Chapter 11
eleven
BLAIR
“Come on, Reed. We’re going to be late.” Checking the time on my phone once again, I pace our apartment.
We’re ninety percent unpacked now, though it still doesn’t look or feel like home.
There are no personal touches, no photos, no knick-knacks.
I’m not sure if it’s because we simply haven’t had the time to decorate, or if, on some level, we’re both unwilling to.
If we put in the effort to make this crappy little apartment warm and homey, it feels like we’re fully and completely shutting the door on our old life in LA. A life where our parents’ memories whispered through the halls and where phantom scents evoked their ghosts.
There are no ghosts here, but I still feel haunted.
“Do I need a coat?” Reed asks, tugging on the Rogues hoodie Tess gave me for him. “It’s fucking cold here.”
“Language.” It’s a losing battle. “The arena isn’t that cold. You’ll be fine in a hoodie. Just wear a long-sleeve tee underneath it if you’re worried.”
“Duh. Already am.” My brother rolls his brown eyes at me and runs a hand through his curly hair, getting it back under control now that the hoodie is on.
He looks so grown up. I have to remind myself that he’s still a thirteen-year-old kid and all thirteen-year-olds are obnoxious little shits sometimes.
Grabbing my purse and keys, my hands tremble as I smooth my sweater down and adjust my scarf.
Tess gave me a Rogues hoodie, too, but I want to look nice if I’m meeting coworkers and members of the organization for the first time.
You only get one first impression, and after everything with Logan, I’m determined not to make a fool of myself.
Besides, I haven’t forgotten that Griffin’s wife will be there, along with Maddox’s fiancée and Ryder’s girlfriend.
I never texted Mira, but I am looking forward to meeting them.
I could use some friends here.
“Ready to go?”
Reed nods. He tells me about his day on the way to the arena, and I’m relieved that he’s having more luck in the friend department than I am.
He tells me he missed football tryouts but that a couple guys on the team saw him throw a ball in gym class, and they’re trying to get the coach to let him go out for the team anyway, since he’s a transfer.
It’ll mean more expenses and we’ll have to figure out rides, but I’ll do whatever I have to in order to help Reed pursue his dreams. Even if it means I pick up extra hours or spend too much time in my car.
He’s excited to watch the home opener. Neither of us has ever been to a hockey game, so we’re not sure what to expect, but everyone tells me how fun and fast-paced they are.
He’s also excited about the free catered dinner for employees and family before the game.
The kid can eat, and we’ve mostly been sticking to quick, easy meals, and I try to keep things healthy.
When I told him they would have a sundae bar, Reed smiled like a little boy on Christmas morning.
Reed gapes up at the arena as we park. “It’s huge.”
“Right? Way bigger than I thought it would be.”
Reed follows me to the main entrance where I flash my employee ID and pull up the Rogues app so security can scan our tickets. They point us toward a room that’s set up with food and tables. I smile and wave at the few people I recognize, my brother trailing behind me with wide, interested eyes.
“Blair, hey!” Bryson’s familiar voice cuts through the din of the crowded room. He waves, his arm around a beautiful, curvy woman with deep golden skin and raven-black hair that hangs almost down to her waist. She offers me a smile, which I return as I drag Reed toward my coworker.
“Hey, Bryson, how are you?” I hate how awkward I feel, and I’m struggling to keep my body from swaying with nerves.
“Great.” He eyes my nervous fidgeting and chuckles. “Better than you, it seems.”
The beautiful woman at his side elbows him. “Seriously, Bryse? Don’t be a dick.” Her dark brown eyes swing to Reed, and she winces. “Sorry.”
Reed just shrugs.
“I’m Adrienne, Bryse’s girlfriend. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” She extends her hand, a warm, inviting smile making her face even more lovely. I like her already.
“Nice to meet you, too,” I say, shaking her hand. “This is my brother, Reed. Reed, this is my coworker, Bryson, and his girlfriend, Adrienne.”
“Sup,” Reed says, lifting his chin in greeting, his hands tucked in the pockets of his hoodie.
He’s scanning the room, probably hoping to find another teenager, but most of the people here are either around my age or quite a bit older.
There are a few women with babies and small kids, but it doesn’t look like he’ll find any peers here.
I smile tightly at Adrienne. “Sorry. Thirteen is a hard age.”
“I heard that,” Reed grumbles.
Adrienne chuckles. “Don’t I know it? My nephew can be such a little turd sometimes. But I get to shove him back home with my sister when I’ve had enough.”
“Whatever, Aunt Adie. You know you love me,” a teenage boy a few inches shorter than Reed says as he playfully shoulders Adrienne. He’s got a tight fade leading up to short, dark hair, warm brown eyes, and an impish grin.
“Of course I do, Eddie. That’s why Bryse and I dragged you along with us.” She ruffles the boy’s hair, much to his annoyance. “Reed, this is my nephew, Eduardo. He’s thirteen too.”
“Eddie,” the boy says, doing that teenage boy chin lift thing Reed did earlier. “Sup.”
“Hey, man. I’m Reed. D’you know where they’re hiding the sundae bar? My sister promised they’d have one.”
“Yeah, follow me. Have you been here before?”
Reed shakes his head as Eddie leads him toward the other side of the room.
“It’s pretty sweet. I’ll show you around.”
I sag a little at Reed’s answering smile, watching as he and Eddie head toward a metal bar manned by two young men with ice cream scoops. Maybe he’ll actually have some fun today. God knows he deserves it.
“When Bryse told me you were bringing your brother, I made him snag an extra ticket for Eddie. Figured you’d have more fun if you weren’t worried about keeping a sullen teenager occupied.” Adrienne gives me a knowing look, her kind eyes sparkling.
“Thank you,” I tell them both. “Seriously, we’ll both have more fun this way. The move has been hard on him.” I absently rub at my sternum, trying to banish the phantom ache that tends to pop up whenever I worry I’m not doing enough for Reed.
“Can’t imagine it’s been any easier on you,” Adrienne says kindly.
“Bryse has told me just a little about your story, and I realize we don’t know each other, but I hope that eventually you come to feel you can ask Bryse and me for help if you ever need it.
I cart my nephew around some days when my sister has to work, and I’d be happy to do the same for Reed. ”
There’s a lump in my throat, and my eyes prickle because, after all these years of taking care of Reed on my own, I can tell a genuine offer from a polite, hollow one, and Adrienne means it.
She can’t possibly understand how deeply that touches me.
I clear my throat and say, “Thank you. That’s very kind of you. ”
She grins. “Eh, it’s a little selfish too. Bryse told me he thought we’d hit it off, and one of my closest friends moved halfway across the country last year. I could use another cool girlfriend.”
“Me too.” There’s a bit of a commotion at the door and laughter breaks out. I scan the room, worried that Logan and the other players are here. I’m not ready to deal with him right now. For some reason, I’m feeling…fragile.
Bryson notices my frown and wandering eyes and must catch on to my thoughts because he says, “The players don’t come to this part of the night. They all have their pregame rituals and preparations.”
“Oh,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. “I wasn’t looking for them.”
My coworker raises one eyebrow. “You sure about that? Byrne sure seems to hang around you whenever he can. Is there something going on there?”
Oh, no. This is one of those times I’m extra grateful to my mother for my amber skin tone, because I can feel heat creeping up my neck and flushing my face, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable. My dad used to turn beet-red when he was embarrassed. “What? No, of course not. I don’t even know Logan.”
Not a lie, really. I mean, I may know the ridges of his abs and the planes of his back, I may know he has a Jacob’s Ladder piercing and be very familiar with how it feels when he’s thrusting into me, but I don’t know him.
The extent of my knowledge about Logan Byrne as a person is that he’s a colossal asshat.
“Wait,” Adrienne says, leaning closer conspiratorially, “Logan Byrne, as in the winger?”
Shit. This is the last thing I need.
A nervous chuckle escapes the confines of my lips. “Uh, yeah. But I’ve really only talked to him a few times, and once was so he could bring me a Sharpie I forgot.”
Adrienne’s shrewd eyes don’t miss my discomfort, and luckily, she has mercy on me. “I hear he’s quite the charmer.”
“Honestly, he’s kind of an asshole.”
That has her laughing, and Bryse nods. “He does seem to have an attitude with you. I don’t know why all the ladies love him.”
“Because he’s hot,” Adrienne replies matter-of-factly.
Bryson rolls his eyes. “Right. Thanks, babe.”
“Aw, don’t worry babe, so are you.” She goes up on her toes and presses a kiss to Bryson’s cheek, which makes him blush.
They’re adorable together, and when I glance at Reed to check on him, he seems to be having fun with Adrienne’s nephew.
Maybe this will all work out and the two of us could have some friends here.
“So, tell me what to expect tonight. I’ve never been to a hockey game.”
We walk toward the catering stations to grab food, and I remind Reed that he can’t only eat ice cream tonight.
“Oh, you’re in for a treat. The Rogues are an amazing team, and the games are so much fun,” Adrienne says.
“This is the second year Bryse has brought me to the home-opener event, and they really go all out. They have food and snack vouchers if you want to munch something during the game. They give out beanies to everyone and have games and prizes, and the seats they reserve for us aren’t bad, either. ”
“Do they really get into fights on the ice?” I ask.
Bryson grins, nodding. “You can usually count on there being at least one fight every game. Especially when other teams will be gunning for a chance to knock us down a peg after how far we got in the postseason last year.”
“And the coaches allow that?” I ran track in high school, and my coach would have kicked my ass if I started a fight with another girl.
“Yep. It’s all part of the game,” Bryse assures me.
“Wow, okay. I’ll take your word for it, I guess.”
Adrienne chuckles. “We’ll explain everything. You’ll be a pro by the end of the night.”
I doubt that very much but appreciate that she wants to hang out with me and help me understand what we’ll be seeing.
Some of the persistent tightness in my chest eases, and I allow myself to relax and laugh at Bryson’s antics as I fill a plate with food, am introduced to other employees I haven’t met before, and mingle.
Reed’s laughter floats through the air, and mine joins with it.
This is nothing like our life in LA, but I’m starting to believe that Minneapolis may one day feel like home.
Maybe we needed a dramatic fresh start. To go from palm trees to northern winds and ice rinks.
Everything is so strange and different that it’s hard to compare it to the life we led before, and that seems to take some of the sting away.
If only I could get a fresh start with Logan. Because if he doesn’t let this grudge of his go, he has the power to destroy what I’m working so hard to build here.
I refuse to let him.