Page 156 of Rush the Edge

When my brother comes back, informing me of Dr. Gibson working me into his schedule, I hardly hear a word he says because, instead of paying attention, I’m too busy falling head over heels for his best friend.

Fifty-Two

KANE

I leftDaisy with a quick kiss and wink behind River’s back this morning before practice. We’ve officially gotten our playoff schedule, and our first game is in two days at our home rink. We always play better here, but that means nothing when it comes to the playoffs. Every team comes prepared with their skills sharpened and their focus impermeable, which is admittedly something I’ve had to work hard to reach as of late.

I have other things on my mind, like Daisy.

Her appointment with Dr. Gibson is today, and I’m eager to know what’s going on. This is new territory for me, but caring for her comes naturally, unlike keeping my touching to a minimum when her brother is home.

Do you know how hard it is to keep my hands to myself when we’re in the same room? The other day, I followed her up to the roof of the apartment building just to get a taste. I watched her mess around with her compost container and stood back with a grin until she was done.

She yelped when she saw me, but I quickly caught it in a kiss, which led to a fast fuck that only left me wanting more.

With my focus bouncing between Daisy, keeping a secret from River, and the playoffs, I’ve hardly had room to think about Miles. His texts have come and gone, and though the worry is there, something Daisy said to me stuck.

I’m enabling him.

I’ve heard it before. Something my mom used to say to my father before he up and left us long ago. She was ‘doneenabling him,’afraid her sons would turn out like him if they continued being raised by a gambling man.

Unfortunately, Miles was already locked in by the time he left—not that anyone knew other than me. I still remember the two of them sitting at the kitchen table when Mom was away at work, flipping cards and betting with cold peas from Dad’s untouched dinner.Like father, like son, he’d say.

It’s time that comes to a stop, though. Now that I have something worth having in my life, I can’t very well continue feeding my brother money and supporting his habits.

“I’m stopping to run an errand. I’ll see you in a few,” Malaki says as we both head out to the parking lot.

I shake my thoughts away and acknowledge him before slipping inside my car to head home. It isn’t long until I’m parked in the parking garage with the engine idling, phone in hand as I research another article about Lupus.

I may know more than River about the disease, and he’s the doctor genius.

The more knowledge I have, the better I can take care of her.

I surprised her, River, and their parents just yesterday. While on FaceTime, I showed some of my cards, which caused River to furrow his brows and her parents to enter into an hour-long discussion over medication.

Daisy sat quietly, staring at me with confusion.

I shrugged. What does she expect?

After waiting impatiently for her call, I head up to my apartment to shower before she gets home. I’m not even halfway up the stairs before River comes through the door without knocking.

I pause, hand on the rail, and raise my brow. “Everything okay?”

My heart rate speeds up the longer I look at him. His heavy browline deepens as he looks around my place.

Is he looking for her?

I swallow my thick spit. Ready or not, here we fucking go.

“Where is Daisy?”

My walk back down the stairs slowly as I think about my next choice of words. River is my best friend, the one I’ve been closest with for almost my entire life. Loyalty to our friendship runs deep, not to mention his family’s ongoing support over the years. They were the ones to dust me off after everything happened in the past and the only true pillar of stability I’ve had for the last six years.

I mean, they send me a good luck text before every game.

Even when I was in the juniors.

“Have you seen her?”

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