Page 41 of Rebel Secrets
Damn, maybe my mom wasn’t the only one who read minds.“Nothing, Pop.”
“Bullshit.I know my kids.Something’s up with you.I know you haven’t signed your contract yet.Got something to do with that?”
Jesus.“How do you know that?”
His brows arched for a split second.“You just told me.What I don’t know is why.”
Shaking my head, I turned back to the garden bed.
“Damn it, Pop.I hate when you do that.”
“If you weren’t so much like me and opened your mouth more, I wouldn’t have to.”
We shared a grin that probably would’ve looked identical to anyone watching us.
“So.”He crossed his arms over his chest.“You wanna tell me why?”
I shrugged.“Just haven’t.”
“You plan to?”
I huffed out a sigh.“Honestly, I don’t know yet.”
Pop nodded, his expression way more low-key than I expected.“Okay.I just want you to know I’m here if you need to talk it out.And you know Rowdy?—”
“Has enough on his plate right now.The guy’s getting married in a few weeks.I’m not putting anything more on his shoulders right now.”
“Fair enough,” Pop said.“Well, I’ll let you get back to your weeding.”
He headed back to the golf cart but stopped a few feet away and pointed at something in the grass.
“Better get that ground ivy outta there before it takes over the whole yard.”He settled himself into the seat, a little slower than normal.The thought made my gut knot.
“And Reb?The kids’ll think you’re a god.An actual AHL hockey player teaching them hockey.Let me know if you’re up for it.”
“So basically,he guilted you into it?”
Sitting at my dining room table about an hour later, I scratched my neck, which I’m pretty sure was sunburned, and sighed.Brian was on the other end of the line.He’d called to finalize plans for Rowdy’s bachelor party and, when we had, I told him about my dad’s scheme.
“Not quite.I think I can still say no.But…they’re gonna have to cancel if no one steps up.I remember going to hockey camp when I was their age.I looked forward to it all fucking year.”
“Guess I should call you coach now?”
An undercurrent of amusement ran through Brian’s tone, and I gave him the finger even though I knew he couldn’t see it.
“It’s not like I had anything else to do this summer.”
“I figured you’d be flying off to spend a few weeks with your teammates somewhere warm.”
“Pretty sure St.David is hot enough for me.”
“Okay, then somewhere beachier.”
“Nah.You know me.I’d be bored as fuck laying around all day.Besides, I needed to be here for the wedding.”
And I’d rather be here.
Brian’s huff of amusement came through loud and clear.“Guess you can be grumpy here just as well as anywhere else.”
