Page 51 of A Little Secret

“Where the hell are you?” my brother snaps.

I pull the phone away from my ear before bringing it back. “Why hello to you, too, Oscar.”

“It’s Everett.”

“I know it’s you.” I roll my eyes. “I called you Oscar because you’re acting like Oscar the Grouch, which is kind of ironic since you're supposedly on a beach sipping Pina Coladas with your hot girlfriend, so why the hell are you calling me?” I fight a yawn, adding, “And what time is it?”

“Maybe because I'm not on vacation anymore,” he replies. “I’m at the house, and you aren’t here.”

My forehead scrunches, and I wipe at my tired eyes, trying to convince my brain to wake up and compute this conversation. “Why are you at the house? I thought you and the guys were flying straight to Minnesota for the away games after New Year’s, then coming back with the team?”

“Mom and Dad told me about the seizure,” he mutters. The bastard soundsalmostapologetic for gossiping behind my back, but it isn’t enough to let him off the hook.

Leaning my shoulder against the bathroom wall, I grumble, “Should’ve known they’d blabber to you.”

“You still haven’t answered my question. Where are you? And where the hell is Griff? He was supposed to have his meeting this morning.”

My heart ratchets at the mention of Griffin. “Meeting?”

“Yeah. With the Tornadoes.”

The Tornadoes is the NHL team Griffin signed with during his senior year of high school. He’ll play for them after this season. Well, if he plays well on the farm team next season. Man, how time flies. The reminder is bittersweet, and I peek through the barely cracked open bathroom door.

The first rays of morning light filter through the blackout curtains, highlighting Griffin’s strong arms and bare chest. The same chest I snuggled up against all night. I’m still not sure how it happened. How I wound upspilling all of my insecurities, kissing him, and managing to fall asleep in his arms after he politely ended the said kiss, even though I’m pretty sure I would’ve gone all the way with him in a heartbeat. It was a mistake, obviously, but I can’t make myself regret it despite his rejection. I needed to be held, and he welcomed me with open arms. No hesitation. No conditions. Just him and me and a night I’ll never forget.

I tear my attention from the man’s muscular forearm tossed over his eyes and attempt to focus on my conversation. “Why was he supposed to meet with the Tornadoes?”

“Technically, we don’t know since he hasn’t met with them yet, but there was an injury during last week’s game, and since they’re well within range of the Stanley Cup, and Griffin plays Caruthers’ position,andGriffin’s been killing it this season, well, I have a hunch.”

“Spell it out for me, then,” I push. “You know how I feel about all the hockey mumbo jumbo.”

“I think the Tornadoes want him to pull out of the rest of LAU’s season and move straight to the bench so he can fill in for Caruthers.”

“What?” I ask. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

“It’s rare but not impossible,” he clarifies.

“Passing up on his degree, let alone missing out on the last quarter of his NCAA career? That’s…that’s a big deal, isn’t it?”

“It’s huge, which is why I was surprised neither of you are here,” he says, bringing up his original reason for calling.

Oh. Right.

I clear my throat. “Yeah, that’s…strange, isn’t it.”

“Finley,” he warns.

My expression pinches. “Oo, someone’s bossy today.”

“I’m always bossy. Now, where are you?”

“Griffin drove me to see Drew.”

“Why?”

I grimace, considering all the things I could say and how much they would piss Everett off if he heard them. Oh, you know, I’m kinda sorta pregnant, and Griffin twisted my arm into telling the father face to face, but it blew up in my face, and now I’m going to be a single mom forever. Yay me. Oh, and PS, I also kissed your best friend last night and slept next to him, so that’s new.

“Fin?” Everett prods.

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