Page 18 of Room Twenty-Eight: Her Beautiful Surrender

His questions are fair. I acknowledge that, but I just don’t know if I can give him the answers he’s looking for. “I know what you want me to say, Leon, but I don’t think I can.” Shaking my head, I bring the food and drinks to the table. Doctoring our coffees, we each take a sip before I continue on. “Over my entire life, things I’ve truly wanted have always dangled at my fingertips, never reaching my grasp. Not until you found me.” I smile to soften the blow I know he feels when I talk about my time in the orphanage.

“Colton, Major, and Diesel are the first things I’ve taken for myself. And, sure, it’s unconventional. It’s almost unheard of, but it’s done. There are plenty of relationships like ours in the world.” I did quite a bit more reading on the flight home.

“Have you thought about what it will do to their careers?” My heart cramps that I could ruin them.

“It’s not something we’ve spoken about yet.”Is it a concern of theirs?I’ll have to ask.

“Maybe it should be before you decide on anything, before you’re hurt.” The concern in his tone and face isn’t feigned, so I reach for his hand, squeezing my thanks.

“I know. We’ve only just met. We have so much time to figure things out and if this will be permanent for us.” I pause because this next part could break us apart. “I gave myself to them, Leon. I trust them in a way I never thought I could.”

“Jesus,” he groans, putting his head in his hands. “I didn’t need to know that part, A.”

Giggling at his torment, I grab a sandwich and practically finish it in four bites. “I know, but I need you to understand that I’m serious about them.” I have so much more I want to say, but some of it will make him feel guilty over how I’m treated…how he’s been forced to treat me since we met.

“I get it, Asta, I do. Just be careful.” He grabs a sandwich, and we talk about his next couple of weeks of home games and how he’s playing against the Black Bears again soon and looks forward to the challenge of creaming my men. He’s playful when he says this, but if the last game is any indication, I’m not sure it will happen.

Before Leon leaves, he asks me, “Do you want to sit in the family lounge box?”

“You would let me?” He’s never indicated much on how he feels about our father’s demands in order for us to have a relationship and keep Leon from being cut off from the family, but I get the feeling there might be a coming change in the dynamics.

“I’d have always let you. I’ve only ever wanted you at my games, Asta, and I’d never stop you from watching where you’re comfortable. It’s why I try to get you the best seats in the house. But if you want in that damn box, you’re there. I’m tired of hiding you from the world. If your men can announce to the world that you’re theirs the way they did, then dammit, so can I.”

His passionate words bring tears to my eyes. “You want people to know I’m your sister?”

Brushing a hand over my hair, he grows serious as he says, “I’ve never wanted to keep you a secret. In fact, I’ve hated it. I’ve hated my parents for the way they’ve treated you. It’s time the world knows that I have a blog-writing little sister who is kind of quirky, knows absolutely nothing about hockey, but comes to every game she can to support me.” Kissing my cheek, he shocks me when he confesses, “I’m sorry I haven’t supported you in the same way you have me since the day we met.”

I’m stunned speechless; a nod of the head is all I can manage as he leaves.

Tonight went ten times better than I ever could have imagined. Never in my wildest dreams did I believe there would be a time when Leon would buck against his parents. He’s not what I would call a good ol’ boy, but he’s definitely a people pleaser when it comes to them, and he doesn’t like to rock the boat.

Plopping back down at the table, I FaceTime Cecily. She is going to die over this news. It was certainly not on our bingo card of things happening this year.

“Are you home?” she asks as she answers, but all I see is the ceiling of her bathroom.

“You need to paint that,” I tell her. It’s peeling from the humidity.

“Yeah, probably.” Her face pops onto the screen as she looks down at me. “But there’s never time, and the super certainly isn’t going to do it.” Her face scrunches up. She hates the man and avoids him at all costs.

“Leon doesn’t want me to be a secret anymore.” I drop my bomb, and her jaw drops as the mascara wand in her hand follows suit.

“You’re kidding me? He’s going to go against your father?” I shrug, not really sure what he’s going to do. “It’s like a coming out,” she mutters, glaring at the linty mascara brush in her hand. Tossing it in the trash, she asks, “How do you feel about that?”

“Worried,” I whisper honestly. “What if they disown him?”

“Pfft, like that matters. He makes millions with the NHL. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”If only it were that easy.

“What aboutyourdad? If he finally told you who your sisters were but you couldn’t have a relationship with them, what would you do?” Unfortunately, Cecily has her own messed up family to deal with.

“Easy, I’d ditch his ignorant ass and find my sisters. Surely, they have to be better than he is. Anybody is.” I tend to agree with her. The sperm donor she got stuck with is the most selfish piece of shit I’ve ever met—more so than my own. At least mine leaves me alone. Aside from the one visit after Leon and I met, I’ve not heard from him. Hers pops up every few months, keeping her poor mother hanging on with promises of love when all he does is use the woman.

“I think you’re probably right. He’s not so mad about the guys anymore; I think he might be on board with it. He just wants me to protect my heart.”

“Good. That’s what a big brother should be like. He shouldn’t be telling you who to fall in love with and who not to.” She’s not wrong.

“I know, but he asked me something that has me worried.” I bite on my nail.

“What?” She lifts the phone so I can see her whole face now.

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