Page 88 of The Puck Stops Here

‘And you live together because?’

He shrugged. ‘We live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, rent in Manhattan is extortionate, even for someone with our success it makes good financial sense to share the rent. Especially when we also rent a place in Brooklyn for Mom.’

And hell, he was quoting Aiden now. He knew it even as he said it. But it was better than acknowledging the truth. He was scared to go it alone. Scared what he’d do without his brother reining him in.

‘So it has nothing to do with your brother keeping an eye on you?’

He stalled, shrugging on his jacket. ‘You think I’m that bad that I need babysitting twenty-four-seven?’

And how the hell had she got inside his head so easily?

‘No. I don’t. I’m asking if you do.’

He shook his head on a choked laugh. ‘Wow.’

She’s got you sussed though, hasn’t she? That’s why you’re freaking out.

‘I’m asking if you think your brother does too.’

He scooped up his keys and his bag and headed for the exit, unsurprised when she fell into step beside him. ‘You’d have to ask him that.’

‘But in your opinion?’

‘My brother has spent his life looking out for me, and he’ll carry on looking out for me, it’s what he does.’

‘Would you say you’re co-dependent?’

‘Jesus, Astrid, I thought you said you weren’t interviewing me?’

‘I’m not.’

He stilled so that he could look down into her eyes. Spot the lie. But her own were wide. Open and honest. ‘So this is you caring about me?’

‘Yes.’

He almost said nothing, but then he considered what she was asking and, ‘I have no idea whether what we have is some weird, twisted co-dependent relationship. I know I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for him. And you already know what he’s risked to save my skin. So hell yeah, maybe I do have an unhealthy need to have him around and vice versa. I guess you’ll get a taste of what it’s like for real on Tuesday. You can judge our living arrangement all you like.’

‘I’m not judging you.’

‘If you say so.’

He pushed through the back exit to their private parking lot and nodded to security standing guard as they let him through.

‘I’m really not, Blake,’ she said, hurrying to keep pace with him. ‘I just feel like you have this carefully curated life that has been driven by your brother and you’re too scared to step outside of it and reach for your own dreams. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s the same. Compromising on his own to make sure they fit around you.’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re hockey players, the game is our life; our dream is one and the same.’

‘But at some point, you’ll have to move on from the game and then what?’

He stared back at her. ‘Then whatever, Astrid, we’ll deal with it.’

‘We’ll…?’

‘What?’

‘You said “we’ll” rather than “I’ll”.’

‘So?’

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