Page 2 of Rebel Secrets
“Now,” Mom said, looking around the circle of huge, brawny hockey players she treated as an extension of our family, “we’ve got all this food.I expect you boys to make sure there are no leftovers.”
Most of those “boys” had passed into adulthood several years ago, but, as if Mom had said the magic words, they said, “Yes, ma’am,” and moved like someone had lit their asses on fire.
Leaving my sister and I alone for the first time tonight.She and her boyfriend, Brian, had been sticking close to Brian’s sister Lindsey and her daughter, Maddy, most of the night.Lindsey, who’d moved to St.David with Maddy only a few weeks ago, was still getting acclimated to life in a small town.And the scrutiny that brings with it for newcomers.
So far, though, she seemed to be doing well.She’d gotten a job at the local coffee shop and would work part-time at the arena, where Maddy would have a community to watch over her.Maddy seemed to have fit into life in St.David just fine.
“So,” Rain said, “Erin and I are coming to your game next week.”
My head snapped around to look at my sister like she’d grown another head.“What?Why?”
If there was one of my sister’s friends who I’d thought would never show up at one of my AHL games, it was Erin Wright.
Rain gave me a look that clearly expressed how ridiculous she considered that statement.My sister had definitely inherited that from Mom.
“I asked her to, and she’s one of my best friends, so she said yes.Caity would’ve come, too, but the Angels have a dance competition that weekend.”
I liked Caity.The mouthy redhead and I had once considered doing more than a casual thing, but I couldn’t bring myself to commit.I didn’t want to saddle anyone with my issues.And if I was honest, I didn’t want to have to deal with anyone else’s issues.I had enough of my own.
Erin… I winced just thinking about her.Perpetually cheerful.Always looking on the “bright side,” whatever the fuck that was.I’d overheard her talking about “manifesting big changes” one day when I’d had to go to her bakery for coffee because my machine had broken, and it was like she was selling timeshares to gullible seniors.
Everything about her rubbed me the fucking wrong way.From her wavy red hair that she almost always had wrapped up in one of those messy buns on top of her head, and the chunky glasses she’d occasionally wore that made her eyes look even greener somehow.She always had flour on her clothing somewhere and usually on her face, that, yeah, was pretty if you liked women who looked like they’d climbed out of a children’s fairytale.
And that wasn’t an exaggeration.She loved dressing up as a fairy to go to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair.And I only knew that because she’d dragged Rain there every year since she’d moved to town.Rain had tried to get me to go one year, said I’d fit right in as a jouster with my messy hair and grumpy attitude.I took that as a compliment, but I’d never joined them, even though, yeah, I’d probably have fun.And I knew they made good beer there.
I’m pretty sure Erin felt the same about me.I’d overheard her ask Rain why I was so grumpy all the time, shortly after she’d moved here to help her granddad run the local newspaper and open her own bakery and coffeeshop.
When Rain had shrugged and said, “That’s just Rebel,” Erin had taken that as a personal challenge.She’d learned pretty quick she wasn’t going to be the person to change my attitude.
So we usually kept out of each other’s ways.But she was my sister’s best friend and now business partner, so I couldn’t just avoid her whenever I was home.Since I’d moved to Reading to play with the Redtails, that wasn’t much of a problem because I didn’t get home a lot.
And that was a whole other issue, wasn’t it?
“Hello, earth to Rebel.Did you hear me?Will you get us tickets or do I need to order them myself?”
My turn to roll my eyes.“Of course I’ll get you tickets, Rainy Day.”Which meant I should make a note now on my phone or I’d forget.But of course, my sister knew me well.
“I’ll text you Monday before you go to practice to remind you, and we’ll see you Friday.”Then she smiled so big, my lips curved as well.“I can’t wait to see you play, Reb.I know you’re still getting your feet under you in a new team, but you’ve already got a couple goals in just a few games.That’s amazing for any defenseman.”
I shored up my grin.My little sister could read people better than most people read books.And she especially could read her brothers like we were fucking billboards.It was annoying as all hell.
“Let’s just say there’s been a learning curve.”
“Well, you don’t have to learn how to play hockey.You were always great at that.”
Rain was also her brothers’ biggest cheerleader, as well as our biggest pest.And I loved her.I did.Sometimes, though…
“Erin’s looking forward to coming to the game.She’s never been to one other than the Devils, so I told her to be prepared because they’re not as much fun.”Her smile let me know she was kind of kidding.Mostly.“And we plan to take you out afterward, just for an hour or so.I know you have another game the next night.And you need your rest at your advanced age.”
And there was the brat I knew and loved.
“I think I can manage to be civil for an hour.”At least as long as Erin didn’t open her mouth much.
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”
I knew she would.I also knew five minutes into any conversation and Erin’s gratingly cheerful presence would make me grit my teeth so hard, I’d get a headache.But I loved my sister.
“Hey, Reb.Rain told you I can’t make it Saturday, right?Maddy’s chorus concert is that night.”
