Page 78 of The Hat Trick

Chandler: It’s not their fault I can be so persuasive.

Brent: So, you’re looking for a punishment, then? I can do that.

Chandler: I’ll never sleep again if it means you’ll punish me for it.

Brent: You’re trouble.

Chandler: *Smiley face emoji*

Brent: Just wait until the next time I get my hands on you.

Chandler: Can’t wait.

I shake my head at my phone, noticing how my lips are pulled into a smile. I text my other siblings Bryson and Bailey wishing them a Happy New Year before putting my phone away and scrubbing the already clean kitchen.

Brynn finally joins me downstairs again, sitting on the couch next to me looking like she feels much better.

“You didn’t tell me what you ended up doing last night,” she nudges my shoulder with hers.

I shrug. “Maybe because it’s none of your business.”

“Were you with that girl Chandler?” she singsongs.

“If I was, it still wouldn’t be your business.”

“Oh, you so were. Was it just you two or were the other hotties there too?” She doesn’t sound judgmental, just curious. But my face scrunches at how she chooses to ask about my teammates.

“Do not talk about Dumont and McQuaid like that…or anyone else I work with.”

“Not my fault you have the hottest coworkers known to man.”

“I’m going to ban you from going to any games if I have to hear this from you anymore.”

“I wouldn’t everdoanythingwith any of them,” she rolls her eyes.

“They know I would kill them if they laid a hand on you.”

“Oh whatever, you barely fight on the ice, I know you don’t fight off of it.”

It’s true, I’m not one to start fights, I’m there to play the game. I know Dumont and I are similar in that way; we will certainly fight back if needed, but I’m not going out of my way to fight someone just for the hell of it.

Though, if anyone did anything to Chandler or either of my sisters that would be one instance where I wouldn’t hesitate to start something.

“Is she going to the game tomorrow?” Brynn asks.

“She hasn’t told me for sure, but I think so.”

She brings her legs up to her chest and wraps her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees. “I listened to the voicemail Brandon left.”

I want to be disappointed she didn’t listen to it with me, but I also understand that she has her own process when it comes to dealing with our shit brother. Or our shit parents, though we tend not to talk about them much.

Keeping my voice calm I ask, “What did he say?”

She shrugs slightly. “Same stuff he always does, I guess.”

“I think he says different things to each of us.”

She sighs “I don’t know, Brent. He said he wants to get help and it kind of sounded like he really meant it this time.”

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