Page 8 of The Puck Secret

The drive to the restaurant is mainly filled with Josh telling me about last night’s game, and what I missed, and asking if his favorite sister enjoyed dad’s party. Again, I roll my eyes listening to him, letting him go on with himself until we are at the restaurant and settled in a booth waiting for our order.

While he continues to talk about some fight that broke out last night, I pull out my phone and reply to my maybe stalker.

Maddie: If you are a stalker you should already know that, but for the sake of our truth pact - yes I go to FU.

Josh distracts my attention with a question, “So how was the party really?” I take a deep breath, thankful for the few second reprieve as the waitress brings our order.

I want to tell him the truth, but I’m not sure he could handle it or understand it. Yes, we grew up in the same house with the same parents, but we did not have the same childhood as I’m sure most siblings can relate. I know if I told him what our dad said that he would have my back, but at the same time he would also try to defend him, it’s what he does. Josh always tries to see the best in people, it’s one of the many reasons I love him, but right now I can’t take it.

So instead I smile, reaching for my food. “The party was fine, you know how they are. Too much champagne and not enough people our age.” He eyes me coolly as if he can pick up on my lie, so I quickly add, “I got cornered by creepy old guy again, he tried to grope me. Wanted to know if I was twenty-one yet so he could make me wife number seven.” I take a sip of my drink and force a laugh. “Luckily, Mom saved me before I could give him an answer and he could get a handful.”

Josh shakes his head. “Only you would call the CEO of a fortune 500 company a creepy old guy.”

I shrug as my phone vibrates in my lap and I look down at it as I respond to him. “What? It’s true. I don’t care how big his bank account is, consent costs nothing, Josh.”

The Lonely Charm: Truth pact? Wow sounds serious, we should shake on that. Tell me which house by the lake is yours and I’ll drop by. Or do I have to knock on every door and ask for the hot girl?

My words trail off as I read the message and smile, but with Josh still watching me he catches it. “Who are you texting? And did you get a new phone?” He reaches over the table to grab it, but I snatch it back before it can touch his hand.

“Yes, I dropped mine and it cracked, and I’m texting Hals, she is coming home early.” The lie is quick and almost true. I did talk to Hallie earlier, and she told me her parents are driving her nuts and that she is already on the way home.

Maddie: You’re ridiculous & most definitely a stalker!

I reply to the message and focus back on my brother, reaching for one of my delicious pork tacos and shoving it into my mouth. The flavors burst on my tongue, and I almost groan as the waitress comes back to top off our drinks, or should I say flirt with my brother? She’s been by four times since we were seated and he announced that his sister would have an iced tea. I swear he lives in a fantasy world where we aren’t the Mayor’s children, and pretty much everyone knows that. Not to mention that pretty much half the town watches him play at his home games.

The Lonely Charm: ?? Relax Grim, I go to FU too and run by that Lake almost every morning. Should I start doing it shirtless so you can watch?

Growing up with a brother means you learn quickly to deal with the opposite sex and their bullshit. Josh has played hockey for most of his life, which means I’ve been around hockey teams most of my life. You get used to their sort of banter and the stuff that goes along with it.

It’s why I know how to hit a man exactly where it hurts… his ego

Maddie: I doubt there is much to see so no thanks!

Going back to my taco I take another huge bite as another message comes through. Josh is still flirting with the waitress so I slide open the message to find a new picture waiting.

Then I choke on my taco.

The Lonely Charm: Oh yeah?

*Image attached*

Hot.

Shirtless.

Abs.

So many fucking abs.

Fuck.

Are guy thirst traps a thing? Because if so, I definitely just got one. The taco continues to be lodged in my throat as Josh jumps up to pat me on the back, and I choke it down as I whip my phone out of sight, knocking my drink over in the process.

Josh jumps back with a curse, “Fucking hell, Maddie, what is with you today?” The waitress is quick to grab the spill with a cloth stuck in her apron, and I am still trying to catch my breath so I can apologize.

A few more coughs and I ignore my heated cheeks as I rush out my words. “Oh my god, I am so sorry, really sorry, I’m such a klutz.” I grab some napkins and begin helping her clean up, but I can still feel Josh’s concerned stare burning into me.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Mads?” He hardly ever calls me that, so I know he is worried about me, and a part of me wants to pour my secrets out to him, but this isn’t his burden, it’s mine.

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