Page 83 of What Are the Chances
“No, I–”
I didn’t want to lie to my brother, but I also didn’t want to give him the full truth. How did I explain mine and Will’s arrangement?No, we’re not together. But I am sleeping with Will to improve his hockey game. One of which will be played against you next week. Good luck.
I reached forward, shifting the heater vents to face the floor. I was suddenly overheating.
“I’m friends with Holloway’s girlfriend. She didn’t know the history. That’s all.”
Tanner was extremely protective, which I knew came from observing the way dad treated our mums. He didn’t want me to receive the same treatment from any guy. I got it and I loved him for it, but Will wasn’t the guy I’d allowed Tanner to paint him as. In Tanner’s eyes, Will was only defined by his final action.
“I know you hate Will, but he’s doing me a solid, Tanner. It’s too late in the semester to try and look for other athletes.”
Tanner exhaled. “If it wasn’t for what he did to you, I honestly wouldn’t hate the guy.”
I stilled. “What do you mean?”
With his focus on the road, Tanner shrugged his beefy shoulders. “Most players as good as him are assholes. He’s not. Not even slightly.”
Tanner indicated left, pulling into dad’s expensive estate. Nerves muddled my senses, and they were only partly due to the impending family dinner.
“Caufield is a clean player and he never takes cheap hits,” Tanner went on. “He always keeps things above board, so when he beats you to the puck or out plays you, you can’t get mad because you know he was simply better.”
“You’re a good player too,” I told Tanner.
He chuckled. “I know. I’m not saying I think Caufield’s better than me. I’m saying rival to rival, I kind of have a lot of respect for the guy.”
I wasn’t expecting that, and I wasn’t expecting it to tug on my heart as much as it did either. Was I surprised Will was a respected player in the league? No. Was I surprised how happy that made me? The answer should’ve been yes, but it wasn’t.
“But don’t worry, Ri. I will always hate him on your behalf. You’re my sister. That comes first over any hockey man crush.”
I sighed. Tanner didn’t need to hate Will for me. I didn’t even hate him. In fact, it was the opposite. It hadalwaysbeen the opposite. And the scary part was, I think it always would be.
*
Within fifteen minutes we’d gone through all the surface level conversations – school, running, hockey. Now we were sitting silently around the dinnertable while we waited for dad’s girlfriend to finish in the kitchen. I’d offered to help, but she’d ushered me into the dining room with a polite smile.
“I spoke to Richard Donohue,” dad said.
My attention sharpened. “What did he say?”
“That he’s been impressed with you so far and he thinks it’s a waste you haven’t been in his program all year.”
A compliment and a scolding rolled into one. That was on brand for dad.
“He mentioned you’ll be at Saturday night’s game.”
I nodded. That was the plan.
“And that he’ll be extending an invitation to the on-the-road Allentown game.”
That was news to me. Usually I resented dad’s insider gossip. Right now, it was a major perk.
Tanner levelled me with a playful glare. “You better not be rooting against me, Ri.”
I picked up my glass of water. “Never.”
With the clearing of his throat, Dad shifted both the conversation and his stance. His eyes zeroed in on Tanner. It was my brother’s turn.
“I spoke to Marcus Lak.”
