This is a nightmare.
Like a serial killer plot twist on my favorite binge drama that no one asked for!
“Thayne,” he warmly announces at the same time he extends his open palm towards my dad. “Thayne Groff, Sir.”
“Malachi Blanc,” is spoken in a similar tone during the shaking. “And Groff…as in…Groffee?”
“Just Groff is fine, sir,” Jukes smoothly insists prior to offering my mom the same polite hand. “Ma’am.”
“Niya.” She repeats the action of my dad. “And Groffee-”
“Just Groff.”
“As intendy?” Mom’s eyebrows shoot to the ceiling. “As in thefirstshift goal tender for The Dalvegan Dragons?”
“As in thebestgoal tender in theentire league,” Bronny enthusiastically boasts.
“Thanks, baby bro, but not helpin’,” Thayne less than quietly murmurs.
Definitely not.
But that was certainly first baby tooth cute.
For the amount of hell he puts up, there’s no denying the amount of love and admiration and approval Bronny seeks from his big brother.
And…meit seems.
Dad’s attention swiftly shifts to me. “Does your brother know?”
“What does he think about this whole situation?” Mom follows with the same quickness.
Becauseof coursethose are the most important questions right now.
How is this going to effectM?
Hiscareer?
Hisreputation?
Hisfuture?
Those havealwaysbeen the most important questions to them.
To everyone.
“He…” the first hiccup of betrayal causes Dad’s nose to wrinkle, “will.” The next prompts matching headshakes from my parents. “Soon.” Another shakes my entire frame. “Ish?”
“We’ll tell Coach – uh –Blanc,” Thayne begins alongside the curling a protective arm around my frame, banishing the tell elsewhere, “wheneverGillyis ready to.”
Everyone except Thayne.
He putsmefirst.
Usfirst.
Right after Bronny.
Which I can honestly live with.
