Page 68 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“Yeah…” Clenching my fists, I take a deep breath. “About that, I should make a confession. It isn’t real–”

“I’d like a fake girlfriend to look at me the way she looks at you, man. When you’re around, she doesn’t see anyone else. Believe me, I’ve tried.” From the corner of my eye I see a white object hit Wallace in the face. Looking for the offender, he whines. “What? It’strue.”

“Even Sandy said Ava is head over heels for you. She couldn’t take her eyes off you once when we were on the ice,” Davidson adds.

Memories from that night flood me. The warmth in her eyes when she saw me walking toward her, the sparks that engulfed me when our lips touched. Glancing around the room, I see everyone nodding and I let the fear that’s been gripping me loosen.

“You and your girl can talk later. But right now—” At Davidson’s words I stop listening.

My girl…Ava is mine. Andeveryoneknows it.

A goofy grin settles on my face. “Got it!” Philips crows only to chuckle when I send a scowl in his direction.

“Alright James, let’s talk about preparing for a game.” Davidson shakes his head and works to bring the conversation back on track. When I open my mouth to protest, he lifts his hand. “All of us have our routines; we know you do too. We just want to give you more ideas so you can be the goalie the Wolverines need to win a championship.”

Looking around at the guys standing before me, wanting to support me, a knot in my stomach loosens. Realizing how much I shut myself down years ago becomes glaringly obvious.

Time to change that…in all areas of my life.

Chapter Thirty

Ava

Mysmilefallsassoon as I walk across the threshold. The urge to throw one, ridiculously handsome, downright obstinate, Duncan James through a window is overpowering. Any attempt at conversation on the drive over was like pulling teeth. Not to mention the amount of grunting coming from the driver’s seat. I felt like I was sitting next to a caveman.

I know earlier I said that I can’t fault him, and I don’t. Doesn’t mean it’s not annoying.

Feeling like a teenager whose parents will punish them for being out all night, I close the front door behind me as quietly as possible. Tip-toeing my way down the hall to my bedroom I hold my breath until I’m safely inside.

Thirty minutes later I’m showered and in fresh clothes feeling more like myself and less like a raccoon that was struck by lightning. David and Scarlett’s happy voices carry through the house and my cheeks lift. I forgot how much I missed being in a space with people doing normal things.

The smoky smell of bacon slams into me, making my mouth water and my stomach grumble loud enough to wake an entire village. Hand over my stomach, I walk into the kitchen. David looks over his shoulder and smirks at me. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”

My eyes widen, and I feel heat creeping up my body. The chuckle I hear makes me want to throw another James brother out the window. Laughing at my expression, he turns back to scrambling eggs.

“Aunt Ava!” A wide smile spreads across my face at the sight of Scarlett. Dropping the crayon in her hand, she leaps from the chair, running over to wrap her arms around me like a sloth hanging from a branch. “I missed not seeing you before bedtime. Can you braid my hair before the game?”

“Of course,” I squeeze her back and kiss the top of her head. “Is it okay if we eat first? I’m ravenous.”

“We know,” Scarlett giggles, returning to her chair and continuing where she left off with her coloring. “Your stomach was talking.”

“I’m not suretalkingis the right word to describe it.” Giggling, I walk over to the cabinet and pull out a plate and resting it on top of the two already on the counter. I reach up, pull a glass out, and fill it with orange juice. “Your brother is maddening,” I mumble to David before sitting beside Scarlett.

David quirks a brow, humor dancing in his eyes. “My brother? Duncan? The one who grunts more than talks? I don’t believe it!”

Scooping the eggs onto a plate, he asks Scarlett. “How many pieces of bacon do you want?”

“All the bacon,” she spreads her arms out wide.

“Three pieces it is,” David laughs, and Scarlett groans. “Ava?”

“As many as I’m allowed because apparently there’s a limit.” I nudge Scarlett with my elbow and she nods vigorously.

“He’smaddeningtoo,” she whisper-yells behind her hand, making me press my lips together. “Especially when it comes to bacon.”

Carrying the plates over, David shrugs. “It’s my favorite. Do you want any coffee?”

“No I—” David’s brows shoot up and I realize I almost said I had some at Duncan’s. “I’m good.”

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