“Mudan-”
“Milan.”
“And Axspell.”
Instead of correcting her, he shrugs. “She actually got that one right.”
Slowly shaking my head is attached to a heavy sigh. “I’ll get him a new phoneandput my tendy skills to good use.”
“You’re a good man, Thayne,” praises the woman who actually raised me right alongside my mom. “Help Bronny become one too.”
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I warmly announce around her coughing. “Get some rest.”
“There’s a hot toddy, slice of pie, and episode ofYellowstonewith my name on it.” We collectively snicker at the announcement. “Love you, boys.”
“Love you, Grams,” the three of us call back in unison.
Post ending the call, I shoot the man beside me a question, “Why didn’t youtext methat you were comin’?”
“I did during our last layover,” he informs. “There wasn’t exactly a shit ton of time between gettin’ marchin’ orders this mornin’ and havin’ to head out.” Dubs shoots me a teasing smirk. “You probably missed it ‘cause you were busy tryin’ to get ready for your date.”
“The date I now need to cancel,” is grumbled on a fidget of my lapel.
“Nahhhh,” denies the recently dumped male beside me. “You can resume yellin’ at Bronny after you go get laid.”
“You probably won’t evenwannayell at me after that,” my brother mirthfully points out.
“Ohhhh, there’sdefinitelystill yellin’ to do, little bro,” I state both playfully and seriously as we lock eyes again. “But if Dubs doesn’t mind keepin’ an eye on ya then I’ll get you settledand thengo on my date.” An uncertain breath is blownout. “Assumin’ she’ll still want to when I push the time back an hour.”
“She will.” Another gulp is taken. “And I don’t mind keepin’ an eye on him. It’s not like my ass was gonna be doin’ anything else tonight besides watchin’ STN highlights and sketchin’ new bucket designs.”
“League wide?”
“Coast to coast.”
Pride-filled nodding is attached to a wide mouth grin.
He deserves it.
His bucket art is exactly that.
Art.
And getting to have new designs from him and by him out there with me every game is like havinghimout there.
With me.
Every game.
Despite the fact, Dubs has never been on a hockey team with me, he’s always been my best teammate.
“Let’s get you a room and dinner and go over some general rules for you stayin’ here,” I instruct on a point to his backpack. “One of the most important bein’ you pick up after yourself jus’ like at home.”
“But you’ve got a cleanin’ lady.”
“And it ain’t her job to pick upyour shit.”
He rolls his eyes and snatches up his bag as I grab my phone to text Gilly.
