The doorbell rings interrupting our conversation.
“How about you hop in the shower while I get the pizza set up?” I suggest. “Your dad should be home soon.”
Her smile brightens, and she’s off like a shot, her footsteps echoing on the staircase as she dashes up to her room.
I move to the front door, feeling the weight of the day finally settle into my bones. It’s been nonstop. I’d had a full shift with the Mayhem this morning working with the players and prepping them for their game, followed by a mad dash to make it back to Brookhaven in time for Sawyer’s practice pick up. Seth had to stay back in NYC for some press work which means ourpaths didn’t cross during my PT hours. Not that I would have minded. But something tells me after the massage I gave him a few days ago, he’s back to avoiding me.
I hurry to the door, pulling it open, fully expecting to find the delivery driver on the other side. Instead, I find someone else entirely. A man. Tall enough that I have to tilt my head back to properly look at him.
And holy shit. He lookswaytoo much like Seth.
“Hello?” I blink, taking in the broad shoulders, messy, dark brown hair, and cocky grin that’s stretched across his handsome face.
His smile widens as he shoves a hand toward me. “Hi there. I’m Levi. And you are…?”
Levi... Levi Tremblay.
Oh. That’s why he looks so familiar. After Halloween night a year ago, I’d obsessively Googled everything I could find on Seth which included falling down a rabbit hole of the Tremblay family. Levi is the oldest brother and the star defender for the Boston Tea professional hockey team. He’s also a Canadian hockey legend, the oldest in the family and a decorated defender with a following in the Northeast like no other player in history, mostly because of his flirty personality and handsome looks.
After Levi comes Boone, the middle Tremblay brother. He played for the Mayhem too but retired before I started my internship. He now lives here in Brookhaven with his wife.
The Tremblay family isn’t just blessed in the looks department they’re basically genetically engineered for athletic greatness. They’re also obsessed with hockey, which is why it’s surprising to see him standing here when his season in Boston just started.
“Hi.” I take his hand, giving it a firm shake. “I’m Brianna King. Sawyer’s new nanny.”
“Ah,” he says, a knowing grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. “That makes more sense. For a second, I thought my little brother had gone and gotten married without telling me. Wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. I’m sure you heard about how Boone already pulled that stunt.”
I laugh easily. “No marriage of convenience here.”
Natasha and Aly told me how Boone Tremblay married Rosie Prescott—our neighbor from around the lake, to protect his reputation after a messy situation with the league. A fake marriage that, of course, turned real once they fell hard for each other. Rosie’s smart, kind, driven, and Boone’s the nicest guy I’ve ever met. The way he looks at her, it’s like no one else exists.
“Does Seth know you’re stopping by?” I ask, opening the door wider to let Levi in.
I lead him into the kitchen, still not entirely sure whether I was supposed to invite him inside or tell him to come back when Seth gets home. But the way Levi walks in like he owns the place tells me this definitely isn’t his first visit.
He drops onto one of the island stools while I stay standing across from him.
Levi’s grin turns downright devilish. “I’m surprising my brother.”
Something tells me Seth is not going to enjoy this particular surprise.
“Didn’t your season just start?” I ask.
He scratches the back of his neck, looking anything but remorseful. “Yep. I got suspended last night. Dirty hit.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Ouch.”
“Yup.” He nods, like it’s no big deal. I catalogue that for later. Boone is light, easy-going, Seth is the grump, and Levi’s the playful one who enjoys pushing buttons.
“You into hockey?” he asks, one brow lifting with mild curiosity.
“I’m a physical therapist for theMayhem.”
“Ah. Is that how you met my brother?”
And just like that, I’m hit with a question I really don’t know how to answer. Because technically, no. But also… kind of? I open my mouth, buying myself a second to come up with something honest that doesn’t give away too much, but before I can, the front door swings open again. Cool night air rushes inside, followed immediately by a shift in the entire room’s energy.
Seth steps into the kitchen, sweaty from practice and already looking irritated. His gaze lands on me first where I feel it in my chest, then Levi, and his eyes narrow instantly.
