Page 30 of Second Shot

And maybe it’s for thebetter.

Even as I think it, I know I’ll regret not trying to get more information out of her. The girl is on a one-way train to fuck-up-ville, and as much as I’d like to help her, I learned the hard way that you can only help people who want to behelped.

Chapter 8

Brynne

Isiton my lumpy futon with Noah in my lap, and he gives me a big toothless grin when I tickle his belly. I laugh with him, which only makes him giggleharder.

The hockey game plays softly in the background, as it always does when the Annihilators play. Even when I was in Europe, I’d stay up late or wake up early, depending on the time, and stream thegames.

I don’t know why I watch. But I do. Like a bittersweet torture that I can’t turnoff.

“That’s your Grandpa,” I mumble against Noah’s head when the camera zooms in on my father’s face, which is bright red from screaming at one of therefs.

I know that look well. The deep baritone that could, and has, made grown mencry.

At home, his anger was usually directed at Sam. Usually for something he did that didn’t live up to the great Steve Jacobs’ expectations. We were always a disappointment. Neither of us could do anything right in the man’s eyes. EspeciallySam.

My stomach does a little flip when Kane stands up on the bench and says something in my father’s ear. My dad gives a sharp nod, then slaps Kane on the back, before sending him onto theice.

The two of them have always had a connection. An ease of talking. Maybe it’s because they’re sosimilar.

Hard.

Focused.

With one love –hockey.

“For someone who claims to hate the sport, you sure watch a lot of it,” Felix says, shifting two bags of groceries in his arms as he comes into myapartment.

I frown when I look over at him. I wasn’t expecting him to come by tonight. And I don’t like that he thinks he can come in without knocking. It’s the second time this week. I keep forgetting he has a spare key. I gave it to him when I was in the hospital after I’d had Noah. He’d used it to pick up a few things for me. But he’d never given itback.

“I told you I don’t need you to bring megroceries.”

“I know.” He pulls out a bag of tomatoes and places them on the counter. “But it’s Saturday night. I’ll make dinner.” He holds up a bag of spaghetti and winks. “Then we can watch a movie when Noah goesdown.”

Definitely time to put some boundariesup.

I place Noah in his swing, then give it a crank, beforestanding.

Felix already has the cutting board out and is starting to peel the garlic bulbs when I walk over tohim.

“I’m actually pretty tiredtonight.”

He pulls out a knife from the drawer and starts dicing thegarlic.

“If you’re worried about falling asleep during another movie, I’m getting used to it.” He winks at me again, a grin tugging at his lips, then he nods at the bag beside him. “Can you wash the redpeppers?”

I sigh and grab the bag, taking it over to thesink.

Felix has been a good friend, and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. But I’m starting to get the impression that he wants more than justfriendship.

I assumed that me having a kid was a big, blaring red light. But maybe I waswrong.

“Kane came by last night,” I say, handing him the washedpeppers.

He doesn’t look at me, but I see the muscle in his jaw twitch. “Let me guess, he offered you money to keep quiet aboutit?”

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