Page 67 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“I feel like that’s a total insult,” I say with a forced chuckle. She doesn’t laugh with me, and my smile slowly falls off my face.

“Seriously, Kat. What Aiden and I… it was just some fun to help pass the time in a safe way. He’s a friend… but that’s it.”

She raises an eyebrow at me. “Oh? So, if I said that I wanted to ask him out on a date, would that be okay?”

My heart starts beating faster. Why would Katarina want to ask Aiden out on a date? They barely know each other. Is there something that I’m missing? She definitely is his type if his past short-lived relationships are anything to go by. And she’s sure he’s single right now. Would Aiden say yes?

“Why would you want to ask him out?”

Katarina shrugs. “Because he’s cute and seems like a lot of fun. Why? Is that an issue?”

I want to say no. But I want to tell her he’s off limits. I want… him.

“Oh…”

“Bingo,” Katarina says with a knowing smile. I can’t return it. I’ve just stumbled onto something wonderfully horrible.

“Oh no,” I whisper. “I do have feelings for Aiden. Oh god, what does this say about my taste in men?”

Katarina rolls her eyes. “That you have a good eye for sex appeal. Aiden is pretty yummy.” With every fiber in me, I try to ignore that yummy part.

As Katarina rambles on about Aiden, my mind drifts. A nagging thought tugs at the edges of my consciousness, and suddenly it hits me like a ton of bricks. When was my last period?

My heart starts doing the cha-cha in double time, and I swear all the blood in my body rushes to my feet. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, no. This cannot be happening. Not now, not ever, and certainly not with Mr. ‘I-have-feelings-but-don’t-know-what-to-do-with-them’ Mister Hockey God himself.

“Sure, but what about personality? I mean, Turner was—“

“A one-off,” Katarina cuts in. “You were lulled into a sunk cost fallacy built on first love bullshit from your underdeveloped brain. You’re now older and wiser with much better taste in men.”

I take a swig of my drink, nearly choking as I try to act normal. But inside, I’m in full-blown panic mode, starring in my own personal horror movie.

If I am... pregnant… god, I can barely even think of the word— it’s definitely Aiden’s.

Shit. Jax can never know about our hookups—he’d probably lose it. The embarrassment of sleeping with my brother’s best friend is bad enough, but this? This would be a disaster.

What am I going to do? I can’t tell Katarina - she’d flip if she knew I’d been sleeping with Aiden and keeping it from her. And Aiden... god, he already said he doesn’t want to be with me. How the hell would Mr. ‘I don’t do relationships’ act? He’d probably friggin run for the hills.

My hand unconsciously hovers over my stomach. Is there really a little life growing in there? The thought is terrifying.

No, I can’t think like this. I need to confirm first before I let my mind run wild.

I make a mental note to stop by the pharmacy tomorrow. How did my life get so complicated? And more importantly, what am I going to do if that little stick shows two lines?

The weight of all this secrecy settles on my shoulders, heavy and suffocating. And for a split second, I consider telling her everything. The hookups, the feelings, the... possible baby. But the words stick in my throat.

“Nothing’s going on, really. We’re just... friends that kissed a couple of times, that’s it.”

“Okay, fine. ‘Friends’ it is,” Katarina says, making air quotes. “But just so you know, when you finally admit there’s more going on, I’ll be here ready to celebrate. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get to plan a wedding... or a baby shower for the next generation of hockey stars.”

She winks, clearly joking, unaware of how close to home her words hit.

“Seriously though,” Katarina says, her tone softening. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I’m here for you, babe, no judgment.”

I want to believe her so desperately, and yet I know something she doesn’t.

“Honestly, he already said he didn’t want to be with me.” That isn’t exactly the way he put it, but it’s pretty damn close. “And I don’t know if I can trust my shit taste in men, regardless of how much of a good person Aiden may be under all that sarcasm and bullshit.”

“Yeah, but you have another person to vouch for him. Jax. I doubt Jax would just sit back and watch you stumble in this. Not after last time.”

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