Page 16 of Rebel Secrets
“Yeah.We talk once a week.Actually, a few of the guys have sports psychologists, so it’s not that unusual.”
“Good.I’m glad you feel it’s helping.And you know you can always talk to me too, right?”
I rolled my eyes, knowing he couldn’t see me, but I knew he meant every word.Because he was Rowdy.
“I know.And I appreciate it.”
“Good.And you should.All right, I know you’ve got a game tonight so I don’t wanna hold you up any longer.And Reb?”
“Yeah?”
“I appreciate you being good with this.”
“Of course.”
“Talk to you.”
The call disconnected, and I set the phone on the table next to my plate.While I finished my food, I debated making another call.It’d be the right thing to do.It’d be the decent thing to do.
And still I sat there staring at my phone.
“Damn, what’d that phone do to you?”
Ian walked out of his bedroom in sweats and a t-shirt, running a hand through his hair like he was trying to flatten it.Wasn’t working worth a damn.
“It asked me stupid questions before I finished eating.”
Ian stared at me, his mouth hanging open a little and his eyes squinty, for several seconds before his face scrunched, and he barked out a laugh.
“Okay, maybe I deserved that.”He walked over to the fridge and began to pull out food container after food container.“But, dude, you look pissed.”
I shook my head.“I’m not.Just thinking about something I’ve gotta do.”
“According to your face, you don’t wanna do it.”
While he put his meal together, I mulled that over.What the hell was wrong with me that I didn’t even want to call Erin?It’s not like we’re mortal enemies.She was just too damn…happy.It was suspicious as fuck.I mean, no one could be that happy all the time.It just wasn’t natural.
Be a fucking adult.
Yep.I got up and put my empty plate in the dishwasher, grabbed my phone off the table and ruffled Ian’s hair on my way to my bedroom to make this call.He waved his hands around his head like he was chasing away a bat.
“Dude, I’m not twelve.Jeez.”
No, but he reminded me of Rocky.Ian was a couple of years older than my younger brother, but he still brought out the old man in me.
“I need to make a call.You wanna catch a ride with me to the arena?”
“Okay, yeah, thanks.”
Ian’s beat-up pickup needed major work before I’d ever get in that death trap, so I always offered to take him with me on game nights.
“Leaving in half hour.”
I heard him mumble “Okay” as I closed the door behind me.Sinking onto the edge of the bed, I pulled out my phone and pulled up Rain’s message chain.I know she’d texted me Erin’s number at some point and for some reason I couldn’t remember.
I finally found it after scrolling for at least fifteen seconds.My thumb hovered over the number for longer than I cared to admit before I pressed it.And when it began to ring, I got hot around the collar.Which was just fucking ridiculous.I needed to get over whatever the hell this reaction was to her.I wasn’t going to fuck up Rowdy’s wedding because I couldn’t not be a decent human for a couple of days.
But when the call went to voice mail, I breathed out a sigh of relief, like I’d dodged a bullet.At least for now.
