Page 85 of Afterglow
“Maybe! If anything, I’d be aiding in prosecuting them. Hopefully, we can take down a corrupt government official or two.”
Dad complains of a stomachache, and my parents excuse themselves from the table, slowly scuffling toward the stairwell.
“Let me get this straight,” Lucas adds through a chew. “You’re friends with Radek’s wife?—”
“Yep. Gabe Finch, too.”
The men at the table choke and sputter, cursing out their surprise. “The one on CSN?”
“Yeah.” Bea shrugs. “She and Indi were roommates at uni.”
“Damn.”
“Holy shit.”
Cameron pipes up. “She and Fletch’s goalie recently got married, right? I think I saw the announcement on CSN.”
Bea hums in confirmation. “They did, yeah.”
“Gotit. That must be how you met.” Greer nods in understanding. “Through the WAGs of the Regents.”
There it is. I don’t appreciate the insinuation and send a glare her way.
“You’d think.” Bea’s tone is unfazed. “But we never really got the chance to until I ran into him while riding my bike.”
Parker hasn’t said a word the entire meal, but he puts his fork down. “Ran into?”
“It’s an expression, Park,” Piper replies. “She didn’tactuallyrun into him.”
Behraz laughs, but it’s usual ability to dissolve my anxiety is countered by my family’s ability to stir it up. “No, I actuallydidrun into him. Direct hit.”
The adult side chatter goes quiet.
“It’s kinda funny if you think about it,” she continues through a titter. “Poor man was minding his own business, crossing the street, and I knocked him out. Flat,” —her fork stabs a small shred of turkey— “Horizontal” —another stab at another piece— “Man was out cold.”
My older brother blinks twice. A muscle in his jaw tics.
Uh oh.
His eyes narrow, focus switching between her and me. “You…knocked him out?”
“Totally,” she says through a giggle. The rate of my pulse accelerates. “I may be short, but I’m strong.”
Parker’s eyes fix squarely on me. “Did she give you a concussion?”
She notices my lack of response and slows her bites. Any trace of joy in her eyes fade into apology, voice suddenly mousy. “It was an accident.”
My hand meets her thigh, squeezing the flesh in comfort and confirmation. She did nothing wrong. If anything, it’s my fault for not telling them.
Parker scoffs, his contempt palpable. “An accident that affects his profession.”
“Pfft.” Dylan blows a raspberry, attempting to deflect the sudden tension. “Head injuries happen all the time in the NHL. He seems fine.”
Cameron adds fuel to the fire. “Exactly. It coulda been so much worse.”
“True.” My brother glowers and huffs. “She coulda caused permanent damage and he’d never play again.”
Something inside me snaps.
