No Pucks (Gods Versus Monsters Hockey #1)

26. Logan

TWENTY-SIX

LOGAN

“ I thought you said she was on a mountain,” Anthony hisses as he scrambles out of the blankets, panic written all over his face.

“I guess it’s possible she lost her phone on the side of the mountain?” I shove a hand into my hair, brain flipping into damage control, trying to clear out the cobwebs from the wine. “I’m on the roof, Mother. I’ll be down in a second.” I scan Anthony.

“What the fuck are we going to say?” he says between his teeth.

“I’ll think of something.” I smooth a hand over my shirt and head towards the stairs.

“She’s here? You don’t have anything yet?”

I shrug and descend, coming face to face with my mother at the bottom. “Mother! You’re home early.” I hug her.

She kisses my cheek. “Darling. Did you bring a guest home?” She’s full of curiosity when she pulls back.

“I did.” I play at ease. “I found out my coach had nowhere to go for the holidays, and he was going to spend them alone, so I invited him to spend them with us.”

Anthony comes up behind me at some point and gives a half wave like the awkward but adorable recluse he is. “Mrs. Cox. It’s lovely to see you again.”

“Call me Claire.” My mother purses her lips, looking between the two of us. “Nice to see you again, Hawke.”

“Please, call me Anthony.”

“It’s wonderful to have you.” She meets my eyes. “Why don’t you come say hello to your brother and then I can have the guest room made up.”

“He’s home?” I’m eager to see how he survived the semester. “Yes, that’s why we’re back early. I got word from the lawyer I can remove him from school.”

A weight comes off my chest. “And he doesn’t have to go back?”

“Nope. He can transfer to a school of my choosing.”

We take the stairs down to my brother’s room.

He’s draped over his massive bean bag.

“How’s freedom?” I ask, toeing his leg when he doesn’t pick up his head.

“Better knowing I don’t have to go back in two weeks,” he mutters. “Where’s James? Is he here yet?”

I turn to my mother. “Are we expecting James too?”

“Yes. I invited him before I realized our guest room was spoken for.” She’s still got that look on her face.

“He can stay in my music room—or anywhere else. It’s not that big of a deal. I have to go back to school in a couple of days anyway,” I tell her.

“Always training.” She puts her hand on my shoulder. “Come help me open up the room and get sheets for your sofa.”

We take the elevator down to the laundry room.

“Are you trying to set me up with that man?” my mother asks as soon as she closes the door to the laundry room.

“What?” I blink. She thinks…? Wow. I try not to laugh.

“Good. He’s attractive, but I am not ready to date again. I am still grieving my marriage, and I don’t know how long I will be processing this.”

“It’s going to take you a long time if you’re stuck in the anger phase…”

“It’s normal to move back and forth through the stages,” she snaps. “Are you sure this isn’t a setup?”

“I’m positive. That would be weird. I’ve had enough of you sleeping with my coach. Once was more than enough.” I laugh because I thought she’d figured me out, but this is better—or maybe worse. “I’m just being nice while also pissing my father off.”

She narrows her eyes. “How is he going to know he’s here?”

“I just assume he’s stalking you as hard as he’s stalking me.”

“Is he still bothering you with school?”

I nod. “Especially with our winning streak. The better I play, the more insufferable he gets. Better warn Evander. With him back in the city, I bet he’ll be dealing with it too.”

“Good idea, but he’ll still have to see your father since he’s underage.”

“I forgot about that. No wonder he’s not exactly delighted to be home.” I rub the back of my head.

She pulls out sheets. “I gave Lena off for the holidays. I figured we wouldn’t need her. I didn’t expect so many guests.”

I move to help her get them off a higher shelf. “I don’t mind. We can clean up after ourselves.”

“Are you sure you’re okay having your coach in your space? I should have converted your father’s office and gym, but he’s been dragging his feet moving his stuff out.”

“It’s fine. I don’t think he’ll mind.” I give her the sheets for the guest room. “I bet you’re exhausted. Aren’t you jet lagged?”

“I am. I will head to bed after I get the room made up.”

“Make Evander and James do it.”

“I’m not sure either one knows how to make a bed…” She makes a face.

“My god, you have got to stop babying him.”

We take the elevator back up, and she gets off on the fourth floor while I go up to find Anthony pacing my room. He switched the record to the Black Parade, and I almost feel bad about how stressed he is.

“You going to keep that up all night?”

“Maybe!” He pushes the heel of his hand into his chest. “Fuck. Now I’m all jumpy.”

“It’s fine. We are good. She won’t be back up until morning.”

He stares at me. “Bullshit. She suspects us. I saw the look on her face. She’s going to try and catch us!”

I burst out laughing.

“What?” he asks incredulously.

“She thinks I brought you here to hook the two of you up.”

“Me and,” he points to himself, “her.”

I nod gleefully. “Yep.”

“Oh. That’s… Well, it would be funny, but I have my hands full enough with you.” He laughs, and I can’t believe I’ve gotten him twice in one night.

“I was going to save this for tomorrow, but I don’t really want to do this in front of my family. Do you want your gift early?”

“You bought me something?” he asks, stopping in his tracks.

“Yes.” I go to the place I’d stashed the special order and pull it out, presenting the custom cane. “It’s hand carved and elegant. I thought you’d like carrying it better than the one your friend gave you.”

He accepts it, not giving me a clue if he likes it, carefully turning it in his hands. “Thank you.” It’s quiet at first, but his face transforms. He’s emotional and grabs me in a hug. “This is really thoughtful.”

“It’s not overstepping?” I ask—I had been worried.

“No, I told you I hated the one she gave me. I don’t like using it because it makes me feel old.”

“Is this one better?” I press my lips to his neck.

“Much. I’ll feel a little like a duke, but that’s better than old.” He sets down the cane then cups my face with both hands, kissing me softly. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Anthony fits in well with my family, relaxing into his dry humor, and even Mother seems to enjoy him. Dad is strangely quiet over break. None of us hear a thing from him, which should have clued me in that he’s up to something.