Bristol folds her arms across her chest and steps closer to her father while I grab Zeke and pull him to sit with me on the sofa. We should probably leave the room and give them privacy, but Harper is taking a nap, and I don’t want to wake her.
“That depends, are you willing to accept that I’m dating a hockey player?”
“We’re inviting both of you?—”
Bristol cuts him off, “An invitation and accepting someone are two different things.”
Kyler expels a breath. “I’m not happy you’re dating a hockey player, but I’d like the opportunity to get to know your boyfriend. Maybe then I can make an informed decision about him.”
Bristol snorts. “You sound like Mom.”
His eyes crinkle.
“Is that so bad?” Kyler asks.
“I’ll talk with Liam?—”
Liam rounds the corner, wrapping an arm around Bristol’s waist. “Yes, we’ll come over for the holidays. Thank you for inviting us.”
She glares up at Liam.
“What?” he asks, oblivious to the tension.
Kyler clears his throat. “I also came here to speak with Luca. Do you have somewhere we might have a little chat?”
“Yeah, sure,” I say and stand, gesturing for him to join me in the study lounge. It’s not exactly private with closed doors, but it’s not in the living room in front of everyone, either.
I glance at Zeke and give him a kiss. “Will you stay here and watch some cartoons for Daddy?” I grab the remote and turn the channel on to something he’d much prefer, in hopes of keeping him occupied.
Zeke is hooked to the television, and I lead Kyler Greyson to the study where we have a table set up and a couple of chairs. “What can I help you with, sir?” I ask, unsure why he’s asking to speak with me alone.
If he’s expecting me to spy on Bristol and Liam or give him details about my friend, he’s going to be sorely disappointed. Liam is like a brother to me, especially after he helped with Harper’s rescue.
I owe him.
“Have a seat,” he suggests as we approach the table, and I grab a seat across from him as he sits.
His tone makes me nervous.
“I’ve been watching your play, studying your hockey career closely. You’re twenty, is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
He’s asking because the hockey draft ends when you hit twenty-one; you’re no longer eligible, at which point you’re eligible solely as a free agent.
“Have you thought about playing professionally?” Kyler asks.
I try not to laugh at the absurdity of the question. Of course, I’ve thought about it.
“What athlete hasn’t thought about it?” I say, trying not to smile, hoping that he’s not messing with me.
He doesn’t seem like the type, but that doesn’t mean since he doesn’t like Liam, he might not like me.
“Let me give you my card and my information. We’d be happy to take you and your family out to dinner, answer any questions that you might have.”
My breath catches in my throat. Is this seriously happening?
Is he actually asking me about joining the hockey draft? Being a top prospect is huge.
