Page 2 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“Forever ago!” Scarlett squeals, bringing me back to the present.

“Scar, time to get ready for bed,” David’s voice calls out in the background.

“Okay, Daddy,” she yells back before asking me, “Will you be stopping by tomorrow?”

My chin falls to my chest. They may call me ‘The Denier’ on the ice, but when it comes to my goddaughter, it’s hard for me to deny her anything. But that’s exactly what I’m going to have to do. I need a minute to pull myself together before seeing Ava again for the first time in years.

“I’m sorry, Red.” Her pout is so loud I can hear it over the phone. Shame consumes me as the lie rolls off my tongue. “I have practice tomorrow.”

“But I’ve missed you!” My heart melts at her words, and guilt floods me.

“I’ve missed you too. I promise I’ll stop by soon, okay?”

She lets out a pained sigh, and my lips tug up at the corner. She takes after her aunt with all the dramatics. “Okay.”

“Scarlett?” I say softly.

“Yes, Uncle Dunky?” I bite my lip to keep from chuckling at the small whine in her voice. She’s laying it on thick.

“I love you, and I’ll see you in a few days.” Again, remorse fills me for saying no, and honestly, only the possibility of running into Ava would make me do that since I’m a complete pushover when it comes to this little girl. “With a surprise.”

“Scaaarrlett!” David screams, his patience wearing out. “You have school tomorrow!”

“Go get ready for bed before your dad gets even more upset.” Scarlett lets out a giggle. She has us all wrapped around her finger, and she knows it. “Good night.”

“Good night, Uncle Dunky, I love you too.”

I slip my phone into my pocket and glance up to see the team’s two defensemen, Noah ‘The Enforcer’ Philips, and Henry ‘Cavill’ Spencer, smirking at me from over their seats a few rows up.

“What?” I glower.

“Nothing,” Noah snickers, “Uncle Dunky.”

“Leave him alone.” Henry punches Noah’s arm, his eyes dancing.

I roll my eyes. Those two are the least of my worries right now. Everyone on the team knows Scarlett is one of the few who can tease me. Rarely would anyone else ever dare.

I plop my head against the headrest and breathe out a big, slow breath. Closing my eyes, I try to calm the emotions running through me at the news I just heard.

Ava is single.

And she’s staying with David and Scarlett.

Five minutes from my house.

A hand raises to my chest, palm open, circling in an attempt to release the tightness gathering there. Fiona’s funeral was the last time I saw Ava, and like every other time since David and Fi’s wedding, it was cordial but strained.

My stomach swirls remembering my eighteen-year-old self confessing to a then twenty-three-year-old Ava that I was in love with her.

Just drafted to the NHL, I was filled with a boldness that had previously eluded me when it came to admitting my feelings for Ava—not to mention that she was older than me and my brother’s best friend.

For the first time since I’d known her, our five-year age gap didn’t feel like such a big deal. The day was filled with so much love, and Ava looked radiant. Holding her in my arms, feeling her warmth against me, and smiling up at me, I was overcome with emotion. The words effortlessly fell from my lips without hesitation.

My hand freezes and falls from my chest as the pity in her eyes fills my mind.

My hands squeeze into fists as a small trickle of the pain that consumed me at that moment returns. It took me years to control my emotions any time I saw her after that.

Both in person and on the big screen.

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