Page 68 of The Sweetest Risk

“How fucking long?” he snarls at me again.

I stand up fully, my nose almost touching Bradley’s. I glance over at Brooke apologetically.I have to tell him,I try telling her with my eyes. I look my best friend and girlfriend’s brother straight into the eye and confess, “Since Casino Night.”

Reality hits Bradley like a ton of bricks. His fury intensifies so much that he grabs me by my button-up shirt and pushes me hard against the wall. I know that I am stronger than Bradley, but I deserve this. I broke the bro code. The rule thatheestablished a long time ago.

“Bradley! Stop it!” Brooke yells, trying to pry Bradley’s fists off of my shirt. She is as unsuccessful as anyone other than Thor trying to wield his hammer.

“Nope. End this right now!” He finally directs his deadly gaze onto the love of my life.

“Bradley, let him go! You’re making a scene. Stop!” Brooke punches the sides of Bradley’s torso.

Unaffected, Bradley looks irately at Brooke. “No, you stop, Brooke! Stop seeing him!”

“I’m not going to stop seeing him.” The cute little line in between her eyebrows makes its timely appearance.

“The hell you’re not.”

“I’m a grown-ass woman and I can date whoever I want.” Brooke keeps tugging at Bradley’s forearms, trying to release his iron grip from my body.

“Dean told me everything, man! I know all about the fucking bet!”

My stomach fucking sinks. I look around and find the dirtbag of a human, Hastings, crossing his arms smugly as he watches my life crumble in front of me. He has no idea what I am about to lose. I selfishly took the greatest risk of all and I busted.

Brooke furrows her eyebrows even more and gazes directly into my eyes, that no doubt look defeated. “What bet? What the hell is he talking about, Tristan?”

“Brooke…” I start to say, but Bradley cuts me off.

“Tell my little sister about the bet you made about her dating a hockey player.” Bradley looks back over at Brooke. “Hastings bet that if he could get you to break your rule, he would take the captain’s spot from Lawson.”

“Is that true?” Brooke looks into my eyes, which I avert from hers immediately, giving her the confirmation. “Is that the whole reason you started dating me? So that you wouldn’t give up your precious captain’s spot?”

I look down and shake my head. Bradley is still pinning me against the wall. I don’t know what to say. There is no clever angle or sarcastic comment to joke myself out of this situation.

She scoffs. “Well then, guess what?”

I finally have the balls to look at her. Her hazel eyes are clouded with a film of tears, some of which fall down over her cheeks.

“You can have it. Congratulations, Hot Shot, the captain’s spot is secured for you.”

With that, Brooke runs off out of my house. I seize my opportunity to escape Bradley’s grasp and run after her.

The rain is torrential. I can barely make out Brooke’s bright green dress, clinging to her body. Her hair is completely drenched.

“Brooke!” I yell, sprinting after her.

“Stay away from me, Tristan!” She takes out her keys and I can hear her car beep. She pulls the door open, but I desperately slam it shut.

“Please, let me explain.”

“There’s nothing to explain. You were just playing a game this whole time. I guess I should have known. Because that’s what we do, isn’t it? Play games with each other, right?”

“No, that’s not what this is about!” I grab her arm and turn her around to fully face me. “It may have started out as a bet…”

“Unbelievable.” She tries opening her door again. I immediately shut it.

I block the way to her door handle. “It started out that way, but Brooke you have to believe me when I tell you that my heart has always been with you. I never thought you would break your rule about dating a hockey player so I thought that…”

“You could mess with my fucking heart to save your prestigious status? To have a one-up in your career?!”

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