Page 97 of Jaded

“You involved with it?”

My stomach clenches into a cold fist. Jesse hears about fighting and hockey and naturally assumes I’m involved. I guess I’m nothing if not consistent. Predictable. “I’m not involved, no.”

My eyes skate sideways towards the little cluster of my companions. Syd and Avery blatantly stare at me, Syd with her arms crossed and a hard expression on her face.

Olli seems to be studying something high in a tree.

“Bummer,” says Jesse, a laugh in his voice. Like always, that same cocky lilt. “I was gonna say, I want in.”

Of course he does. He doesn’t want anything to do with this town until it’s on the map. “Sorry, Jess. Can’t help you.”

Syd’s at my side, close enough I bet she can hear the conversation. Her mouth’s pulled into a thin line, brows furrowed in concentration.

“Oh, c’mon,” Jess pleads. “You know more than you’re saying.”

“I really don’t.” My eyes skate past Syd to Avery and Olli. They’ve both snuck up on me, so it’s likely all three can hear the conversation.

“Think how much publicity it would be!” Jess says, and Syd’s eyebrows shoot skyward. “If a pro player showed up to one of your games.”

I opt not to explain that each and every one of the Dingoes is apro player, and every single one shows up to every single game.

“I mean, you’re welcome to go watch the games,” I say, though the thought of Jesse Taylor rolling back into this town has my stomach rolling too.

“So, is there gonna be some big event or something?”

“I told you I’m not involved.” My attention catches on Olli’s face, because I’ve never seen it look like that. Hard lines obliterate his normal cheeriness, rewrite his visage in what might almost be described as anger.

He lifts his right hand up over Syd’s shoulder, fingers curled into a fist with the thumb and pinkie sticking out—like an old-school landline. Then he promptly slams that hand against his left palm in an obvioushang upgesture.

I’m so surprised by the vehemence of it all—his expression, the gesture, the meaning—that I almost miss Jess’s next words. “You tell me when it is, and I’ll be there.”

And then Jess hangs up on me.

Slowly, I lower my phone.

“Dude!” Avery looks like his eyes might pop right from their sockets. “That wasJesse Taylor.”

“My brother,” I sigh, giving him a tight smile. “You just might get a chance to meet an NHL player, Av.”

“That’s good, though, right?” Sydney asks, her brows furrowed again, like she’s trying to figure out why the hell I’m upset about it. I mean, she knows Jess and I don’t talk, but I’ve never really told her why. “Uncle Jesse will bring in more fans.”

My throat feels too tight, and when I look up, Olli’s still scowling. It’s unsettling, seeing him like that. Maybe that’s why my words come out a little hoarse. “Yeah, I’m sure he will.”

“We don't need him,” Olli says, voice so hard it’s almost sharp. My throat unclenches, the pressure leaving my lungs. “We already have fans. And we got Syd’s brilliant brain to bring in more.”

Something inside me swells, like a big warm balloon. He’s right; he’s already making things happen, drawing in fans, at home and on the road.

Fuck Jess.

“We don’t need a crutch,” Olli says. “We have Syd Taylor!”

Syd’s grin nearly splits her face in two, and something inside me feels like it might split also.

How the hell did Day River get lucky enough to wind up with Olli James?

“Now, enough talking. Hike’s almost over.” Olli takes the lead, and the kids hurry to catch up. I bring up the rear again, listening to the crunch of our boots in the snow beneath my echoing thoughts, beneath the afterimage of Syd’s smile.

Almost drives back the memory of the conversation with Jess.

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