Page 116 of The Puck Stops Here

‘You should’ve checked with me first.’

‘I told you, I didn’t plan it, I bumped into them and?—’

‘So you keep saying…’

And he didn’t believe it. Chantelle didn’t just ‘hang out’ in their neck of the woods. His brother had orchestrated the whole thing.

‘Why is it so bad that they were there?’

He peeled open one eye. ‘Because youknewI wouldn’t want them involved.’

‘Why not?’

He pressed back in his seat and closed his eye.Let it go, bro.

‘It’s just a photo, Blake.’

‘Like hell it is.’

‘Have you explained who they are to Astrid?’

He clenched his jaw; just her name alone turned his stomach.

‘I’d have to speak to Astrid to explain.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Just what I said.’

‘Look buddy, don’t be mad at her, this is all on me.’

‘I know,’ he bit out. ‘I’m just not speaking to herright now.’

‘What the hell’s going on?’

He ground his teeth, fighting the urge to call the flight attendant over for a beer or something stronger. But he didn’tneeda drink. What he needed was to forget all about Astrid. Astridandher hots for his bro.

‘Blake?’

‘We’ve fallen out!’ he shot back, eyes open and glaring now. ‘Youhappy?’

And now he felt like a petulant bloody child.

‘Happy?’ His brother looked affronted. ‘Why would I be happy? That girl’s the best thing to happen to you in a long time.’

Now Blake laughed and laughed and laughed, because my God, he’d thought so too.

And look how wrong he’d called it.

‘Why do you think I got Coach to call me that night at ours? Why do you think I’ve been doing all I can to bring the two of you together?’

‘Because she’s saving my bloody ass, remember!’

‘It’s about more than that, Blake,’ his brother said. ‘There’s something between you both, something?—’

He scoffed. ‘Got you fooled too, hey?’

‘Fooled? What are you talking about?’

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