Page 55 of Playing to Win

Megan twisted upright, legs crossed and facing me. “Sounds serious. You sure you want to tell me?”

Once we were back from this game, I was going to be tied up with the Blaze almost exclusively. If the Bonfire lost tomorrow, that was it. If they won, they’d have one more game next weekend, the championship. And of course it was on a night the Blaze had a home game. As Braydon’s girlfriend and the Blaze SM coordinator, I had to be with them. After all, a good girlfriend wouldn’t let her boyfriend risk another drunken rant.

But someone had to be available to help Faith. Because who knew what Frank would do?

“There’s a reason Braydon went off on Faith that night. Obviously, nothing to do with me. Braydon’s parents told him something after that game that threw him.”

Megan rested her chin on her hands, elbows on her thighs. “This is going to drive me crazy if you aren’t planning to share, Tempo.”

“Someone else knows the secret now and I’m not sure what he’s going to do. I want you to be ready to help if needed. But you have to swear you won’t tell unless it all comes out.”

“I know it involves Faith. I can’t promise if it’s going to hurt her.”

I lifted my hand, palm up. “Would I be part of this if I thought it would? The only way it’s a problem for her is if it goes public. You two are friends and you work together in your day jobs, so you can be there for her, right?”

She nodded. “One hundred percent.”

I hadn’t doubted it. “You know Faith’s biggest problem with her dad.”

“That he can’t keep it in his pants? Yeah, she told me once.”

“Yeah, well, one of those pairs of pants had a kid.”

Megan’s eyes widened. “Really? Wait, do you mean…Braydon?”

I nodded.

“Seriously? That’s—that’s crazy. And they’re both goalies?”

“It seems there’s some genetic connection with that.”

Megan’s mouth had dropped open. She closed it and swallowed. “Who knows?”

“Before that game, his mom and adopted father were the only ones.”

She pursed her lips. “Not Frank?”

“He gave her money for an abortion and bailed.”

Megan shook her head. “Wish I could say that surprised me, but…”

“So, Faith was a last-minute emergency goalie that night, and Braydon’s mom got a shock. And I guess she asked Braydon after if he met Frank, and he worked it out somehow. It brought up some issues—he had a tough time getting to play hockey, and his biological father helped Faith, and…”

“Still easier for him than Faith.”

I nodded. “He’s figured that out now, based on the way he stood up for me with my parents.”

“Who else knows?”

“Frank Devereaux.”

Megan’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “Did Mitchell tell him?”

“No, no.” I defended him. “His parents were at the last Blaze game. Frank decided he had to speak to Braydon. Braydon’s mom turned white as a sheet, Frank saw her, and I guess recognized her? Then he looked at Braydon, and when you know…”

Megan nodded. “They do look a lot alike. I mean, they have the same coloring and build. Their features are a little different, but yeah. If you suspect something, there’s a lot of similarities there.”

“I got his parents out of there, and they went straight to their hotel. Braydon went with them and I had to fly here today. He told me his mom was shocked, and they switched to an earlier flight out so they didn’t run into Frank again. I don’t know what Frank is going to do. Tell everyone, or keep it quiet?”

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