Chapter 4 #2
It takes him a second for that information to sink in. “The hockey-playing, suffocatingly protective brothers?”
“Those ones.”
“So, if you don’t go home tonight ...”
“There will be a manhunt by sunrise, and you will be murdered by your favorite hockey players.”
He laughs, but I can see the disappointment, and honestly, same. “Can’t have that. Rain check?”
“Definitely a rain check,” I reassure him.
“Can I have your number then? Because I’m not letting tonight be the last time I see you.” He pulls out his phone and hands it to me. I type my number in, and when I hand it back, he looks at the screen and then at me.
“I’m calling you tomorrow.”
“You’d better.”
He kisses me one more time, quick, warm, like he can’t help himself, and then I grab my bag and force myself to walk away before I change my mind, because I am about three seconds from saying fuck it and dealing with the consequences in the morning.
“Sorry about that,” Eve says.
I wave off her apology. “It was for the best,” I tell her.
“You made out with him, though.”
“I know. And it was good, so good.”
“Going to see him again?” Eve asks.
“If he calls yeah, but if not, it wasn’t meant to be. But I’m happy how the night went so … win–win really.”
As we step out of the club, I see Fish getting into a cab with the brunette. Eve and I look at each other and laugh. Damn hockey players.
“Guessing Vi is heading home with Trent then?” I ask Eve.
“Of course, she’s going to eat that man alive.” She laughs. “Your work friends are nice. I think you’re going to settle in just fine,” Eve reassures me.
“You think?”
Eve nods as we wait in line at the taxi rank until it’s time for us to get in. We live near each other, so Eve and I hop in together. We drop her off first and then head to my apartment.
I can hear Frankston’s nails clicking down the hallway before I’ve even got the door shut.
“Shh,” I whisper, crouching down to scratch behind his ears.
“Go back to bed, you traitor. I don’t need my brothers knowing what time I got home.
” He licks my face, and his tail thumps against the floor like a drum.
Bacon. That’s what wakes me. I shuffle into the kitchen in my oversized tee and shorts. Pierre is at the stove, while Felix is at the counter with a bowl of cereal and his phone, and Frankston is under the table in position.
“Morning,” I mumble, heading for coffee.
“Late night?” Pierre smirks as he pulls the bacon from the pan.
“Yeah. Went out with the girls from work.”
“Eve posted stories.” Felix holds up his phone, showing me a video of Eve and me dancing together.
“So?”
“So, you had fun?” Pierre asks.
“Yeah. The girls from work are nice.” Pierre nods as if that answer satisfies him. “I think I’m going to like working with them.”
“Anyone else go?” Felix asks. Do they know about the guys turning up?
“We ran into some of the guys.”
Pierre turns around. “Which guys?”
“Fish, Bouch, Nelly, and Evan.”
“Did you make plans with them?” Felix asks.
“No. Zara specifically picked this bar because she knew none of the team goes there,” I explain.
“Seems she was wrong,” Pierre adds.
“Are you two being serious right now?” I look at my brothers, not surprised but also surprised.
“We’re just looking out for you,” Pierre adds.
“Because I’m not old enough to do that for myself?” I fold my arms over my chest.
“We’re not fighting with you,” Felix says.
“Sure sounds like you’re wanting one.”
“Those guys are great on the ice, but off of it they are playboys,” Pierre adds.
“No shit. You seriously think I am interested in hockey players,” I ask, raising a brow at my brothers.
“Sure as hell hope not,” Pierre bites back.
“I’m turning thirty next year. I don’t need you two morons telling me how to live my life.” I point at them both.
“You’re still our sister,” Felix argues.
“And I’m a fucking adult.”
“Lettie.” Pierre moans.
“Don’t you Lettie me.” I point at Pierre.
“If I tell you I’m not interested in dating a hockey player, I need you to hear me and respect that fact.
When I am around the team doing my job, I don’t need you two idiots jeopardizing it.
That speech in the locker room on day one was utterly embarrassing.
You may think it’s cute or funny or fucking, I don’t know, a warning to the guys, but it’s disrespectful to me.
You totally undermined me at work. Imagine if I did that to you.
” My brothers look confused by my outburst.
“We know hockey players and how they think …” Pierre argues.
“So. Just because you were both man whores doesn’t mean I want to date one.”
“Hey,” Pierre calls out, slightly offended.
“You two need to concentrate on your own love lives and not worry about mine.”
“Why are you attacking us?” Felix asks.
“Because it’s fair. You need to sort your shit out with Harper, and you need to sort whatever is going on between you and Issy,” I tell my brothers.
“Guess you got us there.” Felix chuckles, looking over at Pierre.
“Message received,” Pierre grumbles.
“Look, if I need your help or protection, I’ll tell you, promise. But I’m starting over, too, don’t forget, and you two are ruining that.” They both grimace.
“Have we?” Pierre asks.
“They already think I’m a nepo hire, which is true, but having you two boofheads scaring everyone doesn’t help.
Please, I’ve got this. I’m good at my job.
Even though you both may have helped me get this one, I’m still good at it, but I have to work twice as hard because of who my brothers are and how I got the job.
So I’m asking you both to tone your brotherly shit down. ”
“We’re that bad?” Felix asks, looking apologetic.
“You are.”
“You’re right. At work, we promise not to interfere,” Pierre adds.
“Not just at work.” I glare at him.
“I’m still your big bro. I’m going to look out for you,” Pierre argues.
I flip him off, sit down, and grab some bacon that he slides onto a plate in front of me.