“Marbles?” I murmur, scooping him up. He nestles into my arms, purring, and that’s when I see it—movement from the corner of my eye. Something out of place.
I turn fully, and freeze.
A woman stands there. Beautiful, poised, and far too calm for the shock that pulses through me. I take a fast breath.
Dear God. Please don’t tell me history is repeating itself.
Then again…Tuck and I aren’t a couple. Not officially. Not yet. He has every right to be with someone else, and maybe just maybe, I’m the one out of place here…
23
Tuck
Beside me, Nicklas is quiet—too quiet for a guy who usually fills the space without even trying. Pensive, he rolls his shoulder like he’s working out a knot that won’t give, then drags a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back from his forehead. Sweat still clings to his skin, the faint scent of the rink lingering in the car.
I think about asking him again—about his family, about his sister. The way his expression shifted the last time, like I’d brushed up against something fragile. But I don’t want to push.
“You good?” I ask instead, keeping my tone easy, casual, like I’m not paying too much attention even though I am.
He rolls his shoulder again, slower this time, like it aches deeper than just practice. And yeah…I get it. Practice was brutal. Tomorrow’s a home game against Chicago, and the coaches ran us like we’d already lost. Today’s supposed to be the easy day—the calm before the storm—but it never really feels that way.
“I’m good.”
It’s automatic. Too quick. But I nod anyway, letting it go.
Streetlights blur past as I drive toward the café, the sky dimming into that deep blue that settles over everything just before night fully takes hold. Nicklas is grabbing a bite at The Nook before heading home. I’m picking up Maria, and if I play this right, maybe I can convince her and the boys to come to the game tomorrow. I haven’t asked yet. Didn’t want to make it a big deal if she had other things to do. The woman is run off her feet as it is, but I’d like it if she was there…for me.
My sister doesn’t get in until Thursday. Bad timing. I would’ve liked her here today. Would’ve liked her to meet Maria sooner too. I can already picture it—Kate and Maria at the kitchen table, coffee going cold while they talk over each other, laughing like they’ve known each other for years. I glance over at Nicklas again, take in his profile in the dashboard light.
“What ever happened with you and Sloane?” I ask, steering us into safer territory. “Didn’t Jaylynn set you two up?”
“I liked her.”
I huff out a quiet laugh. “And…”
“And what?” he shoots back, a spark of his usual edge slipping back into place.
“You don’t want to ever settle down?”
He turns his head then, eyes glinting with something playful. “You’re one to talk. Unless there’s something you’re not telling me.”
I shake my head, focusing on the road, but I can feel his grin without even looking.
He drags his hands down over his chest like he’s presenting himself. “What kind of guy would I be if I didn’t spread this around?”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “You’re spreading something around, and it’s stinking out my car,” I shoot back, and that gets a real laugh out of him.
“Hey,” he says, still grinning. “When is Kate coming?”
There it is. He’s poking at me now, looking for a reaction. “Later,” I say, keeping it short, not giving him the satisfaction.
He watches me for a second longer, like he’s trying to read between the lines, but then he leans back, letting it go. And because he’s finally back in that lighter mood, I don’t ask about his sister. I don’t bring up the thing sitting just under the surface. Not when he’s finally not carrying it so obviously.
Still, I can’t shake the thought.
The fact that he’s heading to The Nook for dinner—alone—because there’s no one waiting for him at home doesn’t feel right. It’s a quiet kind of lonely that I know all too well.
I huff out a laugh under my breath, shaking my head at myself. Because not that long ago, that would’ve been me. Sitting across from him, splitting fries, killing time like it didn’t matter.
