Chapter 44
TYLER
“Yeah. Right. You just came looking for us.” My sister snorted.
Eric didn’t bat an eyelash. I had a feeling this wasn’t the first time they’d gone head-to-head. But Skylar was in a mood, and she wanted to fillet someone. Probably Rain.
Rain stood behind Eric, wariness in her gaze, along with other emotions. Pain? Anguish? Torment?
Why were those there?
Why hadn’t she talked to her family?
Why didn’t she know she had a niece?
Suddenly, I was done with all of this. I wanted to take Rain to her hotel and demand answers. But I couldn’t, because at the end of the day, it was her brother who’d given my sister a brain injury. It was unforgiveable, too much to get over that.
But…
Fuck it all.
“We’re leaving.” I said it so abruptly that Eric and Skylar jumped.
But not Rain.
She didn’t move a muscle. She wasn’t surprised one bit at how harshly my words came out. I shouldn’t have been grateful about that connection, because at the end of the day, she was not mine. She could never be mine.
“Tyler,” my sister murmured, drifting closer. She touched my arm.
I knew she was asking if I was all right, but I shook my head and brushed past her, past Eric, whose eyes were wide. Rain nodded at me, and that was enough.
I turned back to Skylar. “I’d like to see Zoey.”
My sister’s face flooded with uncertainty and fear, but she jerked her head up and down. “Of course.”
“No more hiding?”
She swallowed. “Not from you.”
“Skylar.”
“What? No. Fine. No more hiding.” She swallowed again. “I’ll stop avoiding your calls.” Hesitating a moment, she asked, “Could we come to one of your games? Maybe next week. You have some at home.”
“My old team will be here next week. That one? You could see Nolan.”
Eric went rigid all of a sudden. “Wait a minute. You’re a hockey player?”
I frowned. Had Skylar not mentioned that? Judging by her pinking cheeks, nope. She hadn’t.
Eric’s eyes were like saucers. “Oh my God. You’re Tyler Griffin. Like, the NHL hockey savant, Tyler Griffin.”
I frowned.
Skylar rolled her eyes. “I mean, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”
I grinned. “I’m good. You can keep going.”
Ski laughed, and something eased in my chest. We were on the same page again. Our twin page.
“Can we get tickets?” Eric breathed out in wonder. “Wait. Fuck that. I don’t need free tickets.” He turned to Skylar and touched her arm. “We’re coming.”
Skylar now looked wary. “Uh…”
Eric waved that off. “Too bad. You’re the one who decided to avoid your brother, and because he loves you so much, he came looking and that brought him to Hank’s lovely Tulip, and now you’re stuck with all of us knowing, because dear Lord.
” He was breathless. “Some of us are huge hockey fans. Paul’s going to flip out. ”
“Again. Let’s not get carried away here.”
He stared at Skylar. “Bertle.”
She winced. “Him too?”
“We’re all going. Deal with it.” He turned to me. “Don’t worry about their tickets. On me. But be prepared. There’s going to be signage.”
“No.” Skylar stomped her foot.
“Oh yes. Lots of signage. I’m so fucking excited. And you.” He pointed to Rain, making her jump a little. He held out his hand. “Phone.”
“What?” She looked over at me.
“Phone. Now. I’m getting your number. When I said we were friends, I meant it.” He snapped his fingers. “Let’s go. Give it to me.”
She did, unlocking it for him. He was on her phone for a second before an alert sounded from his pocket. He handed it back. “There. Now I’ve got your number, and you’ve got mine, so we can decide what we’re doing together on our friend date.”
“Okay.” She seemed dazed as she slid her phone into her pocket.
And I’d officially had enough. I wanted to tell myself it was because I had morning skate tomorrow.
That I needed eight hours of sleep. But in truth, I was done sharing Rain with others.
Even my sister. I wanted to take Rain away from here and get lost between her thighs.
And because I couldn’t, I had no more patience.
“Let’s go. I mean it.” I reached into Rain’s pocket and found her keys. She inhaled at my touch, but if anything, she leaned into it. As I withdrew, I grazed my finger up the back side of her arm. I wanted that extra touch. I felt her shiver.
Images of us together pushed to the forefront of my mind. The feeling of sliding inside her, of her walls as she squeezed me when she came. Her little gasp when I pulled out and she reached for me, needing me back inside of her.
I’d been standing here too long, but I couldn’t make myself move.
I bit back a moan.
Or I tried.
Rain heard it, and she looked up at me.
I couldn’t hold back the lust I was feeling, and her eyes widened, flaring before she hid it. How she did that, I didn’t know, but I didn’t like it.
Screw this.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, I brought her flush against me. “We’re leaving.”
“Yep. That’s what you keep saying. Thought you would’ve been gone by now.” Skylar tried to sound bored, but when I met her gaze, she was anything but. She did give me a smile.
“Say goodbye, Rain.”
“Bye.” She waved to them, and we started walking. I kept her in my arms, making her walk in front of me.
The other two parroted together, “Goodbye, Rain.” Then they laughed.
Rain chuckled, her breath hitching when I readjusted, clamping my hand over her thigh. “Oooh.”
I groaned. “Do not make those sounds right now.”
She leaned even more of her weight on me. “Why not?”
“Because I’ll bend you over the back of your car and fuck you for anyone to see. I won’t be quiet. I’ll make you scream, and I’ll make you beg, and I’ll make you want to beat me bloody because I’ll keep you from coming over and over and over again. Are you getting me?”
She saw me. Read me. And gulped before whispering, “I got you.”
“Fucking good.” I gave up the pretense and just bent down to hoist her up in my arms.
I carried her the rest of the way to her car.