Page 87 of Pucking Revenge

Liv frowns at him with a disapproving look she usually reserves for her husband.

He holds up his hands. “What? It’s my damn team that’s playing like shit. I take it personally.”

Aiden snorts from the doorway, then saunters in and drops into a chair across from me. “Then throw on a pair of skates and get out on the ice. Score the damn goals for us.”

“Or block them,” I challenge.

Gavin shakes his head. “I’m just saying that I get where Sara is coming from. You are all broody motherfuckers?—”

“Thousand dollars, Uncle Gav.”I swear Finn’s voice echoes from the vents in the room.

“You should pay for my curses, since it’s your mother ducking fault.” Gavin pulls out his wallet and hands it to Beckett to take out the cash.

My oldest brother counts out the hundreds loudly, then calls his son in. “Huck, it’s all here!”

Finn darts into the room, snatches the cash, and nods at Gavin. “Pleasure doing business with ya.” Then he’s gone.

Liv just closes her eyes and shakes her head. Probably silently calling us a bunch of idiots. She wouldn’t be wrong.

“Do you need help coming up with date ideas?” Aiden wiggles in his seat like an excitable puppy. “Because seriously, I am an epic planner.”

I settle back against my chair and close my eyes. For a long minute, I replay all their comments and suggestions. I need to show Sara that I’m still the guy I was when we were just friends. That no matter what our label, she’ll always be my girl. Regardless of how things progress with us, I won’t get weird again. I need to open up to her. “Nah,” I say, hit with the perfect idea. “I know exactly what I want to do.”

THIRTY-TWO

SARA

Brooks: Can I take you somewhere tomorrow after the photo shoot?

Oh shit. I forgot all about that.

Me: Brooks just asked me to go somewhere with him after the photo shoot tomorrow. What do I say?

Lennox: Um, yes?

Me: I’m still really hurt about how he acted. Maybe it’s best if we go back to being just friends.

Lennox: Is that what you want?

Shit. Now not only do I not know how to respond to Brooks, but I’d rather avoid responding to Lennox. Because no, I don’t think that’s what I want. But maybe it’s what’s best for us both.

I flip back to his text and read it again. I spent the whole day watching movies with Josie and Ava. We ordered in dinner and had it delivered to the hospital, and it wasn’t until Josie started dozing in the middle of our third movie of the day that I finally headed home.

For the first time in a week, I didn’t obsess over Brooks or how he makes me feel. Okay, that’s a blatant lie. I thought about him a lot. But at least I didn’t have to suffer through being ignored and brushed off when I was hanging out with the girls.

Though he did explain the reasons behind why he was acting so weird…

Me: I think I want to be more than friends.

Lennox: Oh good! Then we can find out what his penis looks like.

Me: Lennnn!!!!

Lennox: Bet it’s huge.

Me: Speaking from experience with the Langfield men?

Lennox: If he’s anything like his brother, then you’re a lucky, lucky girl.

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