Page 28 of Pucking Revenge

Oh my God. What is he doing?

I don’t have a clue what’s going on, but my heart trips over itself, and a smile consumes me, unbidden. Because this version of Brooks is fun. He’s always calculated, always thinking five steps ahead. Always in control. But for the first time, he seems like he’s enjoying his calculations.

Preston shakes his head, but he’s wearing a knowing smirk. “It’s about damn time.”

Beside him, Monroe sits straighter and beams. “Couldn’t be happier for you both.”

Confusion washes over me at their reactions.

What the hell?

Beckett grins and loops an arm around Liv. “I’m going to take credit for this one.”

“You take credit for the relationships of every person you know.” Gavin groans. “Please explain to me how you could possibly have led these two together.”

Beckett sits up taller and drops his forearms to the table, settling in. Oh, here we go.

“You tried to force me to admit my marriage to Liv was fake by asking her to travel with the hockey team. You remember that, right?” He glares at his brother. “And I put my foot down, because I’m amazing. I told Liv she was staying home, and that decree led to Sara taking over the hockey team.”

Beside him, Liv rolls her eyes and chugs her water, probably pretending it’s a big glass of wine.

“She’s worked with us long enough to know that we Langfield men are the best of the best, so naturally, she already knew she needed to get one of her own. Since Brooks is only slightly less good-looking than me, it makes sense that she’d fall madly in love with him once they started working so closely together.”

Beaming, Beckett scans the group. The rest of the guests are wearing expressions that range from amused, with smirks and twinkling eyes, to annoyed, with pinched brows and frowns.

Finn is the one to break the silence. “You’re silly, Bossman.” He holds out a fist, and Beckett taps his against it, taking it as his tacit agreement, it seems.

Then Beckett is back to assessing us all, waiting for confirmation of his theory with his brows raised.

Aiden’s the next to speak. He pushes back in his chair and huffs. “No way is Brooks the second best-looking Langfield. That distinction goes to me.”

I surprise even myself when I laugh. These freaking Langfield men. Aiden isn’t even arguing for the title of best-looking Langfield brother. He just allows Beckett to maintain that status.

Honestly, all four brothers are drool-worthy in their own ways. I just happen to be partial to the man beside me. Always have been. There’s just something about those goalie thighs. Not to mention the messy bun and friendly smile.

“Actually, it was Uncle Seb who brought us together,” Brooks says, squeezing my hand like he’s silently urging me not to panic.

Sebastian straightens in his chair, smoothing his tie, and his wife, completely oblivious that a cheating scoundrel sits beside her, perks up. “Aw, hunny. Have you been keeping secrets?”

A sarcastic laugh puffs from my lips. Eyes wide, I slap a hand to my mouth quickly and cover it with a cough.

Without missing a beat, Brooks picks up the water in front of him and hands it to me. He waits until I’ve taken a slow sip, then lets out a steady breath. “’Fraid so, Aunt Zo.”

“Well, don’t keep us waiting,” Sienna begs, picking up her wineglass and holding it out toward her brother.

Beside her, the grumpy man leans back in his chair and scrutinizes us. The clarity in his expression makes me wonder if he can see through this whole façade.If so, he seems like the only one. The rest of the people here, minus Seb, are wearing smiles and watching us eagerly.

“Recently, Uncle Seb reminded me that the people in our lives are what’s most important. Not our careers or accolades, but the relationships we have. He really got me thinking, and that’s when I realized that I didn’t need to wait to have everything.” He squeezes my hand and focuses on me, and I swear to God, I feel the words as he says them. “Because she’s right here.” With a sweet smile, he brings my knuckles to his lips and plants a soft kiss there, never looking away.

My heart flip-flops in my chest, and I think I swallow my tongue.

“Aw, Seb. That’s beautiful,” the cheater’s wife says. Or at least I think that’s what she says. My hearing may be out of whack since my heart is beating so loudly the energy coursing through me could power a Lake Paige concert right now.

Brooks doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. Until this moment, I truly didn’t believe he possessed the ability to lie.

I was so, so wrong. This man must be an expert-level liar, because he even has me believing that he thinks I’m his everything.

“Too bad we’re going to have to move Sara to another department,” Seb says, stealing the air from my lungs.

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