AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 9
Monday, Piper was headed to Dahlia’s office, thinking about the game she’d committed to attending. Up ahead, she spotted Willow walking down the hockey stadium’s home tunnel.
Only staff and players were permitted in this area. Why was Warren’s rejected bride here?
A lanyard swung from her neck.
No.
The word STAFF projected outward in all caps. Someone had hired Willow to work here?
Why? Just why? Revulsion shuddered through Piper’s gut as she processed the meaning. Piper pivoted and slipped into the conference room so they didn’t cross paths. She wasn’t hiding. Just delaying facing whatever was going on.
Inside, Mikah sat with his bros Kiernan, Liam, and Rookie, tossing a puck back and forth.
Piper waved at them, paced back and forth, and rang her cousin.
Liam eyed her warily. Mikah looked away and then back. Kiernan threw a puck high that Rookie rose to catch.
Dahlia picked up. “I know.” Her voice came out rushed.
That was how she answered her phone? Only the guilty skipped greetings.
Piper put intensity into her voice. “Do you?”
“Dodo felt so sad for Willow. Being left at the altar like that. By his very own brother. Humiliating, right? He’s so sweet. He had to help.”
Did he? Piper wrinkled her nose and curled up crisscross on the tabletop, cradling herself for self-comfort. “Willow wasn’t at the altar, technically speaking.”
“Pretty dang close. Oh, got to run, chat later.” The call disconnected.
Chat later? Oh, they would. Piper put her phone down and pressed her fingertips to her temples.
“That Dahlia?” Mikah came over to her side.
Not the first time he’d oriented himself to her when she’d come in a room. Piper nodded and forced her expression to ease up. “Dodo hired the ex-bride to work here.”
“Moron,” Mikah said.
Yes, he understood. Piper stretched out her fist, and he gave her a bump.
Rookie winced and did an underhand of the puck to Kiernan, giving them half his attention. “Bad juju.”
He was so right.
Kiernan tapped his chin. “The bride was kind of hot though.”
They all looked at him.
Was he looking for a lifetime of issues? Piper knew of more than one self-help book that would help him with that failing. “Damsels in distress do it for you?”
Kiernan held out his palms. “Someone has to console the winsome Willow. Liam’s taken, Rookie’s rookie, Mikah won’t like the cling of wedding on her, that leaves me.”
She should be a better friend and learn more about these guys. “Why wasn’t your girlfriend at the wedding with us, Liam?” While no one there had heard the cherish and be faithful part of the ceremony, the sentiment was fairly well known, and Liam didn’t talk like a guy who was taken. He could use a refresher.
Liam flushed hard and looked away. “Bianca went to the Geels game instead. Her brother Arturo plays for them.”
“The Beast.” Kiernan grunted the guy’s nickname.
