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“I’ll be there.”
“Coach Forsberg, who is that in the photograph?” Flynn points to a photo that wasn’t showcased the last time I was in there. When I focus on the frame, holy fuck—it’s Brooke and Caleb. My heart races out of control.
“That’s Coach Sweet’s daughter and grandson,” he says without a second glance.
Flynn’s gaze fixates on me. “Oh, I’ve been here two years, and he’s never mentioned having a family.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Hoping no one other than Flynn notices the change in my skin color or temperature, I walk out. I pick up my gear and rush to my Jeep, not speaking to anyone on the way.
As I arrive at Brooke’s, she’s waiting at the door. She’s not used to being late or depending on someone.
“Sorry, I’m late.”
“It’s okay. He’s watchingCars.” She pecks me on the cheek, and the little pompom on her knit cap bounces along with her hair as she runs to her car.
She’ll freak out if she finds out that Flynn knows or at least suspects that something is going on between us. It’s better she doesn’t find out until I have a man to man with Flynn.
For two more days, I watch little dude from eight-thirty to twelve. Lettie came over and relieved me today but the other days, Brooke took him to work at the café with her, so I could make study hall, weightlifting, and talk to my professors and Lettie could ride horses.
Flynn hasn’t said anything to me about it all, but he knows I’ve missed class two days because we have the same class. At weightlifting, he didn’t ask. He just says, “I’m coming to your house after I run an errand.” He doesn’t give me time to come up with an excuse. The truth is I need to make sure he doesn’t let anything slip.
It’s late afternoon and of course, it’s the one day that all of my roommates, plus Adalee, are home.
“Awesome, will you be here for dinner?” Adalee asks as she pulls out pasta from the cabinet.
When the doorbell rings, Hagan yells, “Come in.”
“Oh, hey, Flynn.”
“Are you guys partying tonight?” Flynn knows Hagan and Adalee don’t drink, and Logan and Harper are currently abstaining.
I bark out, “No, asshole. Do you ever think about anything else?”
Harper and Logan come downstairs, and she’s holding her stomach. But when she sees me, she lights up. “I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve missed you.” She wraps her arms around me. “Where have you been?”
Flynn coughs in his hand. Look up asshole in the dictionary, and you’ll find a picture of Flynn.
I shake my head and pinch the bridge of my nose. “He knows.”
“Knows what?”
“That I’m dating the coach’s daughter.”
Flynn’s eyes look like saucers. “So, I was right? Dude, she has a kid. And you are one hundred percent fucked. When Coach finds out, he’s going to rip your eyes out or maybe cut off your hands. You won’t be on the first line without eyes or hands.” He chuckles like the situation is funny.
I slouch down into the kitchen chair.He’s exaggerating, right?
My roommates stay silent for a beat before Harper says, “But where have you been?”
I explain, “The daycare Caleb attends is closed due to sickness. Brooke needed to go to her classes and her jobs. I wanted to help her.”
Harper and Logan sit in the chairs beside me. Logan chimes in, “You’re a stand-up dude. How’s it going?”
“Yeah, does he love you? Do you love him?” I’ve known Harper long enough and had many heart-to-hearts, so I can see that she’s feeling anxious—for me.
“He’s a cool little kid. Loves dinosaurs, cars, and building stuff. I’ve been teaching him to shoot the puck. I bought a little kid plastic set off the internet and gave it to him today. You should have seen his eyes light up. I can’t believe his grandfather coaches college hockey and hasn’t bought him anything hockey related.”
