Page 64 of Cheap Shot
“Kyle, I have maybe five minutes to chat before I run the risk of getting fired. What did you want?” I may not be able to play our little game, but I won’t be the first to break.
“I was calling to see how your favorite Timberwolf is doing,” he teases. “I heard from my big bro that Cole has been stomping around, roaring at anyone who gets too close to him. At least until a few days ago. I’m wondering if you two have been playing doctor and tamed his moody attitude.”
“You’re a menace, but I may have had something to do with it.” I snort, but suddenly remember what else he said. I can hear thundering footsteps coming down the hall in my direction. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is.
“Did Cole tell you?” I whisper, wanting to know the answer before Cole gets any closer, but I’m too late.
Cole’s voice is sharp with something that sounds a lot like jealousy. “Who am I telling what to? And who the fuck is ‘Playboy’?”
I turn, phone still to my ear, watching his expression morph from suspicion to low-grade fury. He looks like he’s ready to rip someone’s head off, and it’s hot as fuck. I bite my lip, tryingso hardnot to jump him right here in the hallway.
I hold the phone up, deciding to poke the bear a little. “You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous,” Cole says a little too quickly. His eyes shoot death glares at the phone clutched in my hand. “I’m just wondering why a guy calling himselfPlayboyis blowing up your phone during practice.”
I put the call on speaker. “Kyle, are you still there?”
“Yeah. Why do you sound like—wait? Oh,shit.Is he there?”
“Yes. I’m here, Playboy. Who the fuck are you?”
Kyle lets out a bark of laughter. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. I can’t wait to call Beau and tell him all about this.”
“No!” I shout, chancing a glance at Cole, but his face is completely blank. “No one knows. Well, Sammy, but that’s because he somehow keeps walking in on us.”
“Someone is walking in on you? Mish, I didn’t know you had it in you, girl. Bravo. Big bro, you’ve done me proud.”
“Big bro?” I can see the wheels turning in Cole’s head, trying to piece together what is happening, but he doesn’t seem to get it. Not that I blame him. I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet who would randomly meet one of their baby brother’s best friends and start a relationship with them without the other knowing. But these two probably haven’t spoken in well over a decade. There is bound to be some information about their lives missing.
“Did you think she replaced you already? I’m honored, bro. But she is more like my personal Alise.”
Cole just stares at the phone like it personally betrayed him. I double over, full-on laughing now. “Playboy is Kyle’s nickname.”
“You say that like that name it’s supposed to mean something to me.”
“Damn, that one hurts, big bro. Even Cooper and Beau remember I exist, even though it’s definitely more often than you.”
“Kyle?”
“Ding, ding. We have a winner.”
“Oh, my God,” I wheeze. “You weresoready to punch someone.”
Cole mutters something under his breath and takes the phone, narrowing his eyes at it. “I guess I need to do a better job of staying in touch, huh?”
“Ya think? Ten plus years is a long time to go without speaking to one of your big brothers,” Kyle responds in a hushed tone, a hint of genuine sadness in his voice.
I know from speaking with Kyle that he doesn’t have the closest relationship with his brothers because they are so far apart in age. Cooper and Beau call him occasionally to check to ensure nothing is going on, but even that’s not regular.
“Well, that’s all going to change from now on,” I chirp, snatching the phone from Cole’s hand. “Okay, Kyle, I need to get back to work and soothe this one's ego. I’ll call you later.”
“You better, or I’m going to call and tell Stacey.”
“No fair! We’ve all been so busy, and I wanted to tell you both at the same time.”
“Fine. Whatever, but I want all the juicy details tonight. Love you, Mish,” Kyle says, smug as ever.
“Love you, too, Play—” My eyes flick to Cole before changing my mind. “Kyle. I’ll call you later.”
