Page 54 of Coast to Coast

Me to Tom: What are you doing?

I wondered if he’d even be back home; the two-hour time difference would mean he could still be at practice.

Tom: Showering and then headed home. You?

Me: Meeting Monica for drinks. I have the next few days off.

Tom: Good for you. Is Crew good?

Of course, he would want to confirm that. I’m sure he’d already talked to Kelsey or Sam.

Me: Yes. He was sad to leave but really happy when he saw K & S.

Tom: Good. He was clingier than usual when he left. Fucking tore me up.

Me too, Tom. Me too.

Me: He’s going to be okay.

Tom: Hey, have fun tonight. And let me know when you’re home safe, okay?

Me: Okay.

When the Uber pulled up in front of the brewery, I thanked the driver and made my way into the bar. Yep, of course, Monica was already there. There was no way she would be late for a single event.

“Hey,” I said as she hugged me hard before settling down. The bartender came over before we could say anything else, and I ordered a sour while she ordered a second IPA. “Two?” I asked.

“It’s been a day.”

“One you can talk about, or one you’ve signed an NDA to prevent disclosure?” I asked, always curious about the secrets that Monica kept for her celebrity clients.

“No, actually, it’s about your brother.”

Oh, is this where I finally find out what happened between the two of them? “And?”

“I hate him.”

“I hate that my best friend and my brother can’t get along,” I said, still unsure what could have been enough for them not to speak for this long.

“I tried. And don’t hold your breath. But really, we aren’t here to talk about PJ. How was Colorado? Hockey life?”

“Oh, the WAG stuff? And fake dating?”

“All of it. Fake dating a man who looks like that is a bad idea unless you‘re open to real dating. But that can’t happen.”

“Umm…”

“What? Did something happen while you were there?”

“No, but the contract only says that I can’t date teammates.”

“I guess it would be ridiculous for Sam to limit who Tom could date. Though knowing Sam, he probably never thought it was a possibility,” Monica said. “But I know you mentioned you were attracted to him from the start. Is it better or worse now that you are getting to know him?”

“It depends on your definition of better or worse. The man makes me burn. I go to bed with a different toy every night, and they aren’t cutting it.” Monica knew that my toy collection rivaled some of the best sex shops in Boston, but knowing about it and being comfortable enough to talk about it were two different things.

She averted her eyes uncomfortably. Yeah—no more toy talk.

“Do you see this turning into something real between the two of you?” she asked, though I worried that my honesty would put her in a compromising position.

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