Page 19 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

I narrow my eyes at him with a silent question as to what he’s talking about.

“Tea Time,” he yells. “You’re officially famous!”

“Now I know why you didn’t want to introduce me,” Wallace grumbles. “You wanted her for yourself.”

“Will someone tell me what the heck you’re all talking about?” I growl, glancing around the room. The faces staring back at me with dancing eyes and smirking lips are starting to make my blood boil.

Except for Spencer. The corner of Spencer’s eyes crinkled and every tooth in his mouth was showing.

“You don’t know Tea Time?” Davidson claps me on the back, pulling my attention away from Spencer. “The Pleasant Hollow gossip column?”

I stare at him blankly and he laughs, making me grimace.

“Hold on.” He heads to his locker and grabs something before returning to shove his phone in my face. “Here.”

I look down and read a few lines before grabbing his phone.

“What the devil?” I barked, feeling a muscle in my cheek tick as I read what was reported about Ava and me.

“Oh, that’s not the best of it, my friend,” he says excitedly, ripping the phone out of my hand before shoving it back in my face. The picture of Ava in my arms stared back at me, stark and unforgiving. Heat crawls up my neck as I remember the feel of her in my arms, the smell of sandalwood surrounding me. “The two of you look very cozy. Do you have any confessions for your teammates?”

“This isn’t what it looks like,” I mumble. Heat is creeping up my face, and my heart rate spikes. “I was just getting her away from the press.”

“I’d like to get her away from the press too,” one of the guys teases.

My fist clenches and I glare at him. He raises his hands in front of him before turning back to his locker.

“Geez, Denier. It’s really only fun when your nickname applies to the net.”

“That offer to talk still stands,” Davidson whispers close to my ear.

“Like I said—” I scowl, catching the glint in his eyes, “I’m good.”

My stomach clenches as his laughter reaches me. I’m so not good.

“Caroline is my best friend’s little sister,” Finn’s voice pulls me back to the conversation. “We go way back. When she called to tell me about Ava’s situation, I knew I wanted to help if I could.”

“Perfect!” I scoff. “You can be her ‘pretend’ boyfriend.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, a burning sensation fills my stomach, and my hands tighten on the steering wheel. The thought of Finn dating Ava, even just for appearances, makes me uncomfortable.

The thought ofanyonedating Ava has my blood boiling.

“Duncan, people want to seeyouand Ava together. Have you checked your social media account today?” I don’t even bother with a response. He knows I hate social media and that the Wolverines’ social media manager handles everything on my account. “People have always been intrigued by you.”

A snort falls from my mouth. I’ve never been a fan of the fame that comes along with being a professional hockey player. I like to keep my head under the radar, do my job, and stand out on the ice, not off of it.

Off of it, I just want to live my life.

I take my job seriously and am always available for team events, volunteering, and fundraising, but that’s it.

As for the fans? I love the fans. I just want to keep my private life private.

This thing with Ava would be public. Very public. And as much as I’d like to help her, I can’t.

“Finn,” my voice is hoarse as I run a hand down my face, surprised I’m admitting this out loud. “Ava and I have an… um…a complicated history. I’m not the right person to help her with this problem.”

“You’re exactly therightperson. I don’t know anyone more intimidating than you are when you want to be. Nathan Vaughn’s ego needs someone like you to shut him down.”

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