My hand finds his across the table. “That's okay. You don't have to forgive him.”
“I know. But it's weird. I look at Caden and Travis, and they're John's kids, too. And I don't want them to feel caught in the middle of whatever fucked-up dynamic exists between me and him.” He squeezes my fingers. “Does that make sense?”
“Perfect sense. You're giving them something separate from all that. A relationship that's just about you and them.”
“Exactly.” His thumb strokes across my knuckles. “As for my mother, I'm at peace now. Or getting there, anyway. She is who she is. I can't change that. But I can have a relationship with my brothers despite all the complicated family shit.”
“I'm proud of you.”
“Yeah, well.” He looks embarrassed, the way he always does when I compliment him on emotional growth. “You helped. All that talk about communication and not running from hard things. It's paying off.”
“Speaking of your brothers,” I say, trying not to smile too widely. “Caden mentioned something interesting at dinner.”
“What?”
“That he wants to go into sports management. That you inspired him.”
Liam's fork freezes halfway to his mouth. “He said that?”
“He did. Said watching your career, seeing how you handle everything, made him realize he wants to work in sports too. Maybe as an agent or a team manager someday.”
A flush creeps up Liam's neck.
“You're blushing.”
“I am not.”
“You absolutely are.” I'm grinning now. “Big bad Nova, blushing because his little brother looks up to him.”
“Shut up.” But he's smiling too, looking pleased and bashful and adorable. “That's actually really cool. Sports management is a great field. Lots of opportunities.”
“He said you told him to dream big. To not let anyone tell him his goals are too ambitious.”
“Because they're not. The kid's smart. If he wants to work in sports management, he can do it.” Liam sets down his fork, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe I can introduce him to some people when he visits. My agent, some of the front office staff. Give him a sense of what the career path looks like.”
“He'd love that.”
“Yeah.” Liam's smile is soft, genuine. “Yeah, I think he would.”
My phone buzzes on the table between us. I glance down at the screen.
Jennifer: Can you come see me in my office when you get in this morning? Thanks.
My stomach drops.
“What's wrong?” Liam asks immediately, reading my expression.
“Jennifer wants to see me when I get to the office.”
“So?”
“So—” I set my phone down carefully. “My contract was for three months. It's up for renewal after the Stanley Cup Finals. This could be about that.”
“Avery.” Liam reaches across and takes my hand again. “I've been a good boy for months now. Whatever she wants to talk about, it's not bad.”
There's something in his tone, an edge of sarcasm I don't usually hear from him. I study his face.
“What do you mean by 'I've been a good boy'?”
