Chapter 4 #2
Jaz works as the community engagement coordinator for the Crushers and is also married to Brax MacPherson, center for the Crushers.
I set a caramel latte in front of Lauren next, the PR manager for the Crushers who’s dating defenseman Tate Foster, aka Sheriff. She lives in the apartment above the cafe, a cozy place I’ve always loved, but she’s moving out at the end of the season for somewhere with a backyard for her dog.
If I could ever actually afford it, I’d move in tomorrow—anything to get out of the duplex I share with Eli, where we pass each other like strangers most days.
“You know Tate,” Lauren says. “He loves how strict and regimented Brendan is with the team. He told me Brendan would make a great head coach when Coach Jenkins retires.”
“As if my dad would ever retire,” Victoria says, picking up her fork.
She’s a former ice-skater, and just married Leo “the Ego” Anderson, left wing for the Crushers.
Leo and Victoria dated in college but only reconnected when Leo had been assigned as her ice-skating partner for his community service punishment.
“Doesn’t Assistant Coach Jakowski want the head coach position?” Lauren asks, taking a sip of her latte.
Victoria nods. “That’s why he’s ticked Brendan got the other coaching position. He thinks the only reason Brendan was hired is because of nepotism.”
“That’s not true,” I interrupt, suddenly protective of Brendan. “He earned that position.” Then I add under my breath, “Not that I’ve ever seen him in action.”
“Wait.” Lauren nearly chokes on her latte. “You haven’t seen your own boyfriend coach?”
All eyes shift toward me, making my stomach bottom out. “I work a lot of hours,” I defend weakly. “By the time I close, games are over.”
They’re all staring at me like I just confessed to never watching Star Wars.
“That’s it,” Victoria announces. “We’re fixing this. Gabriella!”
My best friend bounces over like she’s been waiting for this moment. “What’s up?”
“Scarlett needs to see Brendan coach,” Jaz explains. “Can you find someone to cover so she can go to a game?”
“Obviously,” Gabriella says, looking way too pleased with herself. “I’ve been telling her she needs help anyway. No more hiring high school kids who think showing up is optional.”
“Fine.” I cross my arms. “If you find reliable help, I’ll go.”
“Consider it done,” Gabriella says, practically rubbing her hands together.
Lauren pulls out her phone, fingers flying across the screen. “Let me check the schedule and—” She stops, staring at her screen like something’s very wrong. “Um, Scarlett? You might want to see this.”
“What?” I lean over to look at her phone, and my heart stops.
There, in all its Facebook glory, is Isabella Marco’s post: “So thrilled to announce my son Brendan is dating the lovely Scarlett Rossi! #BlessedMama”
Dating. As in romantically.
The post already has thirty-seven likes and ten comments, including one from a Marco relative asking, “When’s the wedding?”
I feel like I might actually throw up on Lauren’s phone.
Oh no, no, no.
Isabella Marco does not understand the ramifications of this kind of post. She’s the type who shares internet myths, fake news headlines, and family information that does not belong online.
Like who her son is dating.
I sink into the nearest chair. “She posted it on Facebook. With heart emojis. And tagged me.”
“Isn’t this good news?” Victoria asks, looking confused.
“We haven’t told my family yet!” I whisper-yell. “Brendan’s picking me up after my shift for dinner with my parents. This—” I point at Lauren’s phone. “—wasn’t supposed to be how they found out.”
Brendan had warned me that Isabella Marco couldn’t keep a secret. I should’ve pushed harder for this dinner earlier in the week.
“How many people have seen this?” I ask, though I’m not sure I want to know. The fact that anyone has seen it means it’s out there.
“Well”—Lauren scrolls through the comments—“looks like a bunch of people I don’t know, and…oh.” Her brow wrinkles. “Do you know a Marion Henderson? She just shared it.”
“My parents’ neighbor? Yeah, I know her. The woman has never met a piece of gossip she didn’t immediately spread.”
My phone starts buzzing but I can’t even look at it. If it’s Mom or Dad, I’ll die.
“I need to hide in the back until this all blows over,” I announce, standing up so fast I nearly knock over Lauren’s coffee. “Or maybe I’ll just leave town. Or flee the country.”
“Scarlett…” Gabriella starts.
“Nope!” I’m already backing toward the kitchen. “My family’s going to have a million questions when they see this.”
My phone rings and Brendan’s name flashes on the screen.
I stare at it, trying to decide what to do. “He must’ve seen the post. What do I do?”
“Answer it,” Gabriella urges.
The phone keeps ringing as everyone watches me.
“If you don’t answer it, I will rip that from your hands,” Gabriella warns.
“Okay, fine.” I swipe the screen and cut straight to the chase. “You saw the post?”
“She tagged me in it. To the delight of all the hockey players,” Brendan grumbles. He definitely hates attention like this. “Where are you?”
I stare at the cars passing by. “Trying to plan my escape route to South America under a pseudonym.”
He laughs and the sound of it makes me feel a little better. At least one of us still has a sense of humor.
“That bad, huh?”
I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking about how the entire town is going to know. “Brendan, your mother just announced our relationship to the entire town.”
“I know. I saw.”
“You saw? That’s it? You’re not panicking?”
Brendan Marco never seems to get rattled. His ability to hide his emotions—if he has any emotions—is Olympic-level. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that he’s as rock solid as a marble statue, but what I can’t understand is why he isn’t bothered by this more.
“One of us panicking is enough. I’ll be there in five minutes to pick you up for your parents’ house.” Then he hangs up, leaving me staring at the phone.
Gabriella leans against the counter, arms crossed, a smile tugging at her lips. “Look at it this way, at least now you don’t have to figure out how to tell your family.”