“It was nothing. Just a night of fun. It didn’t mean anything. He doesn’t need to know about it.”
But every word feels wrong. They taste wrong. Bitter. Stale. It wasn’t nothing. It wasn’t just a night of fun. And it damn sure meant something.
I just wish it hadn’t. It would make this situation a hell of a lot easier.
Keller studies me, and for a minute, I think he’s about to call me on my bullshit. He doesn’t though. He nods, then hitches his thumb over his shoulder.
“You’d better get back out there before Lawson comes looking for you. That guy can’t keep a secret to save his life.”
“Can you?”
This time, Keller does smile—and it’s creepy as hell.
“Oh, Locke. I’ve got secrets you couldn’t even dream up.”
I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse, but I take it anyway.
“Thanks,” I say, brushing past him.
I’m nearly to the end of the hallway when I hear my name.
“Locke?”
I turn. “Yeah?”
“It’s okay if it wasn’t nothing. It’s okay if it wasn’t just fun. And it’s okay if you want it to stay between us for now, but Hutch should know eventually. While I don’t begrudge anyone keeping shit to themselves, this could be something that tears the team apart, and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a fucking Cup to win, you feel?”
He’s right. I know he is. I’ve barely held it together this last week, and that was without seeing Hutch every day. How the hell can I be on the ice with him and keep this shit to myself? Have this hanging between us? I can’t. It’ll eat me alive. I’m not that kind of guy. I can’t keep a secret like that from one of my best friends.
I nod. “I feel.”
“Good.” Keller gestures toward the bar. “Go before they send in the good boy, or worse, the golden retriever.”
I can’t even laugh at his nicknames for Fox and Lawson. I’m too busy trying to school my features and to convince myself to absolutelynotlook over at the bar, no matter how badly I want to. Keller disappears into the bathroom, and I suck in a deep breath, then exhale.
In. Out. Step.
In. Out. Step.
In. Out. Step.
I slide into the booth beside Hutch, who is in the middle of a story about his time with his former team, the rest of the guys hanging on to every word.
I only look for Nessa twice.
CHAPTER 8
VANESSA
“It was nothing. Just a night of fun. It didn’t mean anything. He doesn’t need to know about it.”
He’s right. My brother doesn’t need to know I know Gavin. It’s not like I planned on telling him anyway. Butjust a night of fun?It didn’t mean anything? Maybe not to him, but it damn sure meant something to me, and that’s the worst part of this all.
“Nessa!” my training manager snaps—not for the first time—as I overpour yet another shot.
“Sorry. I’m sorry, Josh.” I grab a towel and clean up my mess.
I’ve been in a daze since Gavin walked into this bar, since he sat on the stool and told me he remembers everything about our night together. I remember it too. It’s burned into my brain, into my skin. No matter how many times I’ve tried to bury it, it always resurfaces, and it’s been on my mind even more since I showed up in Seattle last week, and there he was, standing in my brother’s house.
