Page 78 of Hat Trick Daddies

“Nick, you home?” Brooks’ voice is sharp, a little strained, like he’s been holding something back.

“Yeah, I’m home. Where else would I be at…” I squint at the clock on the screen, “five in the morning?”

“This is important,” Brooks says, ignoring my sarcasm. “I need to talk to you.”

I groan, sitting up and letting my feet hit the cold wooden floor. The sudden chill jolts me further awake. “Well, it better be important. Do you know what time it is?”

Brooks doesn’t reply. Instead, he just says, “I’ll be there soon,” and the line goes dead.

I stare at the phone, the little screen now dark, and mutter, “Dramatic much, Brooks?” The weight of his tone sticks with me, though, and I toss the phone onto the bed.

My gut tells me this isn’t just about practice or some locker room issue.

I shuffle toward the bathroom, flicking on the light. I catch my reflection in the mirror, dark circles under my eyes, hair sticking up at odd angles, and sigh.

What’s Brooks so worked up about that he’d call at this hour?

The hot water streams over me and I try to focus on it hitting my skin, but my mind keeps wandering.

Is this about Ally? It has to be, doesn’t it? I can’t think of anything else that would have Brooks calling me like this.

I miss her, miss her laugh, the way she looks at me when I’m being a smart-ass, even the way she pretends not to notice when I’m staring at her.

But what if something’s wrong? What if this whole thing between the four of us is unraveling? The thought makes my stomach churn. I rinse off quickly, trying to shake the anxiety that’s clawing its way up my throat.

Freshly showered and dressed, I head toward the kitchen.

Tyler’s already there, leaning against the counter with a mug in hand. He’s dressed casually in sweatpants and a T-shirt, his hair still mussed from sleep. He raises an eyebrow when he sees me.

“Let me guess,” he says, his voice low but amused. “You got the same call?”

I nod, my lips pressing into a thin line. “Brooks?”

“Brooks,” he confirms, taking a slow sip of coffee. The mug clinks softly as he sets it back on the counter. “He sounded...weird. Scared, even.”

I grab a mug from the cabinet, filling it with the steaming coffee Tyler’s made.

We exchange a glance, the nervous tension between us unspoken but palpable. “You think it’s about Ally?” I finally ask, breaking the silence.

Tyler shrugs, but his expression tightens. “If it is, we’re all in deep shit.”

I can only nod, staring down into my coffee. Whatever Brooks has to say, it’s clear it’s going to be something big.

Tyler leans back against the counter, his mug dangling from his fingers as he stares into space. “What could she be thinking?” he mutters, his brows furrowed.

“Probably scared,” I reply, swirling the coffee in my mug. The aroma wafts up, sharp and comforting, but it does little to settle the knot in my stomach. “You know…cold feet about everything.”

Tyler snorts softly, tilting his head to look at me. “Cold feet? Nick, it’s not every job where you end up in a four-way with your coworkers. She’s probably terrified someone’s going to figure it out.”

I nod slowly, the thought settling over me like a heavy weight. “Her reputation’s on the line. She’s smart, she probably can’t stop thinking about what it all could cost her.”

The silence stretches between us. The weight of what we’re saying sinks deeper.

We’re both on edge, guessing at the worst possible scenarios.

When the door opens and Brooks hobbles inside, the tension snaps like a taut string. Tyler and I straighten, setting down our mugs as Brooks crutches his way into the kitchen, mumbling curses under his breath at his lack of mobility.

“What’s going on?” Tyler asks immediately, stepping closer to Brooks. I can feel my pulse pick up as I follow. “Is it about Ally?”

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