8. Miles
Chapter 8
Miles
Stella
Oreo chocolate cupcakes or Strawberry cupcakes.
Oooh. That’s a tough one.
Probably Strawberry. What’s this for?
Stella
In the mood to bake something to enjoy, not for the bakery.
Couldn’t decide between the two.
Oh, okay. Do I get to taste-test?
Stella
I think I can scrape some together for you.
“ W hat do you mean Dad is up on the roof right now?” I say as I pull out of my parking garage and onto the main road to meet the guys.
“Yeah, Grandpa said he had this gut feeling we were going to get a lot of rain next week, so he made your dad get up on the barn roof to finally patch some of the holes.”
“Oh, boy. That man and his gut feelings.” I laugh, even if I hate that they couldn’t wait for me to be home to repair them. “He always protects those animals, though.”
“That he does. He especially hates it when they get wet,” my mom says through the phone. I can tell she has me on speaker, the running water in the background and the clinking of plates and silverware telling me she’s probably doing dishes after a late lunch.
“How’s everything else back home?”
“It’s good, sweetie. I doubt you called just to chit-chat about the farm. What’s on your mind?” my mom says, her voice the dose of serotonin I so desperately need to keep myself from overthinking everything happening between Stella and me.
“What do you mean? I always love to hear these stories.”
“Oh, stop it. Don’t act like I can’t read you better than you can read yourself. I can tell when something’s on your mind, and right now my alarm bells are going off. Spill it, Miles. The first thing I lost with my old age was my patience.”
“I was just calling to let you know that I’ll be heading out that way tomorrow. I’m going to spend a week in the city helping a friend out.”
“Really?! Have you told your dad yet?” The excitement in her voice quickly reminds me just how much I miss my parents. It’s hard living so far away from them, especially when it feels like I can only make it home a few times a year these days.
“No, the plans are just now getting solidified, so I wanted to call and let you know. I’m heading out there with a friend to help with some repairs on a bakery they’re purchasing,” I tell her, trying to be as vague as possible. The thing about my mother is that she can sense a secret from a mile away. If I bring up Stella, the next thing I know, I’ll be explaining how I crossed so many boundaries with her the other night—yet my only regret is that I didn’t keep going, that I didn’t check every single box like a goal on a to-do list.
“I can't wait to tell him! Both your dad and grandpa are going to be so thrilled you’re heading this way. Those two talk about you all day long, especially now that they’re getting ramped up for hockey season. Every day, they mention how it’s almost time to watch you on the ice a couple of times a week. They’re so excited for it to start and to see you doing what you do best.”
“I’m excited to see you all too. It’s been way too long since I’ve made it home. This year has just been crazy.”
“We understand, Miles, don’t ever think we don’t. I’m just delighted about the little surprise. It’s like Christmas in July,” she adds, the smile I imagine she’s wearing bleeding through into her voice, wrapping me up like a warm hug. “I’m shocked that you’re making the trip this time of year, though.”
It may seem like an innocent question, but based on the inflection and tone at the end of her sentence, my mom—the “secret-finding bloodhound”—has caught the scent of what I’m hiding.
“Oh, I’m just going to help a friend with some repairs on their bakery before it opens. It’s time-sensitive, so we’re just trying to make do.”
“Well, would you and your friend like to come over for dinner? Is he another hockey player?”
And there it is.
“Her name is Stella, Mom. And I’m not sure what our schedule will be like or if we’ll have time for that, but I’ll definitely bring it up,” I say, knowing this was going to happen, even though I did my best to avoid it.
There’s clapping in the background, followed by a moment of silence before my mom comes back on the phone. “Oh, that’s so wonderful, sweetie. I’d love to meet this friend of yours if there’s time. Maybe we can even make a trip to the city if that would be easier. I just won’t be able to accept the fact that you came to Nashville and I didn’t get to see you.”
“I promise, Mom, I wouldn’t do that to you,” I tell her as I pull up to the bar, thankful to see a spot out front that I can parallel park into.
“Okay, I’m pulling in to have dinner with the guys now, but once we’re settled in the city, I’ll give you a call. Sound good?”
“Perfect, sweetie. Tell them all I said hello.”
Hanging up my phone, I turn off the car and get out, heading into the bar. It’s not our usual night to get together, since everyone’s been busy getting ready for the season, but we made it work.
I honestly don’t care what day we catch up, as long as I get my wings. Although, if we hadn’t rescheduled, I wouldn’t be walking into the bar, about to be face-to-face with Rex and a fresh memory of how his little sister looks while she’s coming playing on repeat in my mind.
I’m going with my gut on this one, knowing that the likelihood of Stella telling someone who’d run straight to Rex is slim to none, or I’d be a lot more anxious going into tonight. It’s just…there’s something about my friend group, something that makes it both the best and worst part of being close to these guys.
We’re really good at reading each other, which is what I’m afraid of. Thankfully, we’re also pretty good at giving people their space when they need it. I’m just hoping they get that with this one, I definitely need some time to process what’s going on in my life.
Hopefully, if I think everything through, I can make it out of this mess mostly unscathed.
When I make it inside, everyone is already sitting at our usual table, a couple of pitchers of beer they’ve started on, along with the usual assortment of appetizers and wings, plus Cade’s extra orders of ranch, all spread out around the table.
The best part about showing up right on time is that the early birds already have everything laid out for you.
Thanks, Trevor and Rex.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Harris says as I slide into the chair next to him.
“Fuck off,” I reply, flipping him off before taking the beer Max just poured for me. “Thanks, man. I need this.”
Taking a big gulp, I wash down the worries and the dry mouth from anxiety, reminding myself to calm the fuck down. In my defense, I haven’t kissed the girl, and technically, I haven’t touched her in a way that crosses any lines. When we did touch, we were clothed.
You’re acting like you’re in court, trying to convince a judge you’re innocent. You fooled around with her…kind of. It’s not that serious.
I can try to convince myself of that fact until I’m blue in the face, but it still won’t sink in. It still feels like I betrayed one of the first friends I made in this city.
When I was signing on, Rex was the guy I spoke to on the phone who helped me know for sure this was where I wanted to be. He talked me through my struggles about being away from home, and as childish as I felt at that time, he made it seem normal.
More importantly though, in those first days in New York, Rex gave me a glimpse of what my life could be like here. He reminded me that while I may be away from the family I’ve known my entire life, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t create my own chosen family in the city.
How could I risk all of that by fooling around with his sister? How could I risk his friendship, his loyalty, his brotherhood, just because I want to slip my dick inside her.
It’s not that simple though, and I know it. I’m just not quite ready to admit that the feelings I have for Stella—the tiny crush I once had—has been snowballing into something bigger.
“Based on the fact that he’s ignored the last two comments directed at him, he’s either still thinking about last night or fantasizing about his plans for tonight. Either way, my bet’s on dirty thoughts,” Rex says, continuing to jab at my sex life.
If only he knew I could shut him up with one comment, just by telling him the last woman to make me come was his little sister.
It’d shut him up, but it’d probably end with me in a hospital.
Looking up, I glance around at the guys, who are all watching me with intrigue, but I just stare at them blankly.
“Sorry,” I say. “Got a lot on my mind since I’m heading back home to visit my family in the morning.”
“Stella’s leaving for the airport tomorrow morning too…” Rex says quietly, and I stop breathing, my spit stuck in my throat because, apparently, I’ve forgotten the involuntary movement of swallowing as I wait to hear what he says next. I can feel the guys listening in, but it’s Trevor who’s watching me, his eyes narrowing just slightly, just enough for me to tell he’s thinking, analyzing.
It means he’s caught a scent, and I need to do everything I can to divert this conversation—and quickly.
“Oh, yeah? I thought that girl never took time off,” I throw back, keeping my tone casual as I take another bite of a mozzarella stick.
“Me too. I guess now’s the time, though. Maybe you two could ride to the airport together. She mentioned she’d be catching an Uber in the middle of the night, and no matter how many times I tell my parents it’s a horrible idea and we need to bring her, they refuse to butt in.”
“Yeah, but she’ll be okay. Those early drivers are usually really nice.”
“She’s still my baby sister. I don’t like the idea of her in a stranger’s car with no one else there with her. It feels very serial killer-esque.”
“A little dramatic, but I get it. Yeah, I’ll reach out and see if she’s interested. I don’t see why it’d be a problem to bring her along.”
“Thanks, man,” Rex says, leaning back in his chair. “You know how I get with her. I hate the idea of someone taking advantage of her or hurting her. But you? You’re family. I know my mom’s excited about her taking this vacation to see her friend, but it feels so out of the blue. I don’t get it. It’s annoying as hell, especially because Sawyer won’t let me intervene. She says I’m too pushy and that my sister is a grown woman.”
I gulp, swallowing the lump in my throat, then washing it down with another sip of beer.
“Absolutely, man. I wouldn’t worry too much about your sister, though. She’s always been a smart girl,” I say, glancing back at Rex. Trevor is still in the background with his calculating stare fixed on me. I know that look—it means I should expect a text within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, requesting details.
The scary part is he’s always right about whatever his gut instinct tells him. And with him being Rex’s best -best friend, this could definitely become an issue.
After what feels like an eternity, Trevor finally breaks his gaze, turning to Rex. My stomach immediately tumbles into knots as I try to listen. “Enough about Stella. Don’t you have something more interesting to share with everyone? Your sister’s a grown adult, and she already has a father, so you can back down.”
“Who knows, she may also have a daddy, so you can stop worrying,” Harris adds, earning him a kick under the table. Rex glares at him, and I feel like I’m too close to the line of fire.
“Jesus, Harris, remember you have sisters. Do you want someone talking to them like that?” Trevor says, clearly playing the peacekeeper today, as I fill my plate with more wings and mozzarella sticks.
“Seriously, could it be worse than what Max has to endure from Rex and Sawyer? Should we talk about the office?” Cade asks, looking over at Rex, who’s shaking his head, his hand covering his eyes as he tries to stifle a laugh.
“Fuck off, y’all. I’m going to need a lobotomy if you keep reminding me about that. I still haven’t gone into Rex’s office. When we talk, I make him come to the hall,” Max groans.
Rex laughs even harder now. “He’s not lying. He made me put two chairs outside my door, says that’s the only place he’ll meet with me. The other coaches think it’s hilarious, and I hate that I can’t tell them the reason why it’s even funnier than they realize.”
“You’re the worst,” Trevor says, shaking his head but still unable to hold back his laughter.
“How about we ban talking about sisters for the rest of dinner?” I say, trying to steer the conversation away from the danger zone.
“Well…only if we can talk about one thing first,” Max says, looking at Rex. “Have you told them yet?”
“Yeah, they all know I’m going to ask Sawyer to marry me.”
“Then what are you waiting for? I thought this was still a secret,” Max says.
“Not our fault you missed the last time we did this.”
“Not my fault Cassie was very needy that day. Every time I tried to shower and get ready to go…well, she found a way to make sure I’d have to take another one before leaving the house,” Max says, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Jesus. Well then, yeah, no more sister talk,” Rex groans.
“Y’all are wild,” I say, finishing my last wing.
Grabbing the pitcher of beer they just dropped off, I fill my glass before passing it to Harris to do the same.
“You used to be wild, too,” he says as he fills his own. “What happened, man? Did your dick fall off or something?”
Fucking nosy Harris.
“Fuck off, asshole. My dick didn’t fall off. I’ve just been busy lately.”
“With?” Max says, poking the bear like usual.
“Life.”
“That’s all you’re going to give us?” Harris groans.
Looking down at my watch, I nod and glance up. “Yup. I’m going to hit the bathroom and then head out for the night. Early flight in the morning and everything,” I say, standing up from the table.
“Well, have a good trip and tell your parents we said hi,” Trevor says with a smile. “Maybe next time we do this, you’ll offer up more details.”
“Yeah, let us know if they can make it out for a game,” Rex says.
“Deal. I’ll make sure to tell them,” I say, before turning around and walking out, forgetting the bathroom altogether because I just need to leave. I know Trevor’s onto something, and I don’t want to give him any more time to figure it out.
It was hard to look at Rex without feeling like there was a neon sign above my forehead flashing every explicit detail of what had happened between his sister and me. I just had to get out of there, head to my apartment, pack, and get my mind right before this week.
Even if that is difficult with her just a wall away.