Page 76 of My Ex's Brothers

“They will,” he says matter-of-factly.

We don’t speak about it again, too busy with our meals to talk. When we get to the car, he does call his mother and stepfather. He even puts them on speaker.

His mother’s soft, bubbly voice makes me feel equal parts guilty and relieved. It’s not like I kept my child away from her grandparents. We lived in Florida, and it wasn’t like they could come stay for months, they had their own lives…

“Great, we’ll stop by and grab Lyla’s stuff, then we’ll be right over,” he says, hanging up. He gives me a bright smile as he puts the car into drive. “Told you,” he says smugly.

I can’t resist rolling my eyes. “Mhmmm.” I settle into my seat, but I can’t stop smiling either.

The minuteI step foot into the arena, I feel the anxiety starting to swell. The air is cold, and the arena is bare, save for hockey wives and girlfriends and kids in the stands.

Everyone notices us—we aren’t exactly hard to miss.

“Hey,” Dane whispers, pulling my attention. “You have every right to be here, just like they do, Amelia.”

I sigh as he grabs me by my chin, and I suck in a breath. I’m acutely aware of the fact that we’re being watched right now, and my blood is as cold as ice.

“Just keep your eyes on me, sweetheart,” he says.

I nod, and when I look up, I see Richie. Out on the ice, skating by, his dark gaze capturing mine. He runs a hand through his dark hair, his gaze cold. But somehow it’s sexy as hell too.

Dane drops my chin and heads for the lockers to change.

I look around the stands, recognizing most of the faces here, though I haven’t spoken to them since Dex got traded.

I hold my head as high as I can as I find a seat in front of the glass and wait. My heart is in my throat, my body chilled to the core. Maybe I knew this would happen and that’s why I didn’t want to come.

I can feel their judgmental stares, but I ignore them. Dane is right—I do have every right to be here. This is my home. The Badgers are my team.

But I can’t help but wonder what they must all be thinking. Knowing the scandal Dex brought me into. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure the entire room just witnessed Dane touching me in a not-so-familial way.

The last thing I need is gossip to be spread about me or my daughter.

I cross my legs, and within a few minutes, Dane’s sliding out onto the ice. I get lost in watching the team warm up. Watching Richie skate circles around the other guys and watching Dane expertly stretch his legs. There’s a strange sort of familiarity to watching them. When Dex and I started dating, I spent almost every practice here, watching the three of them.

It’s strange how some things have changed, but yet…

Nothing’s changed.

I keep checking my watch, keep fidgeting. It feels odd to not have my daughter with me. Though I know she’s likely fine with her grandparents—who deserve to spend some much-needed time with her—I miss her. I keep thinking I hear her little coos and squeals. Keep waiting to hear her cry.

When practice is finally over, I breathe easier. A part of me feels somewhat victorious that I made it through without freaking out. Without having to talk to anyone.

I wait outside for Dane, but it’s not him who comes out first. It’s Richie.

“Hey,” I say, not really knowing what to say to the man. I’d been thinking about exactly what Iwantedto say to him. About what happened between us last night. Before dinner.

But the minute I see him, all thoughts fly out the window. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Richie is as old as he is. He doesn’t look his age at all. Though, there’s a sense of refinement about him in the way he carries himself, an aura he gives off that feelsmucholder than Dane or Tripp.

I’m not quite sure I’d call it dad vibes, but maybe…

Daddy vibes for sure.

My cheeks heat instantly as my brain is filled with the memory of his torturous mouth and tongue. Of his deep, gravelly voice.

Come for Daddy.

“Amelia,” he says, shaking some hair out of his face. His dark eyes catch mine and I can see beads of water clinging to his hair. He smells like a mixture of cinnamon and cloves and sandalwood. It’s damn near intoxicating, and I know it’s because of his recent shower.

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