Accidentally Checked By My Brother’s Best Friend (Accidentally In Sports #3)

34. Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Duncan

The car door closes behind Ava, and I watch her walk up the stairs, pausing at the front door. She turns toward me, smiles so wide that it yanks at my heart, and gives me a wave.

She doesn’t have a care in the world, meanwhile I’m stuck on one sentence that keeps playing over and over in my mind.

‘That’s what your girlfriend would do, right?’

Scrubbing my face, I growl and put the car in drive, making my way to the arena. Frustration at myself evident from the tightness that grips my shoulders.

There wasn’t anything wrong with the question and her tone was teasing. But it dredged up this anxiety that it’s only a matter of time before my heart gets splintered into a million pieces. I know I’m being ridiculous, yet I can’t dispel this irrational fear.

Nothing about the time we spend together feels like faking. That smile wasn’t ‘covering something up’. And the Ava I know has always been honest and straightforward…even when she knew it would hurt.

I’m nearly positive she wouldn’t play with my emotions when we’re alone if she didn’t have feelings for me. But you see there’s the conundrum—I haven’t forgotten the soul crushing pain that nearly destroyed me last time.

David nailed it earlier. When I moved to Florida, I hid out until I could get my emotions under control. Until the only thing I lived and breathed for was hockey. For years it worked.

Until I heard about her break-up.

With those words, all the memories I had buried came rushing back. The box I put my feelings for Ava in somehow found their way out of the safe I had them in. And I was faced with the realization that I had lied to myself.

I never stopped loving her, I just figured out how to function without her.

Shaking my hand through my hair, the truth kicks me in the stomach.

I am not an insecure person. I go after what I want and don’t take no for an answer. In fact, Ava might be the only thing I’ve wanted in my life, and I walked away from it at the first ‘no’. And it’s haunted me ever since.

The game doesn’t start for another few hours. I could’ve taken the time to talk to Ava and clear the air. But nooo…I had to freak out.

Clenching the steering wheel, I groan.

My phone rings through the car speakers, and my heart jumps out of my chest, only to plummet immediately when I see Finn’s name.

Blowing out a massive sigh, I answer.

“Hey Finn,” I grumble.

“Is my favorite goalie tired?” I roll my eyes at the question. “ Tea time spilled some very interesting news this morning.”

“From the fundraiser yesterday?” I scrub my eyes and squeeze the bridge of my nose as I park in the players' lot. “That’s good. Maybe some of the dogs will find new families.”

“They definitely talked about that.” Finn’s voice is filled with amusement and I find myself glaring at the phone screen. “But also about this morning and something about baking.”

“This morning?” My brows pull together and my stomach dips before I groan. “It’s not like that. We ate dinner, watched a movie, and fell asleep on the couch.”

“You and Ava are adults and what you do is none of my business.” He then dares to laugh out loud. “I’m just spilling the tea.”

Rolling my eyes, I run my hand up and down my face muttering. “Great. Just great.”

“It’s not a big deal. People know you’re a couple—”

“Pretending to be a…”

“Are you telling me the two of you haven’t talked yet?” He roars through the phone. Dropping my head on the steering wheel, my stomach clenches, I don’t say anything. “Did you at least have a conversation with David?”

“Yes,” I mumble.

“You know you’re ridiculously stubborn, right? I mean it’s what makes you great in your career, but seriously?”

“Are you done lecturing me?” I lean back against the seat, clenching my jaw, eyes squeezed shut.

“Not even close.” It’s a rare day when I get this version of Finn. It’s like being talked to by your grandparent who has finally had enough of your stupidity. It’s not undeserved, I’m acting like a fool. “There isn’t one person who’s seen you and Ava together, whether in person or through pictures, that thinks the two of you are faking it. Heck, even you don’t believe it! What is going on here?”

Taking a deep breath, tightness grips my chest at the thought of being honest about this. Rubbing my hand around my heart.

Pausing, I exhale when what he said about baking hits me and my body pushes off of the seat. “Wait! Did you say Tea Time mentioned baking ?”

“Just heard that part, did you?” Finn chuckles.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Slamming my palm to my forehead, I groan. For the moment, Ava is forgotten. The realization that the guys are going to harass me like nobody’s business has my stomach rolling.

At least they can do it individually since I’m here before everyone.

A knock on the window has me nearly putting my head through the car’s cabin.

“Hey Duncan Donuts.” Cringing at Wallace’s voice, I rub the top of my head. Pulling my brows together I turn and glower only to find him and Phillips with wide grins on their faces. The gleam in their eye does nothing for my current mood.

“That one might be better than ‘Uncle Dunky’,” Philips singsongs and Finn’s laugh bursts through the speakers before it’s muffled. I hit the end button without saying goodbye and throw the car door open.

“Alright, you two, get it all out,” I grumble, grabbing my duffle from the back seat and tossing it over my shoulder. Slamming the door, I start marching toward the arena. “What are you two doing here so early?”

“No changing the subject…Dunky.” The glare I shoot Wallace’s way has them both throwing their hands up, but I can see them pressing their lips together. I turn forward and pull the players’ entrance door when Phillips drops in. “‘Duncan Donuts’ it is then.”

I close the door behind me and sending them a death glare through the glass, only to find the two of them in the parking lot, holding their stomachs and slapping their thighs.

To my surprise, I feel the corner of my lip pull up watching them. Running my hand through my hair, I walk through the empty hallways, turning on lights as I make my way to the locker room.

Once there, I throw the duffle bag on the bench and blow out a slow breath.

“Denier,” Davidson’s voice calls from the locker room entrance. Humor dancing in his eyes and dread grips me at what will come from his mouth. “Didn’t expect you here so early.”

“Same,” I gripe, dropping down on the bench. “You want to get some punches in too?”

Davidson looks at me pointedly, pinning me with his gaze. “Nope.”

My brow furrows trying to figure out what game he’s playing.

“No game,” he says as if reading my mind. He turns toward his locker and drops his bag on the bench. “I called a team meeting to talk about Tea Time and their umm…recent update.”

Quirking an eyebrow, I can see him biting his lip to keep from laughing. Collapsing on the bench I lean against the locker and squeeze the bridge of my nose. Outside I hear Wallace and Phillips making their way down the hall and I groan.

“Duncan, I did this because I want you to know we’re here for you.” Davidson slaps me on the shoulder. “This team needs you, but we need you with your head on straight.”

“You may be alone in front of the net,” Wallace says as he walks through the locker room door.

“But you’re not alone on the ice,” Phillips adds as the door closes behind him.

Rolling my eyes, I mutter and look away from them all. Shaking my head. “Did you script that?”

Laughter fills the room. I hate being the center of attention; this is way too much for me. “I can handle it,” I grumble.

“That’s the thing though,” Davidson’s voice takes on a firm tone. “You don’t have to. And in all seriousness, you’re better when you let the rest of us support you.”

Meeting each one of their gazes individually, I don’t find an ounce of humor in them. What I see is a frankness and sincerity that shocks me. A tension I didn’t know was in my gut unfurls and I nod stiffly.

“So let’s get to the most recent news that Tea Time spilled…” Davidson pauses and my chest tightens waiting for him to bring up Ava spending the night, but I nearly fall off the bench at his next words. “So do you bake for humans, or just dogs?”

Laughter fills the room and instead of my usual frown, the corner of my lip pulls up.

“A smile! Quick get a picture before it goes away!” Phillips grabs his phone, just in time to catch the scowl I hurl at him.

“Just wait until he sees Ava,” Cavill shouts as he enters the locker room. “Did you bring anything freshly baked….‘Duncan Donuts’?”

My brows shoot up to my hairline and a small laugh falls from my lips to my surprise. The room immediately gets quiet and I look around to see faces with wide eyes and mouths hanging open. “What? I laugh sometimes.”

“That girl has been good for you,” Philips says as he walks to his locker and starts unpacking his duffle.

“Yeah…” Clenching my fists, I take a deep breath. “About that, I should make a confession. It isn’t real–”

“I’d like a fake girlfriend to look at me the way she looks at you, man. When you’re around, she doesn’t see anyone else. Believe me, I’ve tried.” From the corner of my eye I see a white object hit Wallace in the face. Looking for the offender, he whines. “What? It’s true .”

“Even Sandy said Ava is head over heels for you. She couldn’t take her eyes off you once when we were on the ice,” Davidson adds.

Memories from that night flood me. The warmth in her eyes when she saw me walking toward her, the sparks that engulfed me when our lips touched. Glancing around the room, I see everyone nodding and I let the fear that’s been gripping me loosen.

“You and your girl can talk later. But right now—” At Davidson’s words I stop listening.

My girl…Ava is mine. And everyone knows it.

A goofy grin settles on my face. “Got it!” Philips crows only to chuckle when I send a scowl in his direction.

“Alright James, let’s talk about preparing for a game.” Davidson shakes his head and works to bring the conversation back on track. When I open my mouth to protest, he lifts his hand. “All of us have our routines; we know you do too. We just want to give you more ideas so you can be the goalie the Wolverines need to win a championship.”

Looking around at the guys standing before me, wanting to support me, a knot in my stomach loosens. Realizing how much I shut myself down years ago becomes glaringly obvious.

Time to change that…in all areas of my life.