Page 91 of Keeping it Real

“Yeah.”Alek was grateful Sheridan and Finn wouldn’t be home alone, especially since Hattie would be at the vet for a few more days.

“What gives?”Gus narrowed his eyes as he studied Alek carefully when he didn’t elaborate more.

“Nothing.”Alek stowed his headphones in the side pocket of his equipment bag.

“I call bullshit.Dammit, you let the lies Merriweather spewed yesterday get in your head, didn’t you?Never mind, it’s all over your face.Now you’re bent on ruining the best thing that ever happened to you.”Gus swore as he grabbed the strap of Alek’s equipment bag and shoved it to him.“Come with me.”

“You’re way off base.That’s not what’s happening,” Alek protested even though it was exactly what was happening.“Everything is fine.”

“Good.Then you won’t mind coming with me to meet some friends of Claire’s.”Gus gestured for Alek to lead the way out of the dressing room.

They maneuvered past the reporters still lobbing questions at Dern and exited into the hallway.

“I’m telling you, Gus,” Alek grumbled.“It’s not what you think.”

He stopped short at the sound of Sheridan’s laugh.She stood outside the family room, chatting up a tall, sandy-haired man who looked at her as if she was his next meal.

“Alek!”Finn ran up, dragging two bags full of dog toys.News of Hattie’s surgery had twice as many fans tossing toys onto the ice.“Guess what?Dr.Trent is going to deliver these to some shelters in Michigan when he goes home for Thanksgiving.Isn’t that cool?”

“Real cool,” Alek replied, his eyes still focused on the exchange between Sheridan and the other man.It was obvious by the relaxed way she interacted with him that they knew each other well.That didn’t sit well with him.His chest grew tight as he imagined Sheridan and this guy together.He hadn’t wanted to believe Merriweather, but it was hard not to, judging by how their bodies leaned into one another with familiarity.

Sheridan’s smile was wary when she first noticed Alek before she donned the chipper people-pleasing one he was starting to despise.

“Here he is,” she told the guy next to her.“Alek, I’d like you to meet Dr.Trent Adams.Trent and I work together at the hospital.”

“He was my friend first,” Finn interjected.

A low roar sounded in Alek’s ears when Trent smiled down at Finn before ruffling his hair.

“Yes, I was,” he told the boy before aiming his pearly whites at Alek.“What a treat to get to see this part of Finn’s life.”

“Uh-huh.”Alek sounded like a Neanderthal, but he didn’t trust himself enough to say more.

“Of course, my husband is more of a sports fan than I am,” Trent continued.He shot Sheridan a guilty look.“He’ll kill me when he finds out Trey Van Horn was at the game we were supposed to come to Friday night.So let’s keep that on the down low, okay?”He nudged her shoulder with his.

“His wife’s little brother is a friend of mine.”Finn puffed out his chest with pride.“I can probably get you an autographed football.”

“That would be an awesome Christmas gift for me to give him.”Trent high-fived Finn.

Alek was having trouble keeping up with the conversation, however.Relief, guilt, and annoyance all flooded through his veins.Jesus, he’d been a fool for believing anything out of Brad Merriweather’s deceitful mouth.Even more so, he was disappointed in himself for not trusting Sheridan.Damn Madison and Jamie for making him constantly mistrust his judgment.

“I’m sorry.Did you say, ‘your husband’?”he croaked out.The relief he felt was clogging his throat.

Sheridan must have misunderstood his distress because she shot him an astonished look.

“Yes.Gary.”Trent’s tone became clipped.“Claire took him out on the ice to get a picture.”

“Told you Merriweather was baiting you, dumb-ass,” Gus muttered beside Alek.

It was a toss-up between punching his friend or kissing him.He had no doubt Gus arranged this “meeting.”

“Uh, we can do better than a picture on the ice,” Alek offered.“How would Gary like to meet some of the guys?”

Trent’s eyes went wide.“He’d probably talk about it for the rest of his life.”

“Better than having him talk about Van Horn and the Growlers forever and ever.”Alek signaled to one of the equipment managers.“And a hockey stick trumps a football any day.Finn, why don’t you take Trent into the lumber yard and help him pick out a stick for Gary?We’ll get the guys to sign it.”

Finn grabbed the doctor’s hand.“Let’s go shopping, Dr.Trent.”

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