Page 21 of Rebel Secrets
Oh my god, now I was eyeing Rebel like a side of beef.I quickly refocused my attention on getting the door open and walked into the dark bakery without turning on a light.I knew exactly where I was going, and I figured there was enough light from the bookstore that Rebel would be able to see.But I’d figured wrong.
I heard a thwack and then Rebel cursing.
“Do you think we could have a little light so I don’t kill myself before my brother’s wedding.I don’t think my mom would be very happy if I can’t stand up for my brother.”
“Sorry, sorry.I know this place like the back of my hand.I wasn’t thinking.”
Hurrying to the counter, I flipped the switch and light flooded the room, banishing the shadows.
“Are you okay?”
I hurried back over to find Rebel bent over, rubbing his shin.
“Do you need ice?”
I think I actually saw Rebel roll his eyes.“One chair leg to the shin isn’t going to do me in.”
“Oh, that’s right.You’re a big, strong hockey player.Nothing hurts you.”
I don’t know where the words came from.Usually I’m not that sassy with Rebel.He’s so damn prickly.
Prickly and Sassy.My inner voice snorted.
Our porn movie name.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.Where the hell had that come from?I was watching too many reruns of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Releasing a huge sigh, I gave him the look.The one that usually makes men cross streets to avoid me, either because they think I want something or because I want to talk to them.Either is enough for them to turn tail and pretend they don’t hear me or see me.
Honestly, you would think I was subjecting them to torture.
Straightening to his full height, Rebel crossed his arms over that broad chest I couldn’t seem to stop looking at.I swear the man had filled out since his time with the Redtails.He definitely had more muscle.Not that he hadn’t had a great body before he’d left.Not that I checked the guy out or anything.He was just hard to miss, you know?And the fact that I was besties with his sister meant he was always around.
“Maybe a slapshot to the face.”
He said it so deadpan, my mouth dropped open.I never really expected him to respond to my teasing.He just never paid me enough attention to care.Or at least, that’s what I thought.And then I immediately wanted to know more.
“Have you taken a slapshot to the face?”
“A few times, yeah.Hurts like a motherfucker.”
“I bet.”
“You take a few of those, you tend to rethink your career choice.Which chairs do you want me to grab?”
My brain got a little bit of whiplash.I heard something in his voice I wasn’t used to hearing when he talked to me.Seriousness.And suddenly, I wanted to hear more.I wanted to know everything.
“Areyou rethinking your career choice?”
Was he talking about moving to the Redtails or hockey in general?He didn’t say anything right away, and I had a bit of a surreal moment when I actually thought he might open up to me, say something meaningful.And I found I wanted him to.Despite our frenemy status, I didn’t want to curse the guy or anything like that.I mean, he wasn’t a bad guy.We just weren’t?—
“I’m gonna take these chairs over.You coming?”
Obviously, we werenothaving a meaningful conversation tonight.Not that I really expected us to.
Grabbing the two closest chairs, he headed back to the door, opened it, then waited for me.I picked up another two chairs and literally bit my tongue so I didn’t say anything else.
And made very sure I didn’t actually bump into him as I passed by.
