Page 79 of The Closed Off Captain

“Hey, Brielle.”

“Chloe, I’m so sorry. I was putting something away in the refrigerator and saw the carton of sour cream, and I remembered that I put sour cream in my dip tonight.” My stomach drops.Literally. “I’m so sorry. I normally don’t for that dip but decided to tonight, and I totally forgot about it when you asked me. I’m so sorry. It wasn’t a lot. Are you going to be sick?”

“It’s fine,” I tell her, even as my stomach cramps painfully. “Don’t worry about it, Bri. I’m sure it will be fine. Thanks again for a great night and thanks for hosting.”

“Oh, you're so welcome. I’m so glad you came with Gunner. He’s been alone for too long.”

Unsure how to respond to that, I simply thank her again and then hang up. I’m bent over the toilet minutes later.

Chapter 35

Gunner

I’m in a foul mood the next morning. I should have been in a good mood after the weekend. And yet, I’m on edge and ready for a good workout on the ice. Just before I open my door, my phone rings. I grab it and answer it right away; I always do with my mom in case something is wrong. I worry about her with her diabetes, but she always assures me she’s okay. “Hi.”

“Hey, Love, how are you?”

“Fine. Is everything okay?”

"Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?”

I glance at the clock. “Because you’re calling me on a Monday morning, early.”

She laughs. “All right. Fine. I wanted to catch you before your day got going.”

I’m instantly alert, and I don’t tell her that I’m already at the facility for the day. “What’s wrong?”

She sighs. “Gunner, you worry too much. Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to check with you.”

“About what?”

“Is it too much to think that I just wanted to shoot the breeze and talk with you?”

I lean against my seat and force my eyes not to watch the clock. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to say what a great time I had this weekend. Chloe is just the sweetest.”

“Are you sure we’re talking about the same Chloe?”

“Gunner,” she warns.

“I know. I’m just messing with you. She is nice.” She’s actually a lot nicer than people first assume, but I don’t tell her that. For some reason, I want to keep that to myself. There are parts of Chloe that I don’t feel like everybody gets to see, and I like knowing those parts of her.

“So, when were you going to tell me the truth about her?”

I go still. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, Son, do you really think I don’t know you that well? First off, the fact that you would have gotten engaged without telling me? How long did you think I was going to buy that story?” Before I get a chance to respond, she continues. “Besides your poor girl was obviously drowning in guilt. She tried at least two or three times to tell me the truth while she was here.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

“Yes. I just moved the conversation along each time. That’s not the only thing I’m upset about, though.”

I frown. “What else?”

“Why didn’t you tell me what Jenny was doing?”

I blow out a breath. “Because you don’t need to worry about it. I have it all under control.”

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