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“Yes. You should live your life for yourself—full of love and happiness and all the things he’d want for you.”
Even with my sudden willingness to discuss my brother, I couldn’t speak the words that went through my mind. Stephen wouldn’t understand. Brendan didn’t get a say in my future happiness because, according to my parents, the wrong kid had died when he’d protected me.
I blinked back the hot tears trying to form. “I’ll keep that in mind. I have to go. My date will be here any minute.”
Stephen tsked. “I know you’re not listening right now, but at least bang the hot hockey player instead of whatever socially appropriate rich dude your dad picked out.”
A laugh burst out of me. Trust Stephen to skip right to the important stuff. He knew how I felt about dealing with my own emotions. “No promises. Maybe I’ll bang them both.”
“Bullshit, sweet cheeks. You’ve been panting for the hockey player since you kissed him in the courtyard.”
Since before then, but I wasn’t going to admit that out loud. “I regret telling you that.”
Stephen pointed at me and raised a brow. “No, you don’t. Send pics. Love you.”
“Love you too.” I hit end just as a familiar voice spoke up from behind me.
“Good to know my brother’s at least in the top two, though he’s going to be pissed you brought a date to his game.”
12
Ispun around and came face to face with Danny King. “What are you doing here?”
He laughed. “I was invited, same as you.”
“How much did you hear?”
Danny shrugged, a loose, graceful movement that reminded me of his brother. “Enough, but it’s none of my business.”
I checked my watch, only a couple of minutes before Michael was supposed to be here. Despite what I’d told Stephen, I had no intention of banging my dad’s choice. Danny was a wild card, but I could probably use him.
“How would you feel about causing some trouble?”
His brows rose, and he gave me a slow smile. “Favorably. What do you need?”
“Come sit by me and be obnoxious to my date.”
“Done.” He hopped over the row separating us and took the aisle seat next to me.
Not long after Danny switched places, I spotted Michael making his way down the aisle. His neatly pressed pants and polo shirt stood out among the jeans and hoodies most of the people around him wore. Short blond hair done in the classicbusiness style did nothing for me, and he didn’t have a single visible tattoo.
When had I started counting tattoos as a turn on? I frowned as he waited with a bemused smile for a family to get their kids situated and out of the aisle. From one text message and the last fifteen seconds, he seemed like a nice enough guy. I judged it would take me less than ten minutes to convince him to leave as if it were his idea.
Michael’s gaze dismissed Danny and lit up when he spotted me. “Sorry I’m late. Eva, right? I’m Michael.”
“Yeah, nice to meet you. Thanks for agreeing to this instead of dinner.”
“No problem.” He stood awkwardly next to our row, but Danny didn’t move his legs to let my date through. “Excuse me, do you mind if I squeeze past you?”
Danny tilted his head up with a lazy grin. “That depends. What are your intentions with my girl, Eva?”
Michael frowned, and I adjusted my timeline down a few minutes. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
“I’m Danny. Eva’s chaperone for the evening. Gotta make sure you treat her right.”
“I see.” He shifted his attention to me. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? Your dad set up reservations for us in Dallas we could still make.”
Danny laid his hands over his stomach, spreading a little more. “Come on, Mikey. I was only kidding. I have it on good authority you’re one of the top two?—”
