Page 71 of Pucking Grey

He shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s not like I was creeping on them.” He walks his fingers onto my shoulders to lighten the mood. I brush his hand away.

“Okay,” I laugh. “Stop.”

We get out of the car and I say, “I love you like a brother, Crew. Thanks for always looking out for me.”

He nods. “Of course.”

“And please don’t judge me too hard about all of this. What Matt did really threw me off. I’m starting to get my footing back, and all of this nonsense will end soon, okay?”

He nods. “I know you’ll figure it out.” He shuts the car door. “After all, isn’t Grey just a rebound?”

I nod. “Rebound. Right.”

When we walk into my brother’s mansion, the kitchen is crystal clean. Ryan is sitting on the couch with a hockey game on the screen and seeing him like this is nostalgic.

“Hey,” Ryan says, shooting up from the couch. “I didn’t know you guys were here. Did you see Addie on the way out?”

I nod, hugging him. “We did. She took Sydney with her to the coffee shop.”

“Nice. Nice. What’s up, Crew-zer?” Ryan brings Crew into a smashing hug. “Hair’s growing out, bro. How’s everything with the team? Still good?”

Crew nods. “Yeah, and what about you? The Seven Devils showing up for your annual spring party?”

Ryan laughs. “You make it sound so lame, but yeah, a few of them should be coming. It’s not going to be like a college party like all the other years, we have some players well into their thirties and with families.”

“Sick, man. I can’t wait to talk to Greer. I’m a big fan.”

Ryan laughs and turns to me. “I know you came up early to help set up, but how about we chill for a minute to watch the game?”

I roll my eyes.

Ryan smiles. “I know how you get before a party. All jittery, your perfectionism just eating away at you.”

“Okay. Okay,” I joke. “Let’s watch the game. I’ll stand over here. We only just sat for a few hours straight to get here. And I have an appointment for my hair in an hour.”

Ryan and Crew take the couch and yell at the game until Addison walks through the front door with Sydney. It seems like their adventure to the coffee shop wasn’t very long.

“Is Hailey coming?” I ask Ryan as he lounges on the couch across from me. He glances over at Addison with a blank stare, and I immediately know something’s off. “Did something happen with Hailey?”

He says, “We broke up.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” I look back at the screen. I didn’t meet Hailey, but Ryan mentioned her enough for me to feel like I knew her. She was an NFL cheerleader. Don’t ask me how he landed someone so hot and an all-American type of girl. I didn’t think they would break up because I only ever heard good things about her, so maybe it was cheating. It must’ve been cheating, right? I blurt, “Did she cheat on you?” The second it comes out of my mouth, I know I screwed up. I’m totally projecting. Why would I ask that?

Ryan and Crew shoot me a look. And now Ryan knows because it’s probably written all over my face. “No,” Ryan answers. He shakes his head. “Why?” He watches me closely.

I take a deep breath, glancing at Crew.

“Just because Matt cheated doesn’t mean everyone cheats,” Ryan says in the nicest way possible. My brother knows I’m projecting. Crew just looks guilty.

I nod. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Ryan’s brows furrow. “Frick. I’m sorry, Maddie. That came out harsh.”

I nod. “It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it to be rude.”

He throws his hand and asks, “Wait. Is this why you’re with Greyson Cress?”

My brother knows me so well, and sometimes I hate it so much. Crew gives me approving eyes. I say, “Uh… I don’t think we’re together anymore because Crew saw him last night at a party with Poppy. I haven’t talked to him yet.”

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