Page 52 of Meant for Stone (Meant For)

Me: Don’t you have to work?

Gorgeous: I do, I do. Fly safe, SR.

I put the phone away, then drive to the airport. Everyone is dragging their ass. It’s almost the end of the season, and the novelty of traveling has reached its limits with everyone. The rookies included.

I carry my bag up the stairs and into the plane, going to the seat I always sit in. I store my bag before taking off my jacket and sitting down. A couple of people look up, so I wave at them. Most of them already have their headphones on when my phone starts blowing up, vibrating every second.

Looking down, I see it’s the cousin chat with Matty, Stefano, and Christopher, which can only mean something big is happening.

Matty: Is it true? Is Stone dating Romeo’s sister?

Stefano: Oh, shit.

Christopher: She finally gave him a shot.

Stefano: STFU, Stone, are you really dating her?

Matty: That’s what Uncle Evan told my dad.

Christopher: This is going to be awkward AF if they are dating and she breaks up with him.

Matty: What is wrong with you?

Christopher: I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking.

Me: Can we all calm down for a second? Yes, I’m dating her. She gave me a chance. It’s literally been four days, so everyone needs to calm down.

Christopher: Already trouble in paradise.

I shake my head.

Me: Taking off now. Headed to Winnipeg.

Matty: Christopher played them last night, and they kicked his ass. The clip on the sports news showed the whole team in the penalty box.

Christopher: Benji got crosschecked from the back and ended up knocked out in the middle of the ice. It was a fucking mess.

Me: You okay?

Christopher: Yeah, but I’ve been better. Benji has a concussion, among other things.

Even though we’re family, we keep the team gossip away from the family. We reach out when someone is hurt only to know if they are okay, but it’s known that we don’t discuss anyone else.

Matty: Sucks. Man, hope he gets better.

Me: Wheels up. Later.

Christopher: So who is going to tell my brother-in-law that you’re dating his sister?

I don’t answer the last message. I just switch off my phone and look out the window, then throw on my own headset and watchJack Ryanfor the next five hours.

The minute I turn my phone on again, I see that the messages are going through.

Uncle Matthew Sr.: You need to call me back.

I roll my eyes and chuckle.

Dad: Hey, so I might have told your uncles.

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