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If lightning didn’t strike me down right fucking here, I’d be surprised. Because the lies I’d just told—fuck me. Everything I’d just spouted off was bullshit.
Beau and Trey stared at me with doubtful eyes. But there was nothing I could do about that.
Trey cleared his throat and sat back in his chair. “That’s very mature of you guys.”
Wyatt sat on my foot and peered back at me with a long pink tongue hanging out of his mouth.
I grinned and gave him a good scratch. “Yep, that’s me, mature.”
A few seconds later, Lexi’s voice called out to her husband. “Honey, I made you a smoothie.” We looked over to see her standing in their doorway.
Trey grinned widely at her, then turned to us. “See you fuckers later.” He jumped out of his chair like it was on fire.
“Why do I think that’s their code word for—something else?” Beau asked as he pulled a dog treat out of his pocket. Wyatt immediately rose and went to him.
“Because it’s probably their code word for—something else.” I laughed and watched Beau ask Wyatt to sit, and then to shake a paw. All of which he did eagerly. This dog’s former owners had loved him and spent a lot of time with training him. You could tell.
“Are you ready for book club?” I asked and gazed at my phone. We still had a few hours before it started. When Beau didn’t respond, I narrowed my eyes at him. “You read the book, right?”
He rolled his eyes and kept getting Wyatt to do tricks. “I just—I didn’t have time,” he muttered out, trying his best to ignore me.
I laughed and threw my head back. “What the fuck are you going to talk about at book club, then?”
He sighed and gave Wyatt some good pats and scratches. “I was hoping not to say anything at all.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked down my nose at him. “You think if you’re there with all those women, that they aren’t going to single out the captain of the men’s team?”
He shook his head and mumbled, “Fuck.” Then he asked, “Why don’t you tell me about the book? Just give me some key phrases so I don’t sound stupid.”
I looked over at my friend who’d just royally fucked up. This was supposed to be a team bonding activity for us. We’d all promised to read the book that Trey had chosen for the book club he was in.
During our camping trip, Trey had told us how those romance books had helped him through a really rough time after his horrific accident.
He told us how they took his brain places his body couldn’t go. And how they’d kept him sane for all those months while he was recovering.
This meant a lot to Trey.
And Trey meant a lot to us.
The last thing I wanted was for Beau to ruin this for him.
“Fine, but we don’t have much time. First of all, it’s a hockey romance,” I started saying.
He cut me off, “There’s romance in hockey?”
I slapped him on the shoulder. “In this book, there sure is. And a lot of it.”
Then, I gave him what he’d asked for. I just hoped he remembered what I told him.
A few minutes later, Jillian walked out of her door. “Hey, I think I’ve given you enough hints. You still have time to read at least part of the book before the meeting. I have to ask Jillian something. I’ll catch you later.”
I grabbed Wyatt’s leash and lead him over to Jillian.
“Hi, baby.” She bent down and gave him some love. Wyatt reciprocated by licking her face a few times.
“Are you going somewhere? I’d like a word before you take off,” I said, inwardly trying my best to gather some courage. I didn’t want to have this conversation. But for my own sanity—I had to.
Jillian’s eyes met mine. “I just have to grab something from my car.” She stood and scanned my face.
