I bite into my croissant and swallow, but it doesn’t go down easily. “Yeah.”
“You’re hardly ever at home now, being buried in school work and all that. Maybe don’t commit to the job until you know what your workload will be like.”
I stare at her, feeling uneasy. There is no smile, no sense of gentle joking. Even Penny seems to pick up on the tension. She glances between us, her jaw slowing as she chews her cinnamon roll.
I have a yucky feeling in my stomach.
“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “You’re right. Hopefully, it'll be less crazy by then.”
Penny’s eyes slowly slide from Arden to me. “It’s no rush. It’s not like it isn’t liveable. It’s just not our style. I’ll wait for you.”
I smile tightly, trying not to fidget with how uncomfortable I suddenly feel. “Thanks.”
“Any word on if she’s been running her mouth elsewhere?” Arden asks Penny, tearing her eyes from me as she forces the conversation back to Morgan. “I can’t see her keeping quiet.”
“As far as Lemmy knows, it’s been radio silent,” Penny says. “But Lem told the owner of that media company to spook Morgan. Let her know that lawyers have been sniffing around, asking for names. Just until Wyatt and Callum can sort this out the way they want to.”
“This weekend should be a blast.” Arden scoffs, sarcasm drifting from every syllable.
“Trust me,” Penny grumbles into her cup. “It’s going to be the best night of my life.”
Neither of them comments on how quiet I get. How uncomfortable I suddenly am. Arden has never scolded me like that, dictated what I do or don’t do. She’s never looked at me like she doesn’t trust me before, like I wouldn’t follow through on that job for our friend.
What have I done to add her to the list of people disappointed in me?
CHAPTER FIFTY
boston
I leanagainst the bar on my elbow. There’s an underlying simmering of adrenaline in my blood tonight, keeping me on edge. I shouldn’t be drinking, but I have already downed two whiskeys to try and keep myself zen. It’s the preseason party, our annual event where we reconvene as a team, and our captain isn’t even in attendance.
Saltzy should be here, but he’s not.
Because of Morgan Fucking Danford.
Penny and Lowesy still haven’t arrived. I think I’ll be able to relax once I see them. The score isn’t mine to settle, but I don’t know how I’ll react if I see Morgan or Danford before they get here. I’m furious. It’s a constant sting, thinking about how Saltzy is staying home because of this. Because ofher.
Forker steps up beside me, slapping his hand onto my shoulder, a tight smile on his mouth and fury rippling in his eyes. I’m worried about him, too. He’s wound so fucking tight he might snap before anything is settled, and that isnotthe plan. That might send the plan to shit, to be honest.
Forker is going to set this place on fire, Declan is going to add the gasoline, and I’m going to lock the doors behind us.
Penny? She’ll be the one dragging Morgan into the blaze.
I sat up all night, my bed empty and cold. Absent was a familiar body next to mine. You’d think I’d cherish the moments without cold feet being pressed to my legs, or without waking up to a huge wave of blonde hair nearly suffocating me, but I missed the hell out of it. I couldn’t stop thinking aboutthis, about how fucked this is. Morgan tried to sell Cap’ssexualityto a podcast. She tried to…I don’t know? Ruin his career? Like who he loves somehow makes him a shitty hockey player? A poor captain?
All for, what? Money? Fun?
I can’t grasp her angle other than being a stone-cold bitch, but it ends tonight. It has to. There isn’t a plan, per se, but there is the outline of one. We all know that something is going to happen, a conversation is going to be had, but it’s Penny who will be the driving force behind it.
I’m the guy with the receipts in my pocket, so I’ll be close behind.
Arden slides me a tequila shot, even though she hates them, and passes another one to Fork. I think it’s an act of solidarity. We clink our glasses together, Arden with a nervous look, and down them. For good luck, maybe. She cringes as Carter wipes his mouth, shaking it off, just in time for a blonde in an elegant black dress to walk into the ballroom.
Lowesy is right behind her, hand in his pocket, scanning the room. He finds us quickly, and with a hand on his wife’s back, he guides her straight to us. They’re trying their best to look casual, but Penny’s face displays all of her feelings, as it usually does.
Arden takes one look at her friend, lets out a breath, and waves at the bartender for more shots. She hurriedly passes them to Lowesy and Penny when they reach us. Penny looks exceptionally grateful, not bothering to wait for her husband as she throws hers down the hatch.
We’re all a bit on edge tonight.
