Hot Shot (Hot as Puck Book 2)

25. Blake

The closer we get to Mom and Dad’s, the more nervous Bran becomes. There’re no obvious signs, no bouncing knee or tapping fingers. It’s the clench of his fingers on the wheel, the tautness of his body in the seat. And the heavy feel of the air around us.

“It’s going to be fine. They don’t hate you, could never hate you,” I murmur into the thick air.

One thing I know about my parents is they would never judge someone for mistakes made with the best intentions. They love each of us kids, and that includes Bran, with their whole hearts—unconditionally.

“I have a lot to explain, apologize for. Looking back, knowing how things ended up, I’m not sure I’d have done anything differently with regard to Celeste and Laura. It’s cutting them out of my life I need them to understand and forgive me for.”

“They will.” I know it as well as I know my own name. “Do you want another water?”

“No. If I drink another drop we’ll have to pull over.”

“You need to pee? Because I’m up for a quick bathroom break if you are.” My own bladder has been full for over an hour but I didn’t want to delay our arrival when Bran is having a hard time with it.

“Why didn’t you say so?” Bran’s eyes land on mine for a second before returning to the road. With a frown on his face, he mutters, “I’m already failing.”

“Already failing? Failing what?”

“Taking care of you. I should have realized you needed to go the same as me. You’re smaller and we’ve both finish two water bottles since we started the drive.”

“I can take care of myself, and like you, I thought getting to Mom and Dad’s quicker was the better choice. Especially after we got held up by the road works.”

“Well, it’s not. That last sign said there’s a gas station up ahead, off the next exit. We can fill up the tank while we’re there.”

“You know I could argue that you need to take care of you as much as me. I need you—the Rogues need you—in peak form. Holding on to a full bladder until it bursts is not a healthy decision.”

“It’s not that full. I was exaggerating.”

“Still, we’re ahead of time because we didn’t stop for lunch and the roadworks didn’t really hold us up that long. If you needed to go, we could have taken a ten-minute bathroom break.”

“Well, we are now.”

Bran changes lanes and a few minutes up the road, he takes the exit. The gas station is another few minutes of driving and my estimated ten-minute break is looking short. But like I said, in spite of the delays, we’re on track to get home before Dad will be slapping the steaks on the grill.

“Where will I live when we get to Baton Rouge?”

Bran’s question has me turning to face him. “Where do you want to live?”

“I have options?”

“Yes. We have a complex of townhouses and apartments. Most of those are empty at the moment, but they’ll fill up quickly now that some of the arena is open and the Rogue sportswear head office is being fitted out.”

“Where do you live?”

“In a house. I bought it when we first looked at relocating and going after the franchise. It’s not huge but there’s enough room for you to stay until you get an idea of where you want to be.”

“With you.”

“With me? You want to stay with me until you decide?”

“No. I want to stay with you forever.”

He’s talked about being a couple and I think we’ve gotten our friendship close to what it was before he broke off contact, but I don’t know if I’m ready to dive into a more intimate relationship yet. “Bran.”

“If you don’t want me to stay with you, that’s fine. I’ll take whatever, wherever.”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m okay with you staying in my house. But I’m not ready to commit to the forever you keep talking about.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m pushing.” His gaze meets mine for a split second before he returns his attention to the turn into the gas station. “I’ve been dead inside—no, not dead, in pain, aching, for so long that now it’s not as sharp, almost dull like a fading memory, I want to grab the life I let go, the life I shoved aside, with two fists and hold on.”

The emotion in his voice is raw, it slices at my insides as sharply as a razor blade. I want to soothe him, tell him he can have what he wants, but I need to take this—us—slow. I’m okay going all in on him playing for the Rogues but when it comes to my heart, to handing it over to him, I can’t yet. He has it. There’s no doubt about that, but I’m not ready for him to hold it freely.

Mainly because while he’s saying all the right words, he’s still got a lot he needs to work through. A lot of people to talk to and make amends with.

“How about we worry about that when we get to Baton Rouge. I plan to be at Mom and Dad’s for a week. I want to run you through your paces with Dad’s expert eyes as a second set. That will give us time for you to settle in to life outside of your hidey-hole and for you to make steps toward mending some fences.”

Bran pulls up to a pump and shuts off the engine. Turning in his seat, he rests one arm on the steering wheel and reaches the other toward me. I give him my hand, our fingers seamlessly weaving together.

“I can do whatever you need me to do. What I can’t do is face any of that without you by my side. I meant what I said the other day. You are my safe place. I need you with me. Want you with me.”

“I can be there as much as you need or want for now but once we get to Baton Rouge, I’ll have other things I have to do. Like my job. Actually, I have several roles within Rogue sportswear and the Rogues org but the main one is getting the roster for the team filled out.”

“I can help with that.”

“How?”

“It might have been a couple of years, but I’ve played with or against a lot of players, I know the sport, I can be your sounding board, and I’ve probably got some inside info on a few of the players on your list that could tip your decision to offer them a contract one way or the other.”

Smiling, I say, “My own personal advisor?”

“Yes.”

“As long as it doesn’t interfere with your training, I don’t see a problem with it.”

“Good. Now go pee while I top up the tank.” He pops the driver’s door and slips out before I can mention his own need of the bathroom.

Not that he needs me to mother him. He might have looked like he needed taking care of when we first arrived in Parry Sound, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Branton Lattimer is a big boy, literally and figuratively. He can take care of his own needs. And I need to remember that.

Getting out of the car, I grab my phone and make a call as I head to the bathroom.

Mom answers on the second ring. “How close are you now?”

With a laugh I shove the bathroom door open and lock it behind me. “About an hour, depending on traffic. We’re just stopping for gas.”

“Don’t forget to go to the restroom before you leave.”

“Always a mom.”

“Of course. I’ve told you before, being a parent is a lifetime job.”

“You have. I believe you. I just wonder if it’s really necessary to tell your thirty-one year old daughter to go use the washroom before a car ride.”

“Old habits die hard. Plus I still need to remind your brothers to go. Especially the twins.”

The mention of Corbin and Landon has me wishing I’d sent a text instead of calling. It’s hard to act normal with the secret Bran shared weighing on my mind. “How are those two? Still talking trash about my team?”

“I haven’t spoken to either of them since our video call the other week.” She’s silent for a moment before she asks, “Is everything all right?”

“Yes. It’s fine. Bran’s a little tense. Worried about how you and Dad will react when we get there.” I hope the small nugget of information will keep her happy. She can dig in deep once we arrive at the house.

“The only thing he needs to worry about is whether your father will break any of his ribs when he crushes him in a hug.”

“Dad’s okay with him coming?”

“What kind of question is that? Branton is like a son to us. Of course we’re happy, and I’ve had to hide the car keys for the last week so your dad didn’t slip away and drive to where you were. He wants Branton back where he belongs.”

I love my parents. And their unconditional love of their children, of Bran, is only one of the reasons. “I love you. Tell Dad I love him too and we’ll see you both in about an hour.”

“Will do. Drive safe. And tell Branton we love him as much as we love you.”

“Okay. See you soon.”

After I hang up, I don’t waste time taking care of business. I’m eager to get back on the road so I can get one of those crushing hugs from my dad Mom spoke about.

As I leave the bathroom, I run into Bran. Literally. Bounce right off his hard body and hit the wall behind me.

“Shit. Sorry.” His hands wrap around my upper arms and steady me. “I didn’t expect you to come out of there like a pilot in an ejection seat.”

“My fault. I talked to Mom before I used the bathroom and now I can’t wait to get home. I need a hug from Dad.”

“Everyone needs a hug from Andrew Watts at least once in their life.” A sad smile lifts his mouth on one side. “I wish Laura had gotten the chance to do that.”