“You love me. Answer the question, Théo. Flat screen? Projector? I need to know if I should be jealous.”
“He lives in the building across from the Walsh & Wilde on Van Buren,” I said, dodging the question entirely.
Bradley hummed. “Oh, I know that area. Very nice pre-war buildings.”
Hana nodded like this meant something to her.
“He does have a leather couch,” I admitted. “But it’s surprisingly comfy.”
“And the dog? Spoiled rotten?”
“The sweetest. Aussie mix named Aspen.”
“Aspen.” Bradley pressed a hand to his chest, expression going dreamy. “A single dog dad with an Aussie mix in a pre-war building. Oh my God, marry me.”
Hana snorted. “Excuse me, you’re supposed to marry my brother.”
“Do you see a ring on this finger?” Bradley held up his left hand and pointed his ring finger in the air. “Until Kenzo puts a ring on it, I am a free agent. Theoretically.”
“I’m telling him you said that.”
“Please do. Maybe it’ll light a fire under his ass.” Bradley sighed dramatically, then turned his attention back to me. “So,Théo. What’s the deal? Is Derek dating anyone? Any photos on his nightstand? Does he have a sex swing in his bedroom? I need details.”
I took a very long sip of my wine. “I really wouldn’t know.”
“You’re staying in his apartment.”
“I’m watching his dog. There’s a difference.”
Hana suddenly swore, sloshing wine over the lip of her glass and onto her leggings. She didn’t care. On screen, Derek scored on a breakaway, the puck sailing past the goalie’s glove into the top corner, and she yelled again.
“Yes!” Bradley pumped his fist. “That’s my future brother-in-law!”
Hana shoved Bradley back into his seat, making his wine slosh onto his jersey.
“What? You’re clearly obsessed with him.” Bradley grinned, undeterred. “Unless—wait.” His eyes darted between Hana and me. “Or maybe it’s Théo who’s going to be your future brother-in-law. Hana and Avery, sitting in a tree—”
She smacked him with a pillow. On the screen, Kenzo clapped Derek on the back as the team swarmed him and I watched Derek’s face split into that boyish grin I was becoming dangerously addicted to.
“For what it’s worth,” I said, not looking away from the screen, “my brother is kind of an idiot about these things. So if you are into him, you might have to spell it out.”
“We’re just friends,” Hana said, a little too quickly.
Bradley and I exchanged a look.
“Shut up,” she muttered, settling back onto the couch as the game resumed.
Winnipeg pushed back hard in the second period, tying it up with a power play goal that had Hana throwing a pillow at the screen. Bradley calmly retrieved it and poured her more wine.
Midway through the third, Derek got the puck again, breaking away from the pack with that deceptive speed of his. He was past the first defender, then the second, nothing but open ice between him and the goalie—
A Winnipeg player caught up to him. Number 47, a hulking defenseman who’d been playing dirty all night.
It happened fast.
The end of a stick came up hard, catching Derek square in the mouth. A spray of blood arced across the ice, vivid red against white.
I was on my feet before I realized I’d moved.
