Page 19 of Silent Girl

“No, but it appears you have,” I say, wrapping an arm around his neck. I twist and have him in a headlock in minutes. His guests gasp and step out of the way as Matty kicks his feet out in a lame attempt to trip me up.

“Okay, I give,” he wheezes.

I let him go. “Wait here. I need to get my wallet and phone,” I tell him, walking towards the bedroom.

What the fuck am I doing? I shouldn’t be going out. I promised Aliyah I would stay in. Shit. Why the fuck do I even care? I pull up her contact and dial her number.

It almost rings out before she answers. “Hello?”

I can tell by the sound of her voice that she was sleeping. “Quick question,” I ask her.

“Liam?”

“On a scale of one to ten, how pissed are you going to be in the morning when you find out I went out and had one drink? Not two, not three. One.” Though I’m not sure that specifying the number really matters.

I hear a muffled scream and some ruffling of what sounds like sheets. “Liam King, I swear to God if you go out right now, I will find you and I will drag you back home. But not before I stop at the closest pet store, buy every fucking tarantula they have in stock, and empty them onto your bed. You won’t even see them until they’re crawling all over you.”

Fuck, that’s actually not a vision I need. “Anyone ever tell you you’re mean?”

“Plenty of people,” she deadpans. “I mean it, Liam. Do not go out.”

“I can’tnotgo out. My brother just showed up. I have to go and have one drink with him, or I’ll never get rid of the kid.”

“You can say no. That’s what grown-ups do, Liam.”

“Guess you better start hunting me down, princess,” I say before hanging up.

My phone immediately starts ringing. I silence it and shove it into my pocket with a smile on my face. For some reason, having Aliyah hunt me down isn’t all that unappealing. I just fucking hope like hell that no pet stores are open this late.

I walk out of the bedroom and find Matty sprawled out on my sofa, two of the girls squished up next to him. The other two are on the opposite sofa, making out.

“Let’s go. And they are not coming back with us,” I tell him, pointing to the harem of women he brought.

“What? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?” he asks.

“Hurry up before I change my mind, Matty.”

* * *

We settle into a booth at the back of a bar called ICE. If the name didn’t already give it away, it’s heavily hockey focused. I probably should have chosen somewhere else, but this was close. I remembered walking past it yesterday.

I paid the bartender to fill my glass with just soda when I ordered a vodka soda. I have no plans of drinking before a morning skate. I’m not a fucking rookie. I’ve made that mistake more than once before and it’s never a good time.

“So, how’s Vancouver treating ya?” Matty asks.

“I’ve only been here two days,” I say.

“Another one then.” He slams his cup down on the table.

“No, I said one. Let’s go.”

“Come on, you don’t have to join me. I just want one more.” He pouts.

“Fine, one more. But then I’m leaving, with or without you,” I warn him. Matty smiles wide. He knows my threat is empty. I’d never leave my little brother alone in a city he doesn’t know. “How’d you get here? Why aren’t you at school?” I ask him.

“I took the weekend off to see you. Mom says you won’t answer her calls.” He shrugs.

“And I’ll stop answering yours too if you bring her up again.”

---