Page 31 of Puck Prince

I open the door cautiously. “Hello?” As if a burglar or ax murderer would answer before getting all slicey and dicey.

“Hey!”

I jump at the voice, not at all relieved when I realize it’s not a murderer, but Summer.

“Listen,” she begins, “I know I’m not supposed to be here, but?—”

“What part of ‘emergency only’ don’t you get?” I snarl as I toss my keys on the counter.

She’s in the living room, rocking the baby back and forth. She puts a finger over her lips. “Shh… he’s almost asleep.”

“Summer, this isn’t a fucking joke. The press is hot on me right now. Someone is going to find out you’re here, and they’re going to talk.”

“Let them talk. I don’t care.”

“I do!” I yell.

She hushes me again.

“Summer, people are going to think you and I are…” I trail off.

“A thing? Us? Ew.”

“And then they’re going to think I’m the baby daddy.”

“Double ew. Just tell them I’m your stepsister and you’re helping me out. Y’know…the truth.”

“Oryoucould helpmeout and let me get you a place. I avoid the press, you have a place to yourself with a nursery for Nicky, and a big-ass room for you. Fuck, I’ll throw in a TV and a Jacuzzi tub if you want.”

“As lovely as that sounds, I’m going to have to pass.” She keeps rocking Nicky in her arms, cooing under her breath.

I run my hands through my hair. “Seriously. Be a gold-digger, sis. I’m literally begging you to take my money. I love you, but I can’t have you and the baby here. It looks bad.”

“O, I appreciate the gesture. But I don’t know Houston. I don’t feel safe in a city I don’t know.”

“I will get you a penthouse in the bougiest part of the city. I’ll get security. I’ll get… fuck, you want an attack dog? Attack piranhas? Name it and it’s yours.”

She moves over to the couch, and I grab a beer before joining her. “I’m sorry, Owen. But all the money in the world isn’t going to make me feel safe. I’m scared of people talking, too. If they knew who the father is…” She leaves that part unfinished. We’ve both had enough nightmares to fill in the blanks silently.

“How would they know?Idon’t even know who it is. Why won’t you tell me?”

She chews her lip. “I don’t want to cause problems.”

“So, it’s somebody I know?”

“Not necessarily.”

“Then why would it cause problems?”

She waits a beat, trying to decide how to answer that. “Because everything our family does becomes public. Everyone knows everyone and it’s just… messy.”

“Because I’m a hockey player.”

She doesn’t answer, which is an answer in itself.

“Listen, Summer, I get that. But with my profile comes protection. I can get you into a gated community. I can have a security system installed. Fuck, I can—I could?—”

“Language.” She nods down at Nicky, who is: one, in a milk coma, and two, not nearly old enough to understand words yet.

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