I blink at the sound of my name and nearly jump out of myskin when I notice that both Liam and Lachlan are standing there watching me. I shake myself out of the spell Josslyn clearly cast on me and greet Lachlan. It’s not until we’re at the front door that whatever is lodged in my chest loosens. Space. That’s the cure for this.
“You’ve got it bad, bro.” Lachlan laughs, shaking his head. “Look at you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I try to lengthen my stride, but it’s no use since we’re about the same height.
“You should’ve seen his face when I told Joss we’d role-play later,” Liam says, laughing his ass off, which of course makes Lach laugh his ass off.
I glare at both of them as I open the driver's door and pop the trunk for clubs. “I just thought it was an interesting choice of words, considering you’re an engaged man now and too old for your nephew’s babysitter.”
They laugh harder. I turn the car on, my grip tight on the wheel as I back out of the driving space.
"Joss likes older men," Liam says, earning a glare from me.
Beside me, Lach, who's on his phone, laughs. She doesn't likeoldermen. Tate’s only four years older than her.I'mfour years older than her.
“She’s not just my nephew’s babysitter,” Liam adds, eyes sparkling in the rearview mirror. I wait for him to say something else that’ll piss me off, but he says, “She’s family," and adds, “andSarah’s the one who calls it role-playing when Joss and I play pretend with Theo. It's become a joke in our family.”
Hilarious joke,I think bitterly, but don't voice it, since I know that'll only help the case they're trying to make.
“You have nothing to worry about,” Lach says beside me as I start driving.
“I know I don’t,” I say. “You two are acting like the media and reading too much into this. We went to acharity eventtogether, and we’re justfriends.”
“Right,” Lach says slowly. “But do you want to bejust friends?”
“Is this because her brother will be your teammate soon?” Liam asks.
I frown. “No. It has nothing to do with that.”
I’m pretty sure Damian wouldn’t be opposed to me dating his sister if I wanted to, but Idon’t. I don’t even know what dating entails. I must say that aloud, like a fucking moron, because the atmosphere grows serious.
“When I met Lyla...” Lachlan starts.
“Oh, God. Please don’t,” Liam interrupts. “You’re obsessive and controlling and the last person anyone needs to take relationship advice from.”
“Am I?” Lach shifts in his seat and raises an eyebrow at his brother. “We’ve been together a long time. Happy together. Blissful, even.”
That makes me laugh. “Blissful?”
“Yes.” He turns to face forward again. “I won’t deny that I’m stupidly in love with my wife. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Obsessed,” Liam says.
“In love, obsessed, whatever.” Lach shrugs. “My point is, when we met, I was focused on hockey and getting a contract. Love was the last thing on my mind, but Lyla changed things for me. For the better.”
“As heartwarming as that sounds, I can’t relate,” I say, my voice flat.
“With the love part or the obsessed part?” Liam asks, shrugging when I glance at him.
"Either."
“Sometimes they go hand in hand,” Lach says.
“I guess,” his brother reluctantly agrees.
“Lyles made me go to a therapist,” Lach starts, ignoring his brother’s praise for Lyla. “And the therapist—very smart lady, by the way, I can give you her info,” he adds quickly, “made me work on myself and get over my hang-ups, which in turn helped me be less ‘controlling’ when it came to Lyla.”
He pauses to shoot his brother a warning look. “She suggestedI get my own hobbies and hang out with friendswithoutLyla once in a while, and vice versa. I go golfing with friends and have dinner, and she does the same with hers. I’m not gonna lie, it's nice, but most of the time, I wish she was there.”
