Page 9 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

Lifting the mug to my lips, I take a sip. Warmth spreads through me, erasing the coldness that was lodged in my chest. I look up to David’s serious expression.

“Fiona would want you to be happy, Av.” I swallow hard as he continues. “She always hated that you could act the role of a woman falling in love, but at the same time, never let your guard down enough to find that type of love in real life. She always thought—–”

“David,” I say sternly, my lips thinning. “I don’t want to talk about this. Especially not right now. I can’t.”

Blowing out a breath, he gives me a gentle smile and pushes off of the counter. Reaching out to squeeze my shoulder, he walks past me into the living room. Leaving me alone to sort through the dirt he stirred up.

I sigh. He’s right. Fiona would hate to see me like this.

“Fi,” I whisper. “I wish you were here. I need you.”

A single tear falls down my cheek, and I stiffly wipe it away.

Crying isn’t going to solve anything. It never does.

Tea Time

HeyTeaLovers.

Oh,doI have some tea for you today from Maple Ridge.

No, we don’t usually spill tea from that area, but this tea was too hot not to share!

Ava Norris has been found!

Yes, you read that correctly.

After being off the grid for a week, we finally know where she’s been hiding.

That’s right! One town over.

We don’t have many details, but should that change, you can be sure to find out here!

Till next time,

Chamie

Chapter Five

Duncan

Thecrowdispouringin for tonight’s season opener against the Blackhawks, one of our division rivals. It’s bound to be a great game if I can get my head on straight. My attention should be on the ice; instead, it’s on the three people I know who are coming.

So far, I’ve let three practice shots get past me. With the way I’m doing my job, the Blackhawks will make me look like a rookie. The problem is that only half of my attention is on the ice and the other on the bleachers. I keep glancing up at their section, only to find empty seats.

Seeing Ava yesterday messed with my head, and my ability to be present has evaporated. Thoughts of her have taken possession of every crevice of my mind. Regardless of my technique, I can’t get into the zone.

“James! I thought you were supposed to guard the basket?” I look up and see Davidson skating toward me, his blue eyes full of concern. “Denier, you okay?”

I grunt at him, but he doesn’t leave. This is what makes Viper a good captain. He doesn’t let something go unaddressed. It’s only when I’m the one with the problem that needs addressing that I hate his dedication to the title.

Coming closer to the net, he lowers his voice. “I know something is going on, but I can’t put a finger on it. I also know you’re not going to talk about it. But for this second and the next sixty minutes, concentrate on keeping the biscuit out of the net.”

My eyes harden, and I nod. Davidson smacks me on the side of my helmet and heads back into rotation with my other teammates.

Quieting my mind, I tune in to blades slashing the ice—the sound of sticks slapping the biscuit. Nothing gets in my basket for the remainder of warm-up. Following the guys off the ice and into the locker room, I glance up toward the bleachers.

Catching a glimpse of David and Scarlett, I lift my stick in acknowledgment. I don’t look closer because I need to keep my head in the game. Seeing Ava will have the exact opposite effect, and she’s already taken up too much space in my thoughts as it is. I can’t afford to be distracted tonight.

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