Page 33 of The Puck Stops Here

Aiden was grinning now. So was Blake. The camaraderie much easier to deal with than reality. ‘You know she’s gonna wanna know all about dear old Dad.’

Aiden’s smile shrivelled. ‘You only have to give her enough, you don’t need to tell her everything; she doesn’t need to know about that night.’

Blake ground his teeth as the memories threatened to take hold. ‘Do you not worry that one day the story will surface? That a police officer will talk, or a neighbour?’

‘The neighbours were used to the yelling, and they didn’t see jack shit.’

‘But Dad… the money he could make if he were to offer it up.’

‘He wouldn’t dare. If it weren’t for us, he’d be living on the streets now.’

His brother was right. It didn’t take the edge off though. His blood still ran cold, goosebumps prickling across his skin as he scratched that same itch upon his chest. He let his eyes drift to Astrid beyond the glass, let the miraculous warmth she triggered soothe away the chill and push all thought of his father out…

‘So, you wanna tell her to change her getup?’ he said. ‘Or shall I?’

‘The Mother Teresa act is all yours, buddy. But just so you know, she wore my jacket first.’

‘She what?’

Aiden gave him a shit-eating grin. ‘She was shivering at the rink…’

‘Bloody hell, do you reckon she did it on purpose? Some kind of test to see if she could coax out some chivalry?’

‘Who knows.’ Aiden swigged his beer. ‘Bet you’re impressed with her outfit choice now though.’

Blake gave a tight chuckle. ‘The cunning minx…’

Aiden laughed. ‘I’m not so sure. She seems fairly genuine to me.’

He frowned at his brother. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘Stuff she said.’

‘Like?’

‘Like the fact she was nicknamed Twinkle Toes when she was younger because she’s clumsy as fuck.’

‘Twinkle Toes!’ Blake spluttered over his beer. ‘How on earth did you get onto that?’

‘She fell on those killer heels you’re obsessing over.’

‘And let me guess, you saved her?’

‘Like her knight in shining armour, buddy.’

‘Ha! Pull the other one.’

‘I’m serious about the name though – Twinkle Toes. No devious piece of skirt goes about sharing something as blush-inducing as that.’

‘And was she?’

‘What?’

‘Blushing.’

‘Like a beacon.’

Blake’s mouth twisted up into a smile. ‘Twinkle Toes… I like it.’

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