“Her name is Bea,” I blurt, the words falling from my lips without permission.
“Oh my gosh,” Mom gasps. “It’s happening. It’s actually happening.”
The smile on her face is something I want to remember forever. She looks so happy, so proud of me. It’s a real shame to have to ruin that with the truth.
“Mom,” I warn.
She waves me off. “Tell me everything,” she pleads excitedly.
I shake my head, trying to stop myself from smiling, but even in the mood I’m in, it’s almost impossible not to when I think about Bea.
“Okay, fine. I met her on a night out after a game and—” Dad groans, predicting what happened that night.
Mom sighs, her hands against her cheeks as she focuses on all the romance she’s hoping will follow. She may as well have hearts in her eyes. “She’s the one, isn’t she? You chased her down because you needed to see her again. Was it love at first sight? Oh, are we going to have two weddings to plan?”
“Alison, will you please calm down? You’ll be buying things for their firstborn next.”
My stomach turns over.
I’m going to break my mother’s heart.
“Um…so, Bea…she’s…uh…”
The sound of the front door unlocking has my heart jumping into my throat.
“Rett, what’s wrong?” Dad asks, probably able to see the blood drain from my face.
“Honey, I’m home,” Bea sings happily. “My last client of the day was a no-show, so Sienna made me leave so I could take a nap and—” Her words falter as she steps into the living room and must see the same panic on my face that my parents can. “Oh crap, are you on a call? I’m so sorry; I’ll just disappear. Pretend I was never here.”
There are two long seconds of silence before my mom’s voice fills the apartment.
“Oh no, there will be no running away. Bea, honey, come over here. Let us meet you.”
Bea’s wide eyes meet mine before she mouths, “I’m so sorry.” But it’s too late.
I’d already dipped my toe into this confession; now there’s no coming back from it.
Sucking in a deep, calming breath, I hold my hand out for her.
“Come over here, sweetheart. Come and meet my parents.”
I’m pretty sure she’s going to vomit on her feet.
It takes her a second, but eventually, she edges closer, slips her hand into mine, and drops into my side before appearing beside me on the screen.
