Page 47 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“The way he looks at you. It’s how Daddy would look at Mommy,” she whispers, and my breath hitches at her words. Kissing me on the cheek, she moves to get out of the car. She grabs her backpack from the backseat and hesitates before saying something that makes my heart race. “And you look at him like Mommylookedat Daddy.”

Closing the door, she heads up the stairs, leaving me spinning with the fact that she just told me Duncan and I look at each other like we’re in love.

My heart pounds like a sledgehammer against my chest, and I can’t help but wonder if we kiss that way.

Chapter Twenty-One

Duncan

Myphonebuzzesjustas I’m walking to the team bus waiting in the hotel parking lot. Our three-game series against the Carolina Hurricanes was disappointing, and we’re heading home with one win.

When I look down and see Finn’s name on my screen, my stomach sinks. I haven’t talked to Ava today, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t longing to hear her voice.

Since the kiss, we’ve texted and made a brief phone call, which I think my matchmaking niece initiated. Ava’s voice was pensive and Scarlett did the majority of the talking until David had her get ready for bed.

Overall our conversations consisted of updates on the latest Nathan news, which just re-confirmed that the overrated actor deserves a good punch in the face. I regret not being the one to give it to him.

We did not, however, talk about The Kiss which left me hungry for more. More of Ava. Seeing her more, talking to her more, more of her in every way possible. Now, here I’m left questioning if she felt the earth move, too.

I did my best to push all of those feelings in the back of my mind and focus on my job. But withTea Timespotlighting us for the world to see and my teammates bringing ‘The Kiss’ up every chance they got, it was nearly impossible.

The Ava genie is out of the bottle, and there’s nothing I can do about it. More importantly, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to put her back in.

“You gonna get that, Denier? It could be your girlfriend,” Wallace taunts. “You know the one I’m gonna sweep off her feet…”

Scowling, I grunt, generating a laugh from him. The two of us have come to an understanding. Levi understands that Ava is completely off-limits, and I understand that him ribbing me about stealing her is not going to stop.

My relationship with him is pretty hate/hate, but we’re co-existing. I’m realizing that most of what he says is all about getting a reaction. And my reaction gives him extreme enjoyment. Learning to keep that reaction low-key where Ava is concerned is a work in progress.

Just like everything concerning Ava right now.

“Hey, Finn,” I mumble, rubbing my hand up and down my face. “What’s up?”

“How’s my favorite goalie today?” I grumble something unintelligible at his happy tone, and his laughter rings through the phone. “That good, huh?”

“I’m looking forward to getting home and away from people. I need some serious R&R.” I lift a hand to the bus driver as I climb up the stairs and grab the first empty seat. “Just got on the bus. Was there something you needed to talk to me about, or could it wait till later?”

“Just wanted to check in and see how you’re handling everything. Your play has been a bit… erratic,” he says as if this isn’t something I already know. “What are you doing to get yourself prepared before games?”

Shaking my hand through my hair, I blow out a deep breath, trying to relieve the tension in my chest. Leaving my personal life off the ice has never been a problem until recently. But it’s not just life on the ice; it’s life off the ice, too. “The usual. I may need some new ideas.”

“Have you talked to Ava?” I freeze. The question hangs in the air. The feel of her lips under mine comes back to me full force, sending shivers through me. “If the pictures are any indication, you need to have a conversation about feelings.”

“A little bit here and there over the last few days.” I lean my forehead against the bus window, staring at the cars in the parking lot. “She gave me the latest update with what’s happening in the press. Do I need to be worried about her safety?”

What I’ve heard from both Ava and my teammates, who apparently love gossip, is that Nathan is looking more desperate and foolish by the day. The foolishness isn’t a surprise, but the desperation concerns me.

“Caro is keeping a close eye on the situation. According to her, Nathan’s team is working earnestly to rein him in.” Coach Stone and Coach Nolan walk onto the bus and take their seats, and we start our journey to the airport. “His ego is having a hard time letting go. With a movie premiere coming next week, let’s see what he does. And you evaded my question abouttalkingto Ava…”

Blowing out a sigh, I don’t say anything right away. The fear that grips me when I think of discussing what’s happening with Ava leaves me speechless. I’m not ready to open myself to that exchange again…yet. “I haven’t, at least not about that.”

“I think I found your problem. You’re distracted,” Finn says triumphantly, like he’s solved all the world's problems.

“You think?” I grouse. Of course, I’m distracted. That’s obvious to me and everyone around me. What’s not obvious is what I can do to pull myself together that doesn’t include talking to Ava about how I’m feeling.

A call comes through, and I glance at the screen to see Ava’s name. My heart jumps and my grip tightens on the phone before I decline the call.

“Sarcasm isn’t going to help you know,” Finn quips. “You need to figure it out, and soon. Maybe talk to David and see how he got his head together after Fiona passed. He had a hard time for a little bit there, too.”

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