“What?!” Tate and I say in unison, and the parking lot is so empty it echoes in the air.
“I’m just now hearing about this?” I continue. “How long have you been talking to this guy?”
“Not long.” She shakes her head. “And I wouldn’t even say we’re talking talking. We’ve exchanged a couple texts.”
“That’s all you’re gonna give us?” Tate wonders as the doors to the arena open. A couple of the younger hockey players emerge, causing Brinley’s lips to seal.
“Um, no,” I argue, “you can’t drop a bomb and then not say anything else.”
“I can’t talk about it here.”
I unlock my car, and the three of us hop in. I quickly start the car and blast the heat, trying to thaw out my hands.
“Then we’re going back to your place,” I say, holding my hands in front of the vents.
“I’m messaging Fletch telling him I got a ride.”
“So, you’re not going to the party?” I wonder.
“Not after this bomb.”
“I have a better idea,” I begin, my hands typing away at my phone with lightning speed. “Maia is still at work; we’ll meet her at the diner. She’ll want to hear about this too.”
“Maia?” she wonders, glancing at Brinley.
“Cam’s ex-girlfriend,” Brin clarifies.
“I didn’t know Cam had an ex-girlfriend here.”
“Neither does he,” Brinley says, and Tate’s eyes narrow. “It’s a long story.”
“Sounds like I’m getting two stories tonight,” Tate says as I pull out of the parking lot.
“You’ll love Maia,” I reply, winking at Tate, just like Brinley did to me when I first met Tate. “Trust me.”
eighteen
Ember
Brinley’s up to something. I don’t know what it is, but I can see it in her eyes. There’s this mischievous glint, and it usually only means two things:I know something you don’t,orI have a plan.Which, honestly, are one and the same. They both scare the shit out of me.
“Halloween’s coming up.” The words leave her mouth, but she doesn’t look up at me.
And there it is.
“It is.”
“It’s on Saturday.”
“It is.”
“The guys are throwing a party.” She finally looks me in the eye and smiles.
“Good for them.”
“And we’re going.” She crosses her hands on the table, and I shake my head.
“Over my dead body.”
