Page 77 of Rainbow Kisses

“So,what’s Uncle Brian gotta do?”

“They call it the Dance of Contrition.”

“And he has to wear some costume?”

“The Tutu of Shame.”

Maddy gave me a look like she thought I was insane. Hey, they weren’t my rules. They were the team’s rules.

“All because he lost some race. Seriously? What? Are they, like, eight?”

I laughed because Maddy wasn’t wrong. It did seem childish. But it was tradition. And it had solved some of the worst intra-team fights.

“Our league does have some, um, unusual traditions, but it works for us. And the fans love it.”

Maddy shook her head, her expression doubtful, as she slumped back in her chair in the family box. She’d been a little more withdrawn tonight. I knew she and Brian had seen Lin on New Year’s Day. Maddy was probably missing her mom even more now that she’d seen her and had to leave. As we’d eaten lunch today, he’d told me that their visit had gone well andthat Lin had looked good. Better than he’d been expecting. But Maddy had been quiet when they’d left and hadn’t wanted to talk. So he hadn’t pushed.

He must have channeled his stress into giving me the most intense orgasms I’d ever experienced today. On my kitchen table. I wouldn’t be able to sit there ever again without thinking about what he’d done to me with his mouth.

Afterward, we’d reheated the food and eaten every bite while he’d talked. Then Brian had kissed me hard and left to take a nap before the game. I’d thought about telling him to stay at my place, but he wanted to be home when Maddy got off the bus from school.

And now I couldn’t stop thinking about Brian, and I’m sure anyone in my immediate vicinity would be able to tell I’d gotten laid this afternoon. Hell, my mom was only a few seats away, talking to Tressy while Krista played with her dolls. My brothers swore she could read minds. I thought she was omniscient. Like all the knowledge of the universe just filtered through her brain.

Neither was true. My mom just knew her kids. If I was trying to hide something, she’d know. Nothing I could do about it. So I concentrated on what was happening on the ice.

Brian’s Dance of Contrition would take place during warm-ups. Word must have gotten out because there were more than the usual number of fans already in the arena. Small towns disseminate gossip like the flu. Fast and furious.

The teams hadn’t made their way onto the ice yet, but our in-arena announcer, Kath Sweigart, had just started her safety announcement, which meant the guys would be out in a few seconds.

I should be making my rounds on the concourse and through the boxes, but like everyone else, I didn’t want to miss Brian’s performance. Mostly, I didn’t want to miss what would come after.

Rebel’s acknowledgment.

The warm-up light show began, and I sucked in a breath as the guys skated out through the benches and onto the ice. Both teams took one lap around their end of the ice. Then everyone skated to the benches and lined up along the boards. Except for Brian, who remained at center ice.

All the lights in the arena went down and the catcalls started. Whistles, mostly. Foot stomping and hand clapping, disjointed until they all got into a rhythm.

Beside me, Maddy leaned forward in her chair, her gaze focused on Brian. But my focus had switched to Rebel. I thought he’d be an ass and let Brian stand out there alone while he took his time grabbing the tutu. But my brother surprised me.

He took the tutu from the trainer on the bench and skated to center ice. He and Brian stood face-to-face for several seconds, while the crowd got louder. From where I was sitting, I could just make out Rebel’s expression. He didn’t look as snarky as I thought he would.

In fact, he looked uncomfortable. Rebel didn’t like to be the center of attention. He loved to play hockey hard and fast, but give him an award or recognition, and he glowered until he could retreat to his lair, otherwise known as his cabin.

Right now, he looked like the dentist was pulling his teeth without anesthesia. Then again, Rebel looked like that a lot of the time, so…

Finally, Rebel reached out to wrap the pink, sparkly tutu around Brian’s waist then skated backward to the boards. Now the arena went dark for several seconds and so quiet I could hear Maddy suck in a breath, before a single spotlight shone on Brian at center ice. He simply stood there, like he was waiting for a bus.

Finally, the music started, and the crowd began to cheer.

And I started to smile.

NINETEEN

Brian

The music began,and I smiled. The winner got to pick the music, while the loser just had to skate around the ice and fuck around until the song was over. But I’d taken an educated guess at the song Rebel would choose. And I’d gotten it right.

Because I knew Rebel. He’d been a damn good friend until that night all those years ago. I knew I should’ve tried to heal this rift between us sooner. I’d tried a few times, but life had gotten in the way. And I’d been a shitty friend. Sure, Rebel had played his part, but I’d just let it go.

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