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“In a box—well inside this book, actually.” I pull out the hardcover of A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. The edges are worn, but the pages are crisp with that old book smell. “It fell out. I wasn’t snooping through Elliot’s things, I promise. Just bored so doing some cleaning,” I add quickly, realizing that Chase wouldn’t want them to know what he asked me to do.
“And you framed it?” he asks thoughtfully.
“It was a little rough around the edges, so I picked up that frame at Bob’s Antiques.” I hand him the book, which he takes like it’s something he never thought he’d see again.
He nods and lifts his gaze to mine. “Thank you.”
“Oh. You’re welcome.”
He blinks away. “I’m going to go make you a sandwich or something.” He takes the photo with him and disappears behind the kitchen doors.
My heart fills with something I can’t quite place, but it’s warm and levitating. I suck in a breath and turn back to the room already decked out for a party. With pearl and gold balloons, matching table linens and a large sign hanging across the back brick wall.
I watch the staff fill the tables with trays of appetizers and pre-filled champagne flutes.
“Who’s paying for all this?” I ask Aiden when he returns with a set of small sandwiches for us and fills my glass with soda.
“Levi and Noah are splitting it—those two are very much looking forward to seeing their brother’s face go up in flames.”
I wince. “I feel like I should warn him or something.”
Aiden chuckles. “Oh, come on, it’s all in good fun. Quite frankly, it’s good to see my son focused on something other than hockey and—”
“And what?”
“And trying to cover his pain. He’s the only one who hasn’t dealt with Elliot the way he should.”
I frown, wondering if either of them know about Chase’s guilt. “How…should he?”
“Stop blaming himself for one,” he mutters.
I guess that answers that.
I wait for more, but he backtracks. “But hey, it’s supposed to be a celebration. Don’t worry about a thing. The staff’s got it. Why don’t you go and get ready so you can make your grand entrance. You can use one of the rooms upstairs. Room 403 checked out this morning.
“Thanks. Hey, I meant to ask, is it alright if Charlie comes tonight?”
He smirks. “Charlie was the first one on Noah’s guest list.”
14
Ican pretend just fine.
Like hell you can.
The only thing fake about the way Pepper kissed me was when she claimed it meant nothing.
Other than that stupidly addictive kiss, there’s one good thing that came out of our skating session at the arena.
I got to her.
And she proved me wrong. When she blindfolded herself and crossed the rink to me. I still don’t know how she did it. But whatever it was, she’ll need it again for tomorrow night’s game.
I consider texting her again since she didn’t answer my last one, but I should probably keep my eyes on the road. Dad called another emergency family meeting at the Inn, and I’ve been freaking out thinking it has something to do with Pepper. And someone in town we can’t trust.
I hate not knowing what I’m walking in on, but I’d like to think if it were about Pepper, she’d use the damn phone I got her and contact me.
We’re playing New York tomorrow at our home arena, and I need rest from traveling—and to mentally recover from losing in Vancouver.
