Page 93 of My Brother's Enemy
But then a hand shut my laptop and Tyler swung into the seat beside me. His face was grim. “Not that way.”
“Wha—?”
He handed me his phone. It was open to TikTok. I suddenly didn’t want to take it. “What is this?”
“There’s no good way to tell you, so you should see it for yourself.”
I took his phone, but my fingers were numb. I couldn’t feel them. My heart sped up. “What is this, Tyler?”
“Word’s out about you and your brothers.”
I felt the floor drop out from beneath me. My hand shook as I pressed play.
A girl popped up on the screen with a screen behind her. On it was a picture of when I’d talked to Sunny just inside their bench, by the tunnel. A fan in the stands must’ve taken the photo. The girl in the video pointed to it. “Listen up, people! I know everyone loves the Connors brothers. How could you not?” The picture switched to a slideshow of Daniel and Dane in their hockey uniforms, playing against each other, playing individually, posing together before a game. Then it switched back to the picture of me and Sunny. “But hold up because did you know that they have a sister? There’s a Connors sister! And what’s this?” The image zoomed in on where my hand rested on Sunny’s shoulder. “Okay. I have questions. One, what is this? This is not just a fan here. This is Sister Connors, and she’sjustcome from the tunnel. Is she working with the Grays? Also,where did she come from?There arenopictures of heranywherefrom when Daniel and Dane were kids. Did she even grow up with them? Did she grow up somewhere else? Is there a secret Connors family we don’t know about? Are theremoreConnors brothers?”
Pictures flashed on the screen. High school pictures of Daniel and Dane playing hockey, playing golf, with their friends, with their father, on their Juniors teams. There were more recent images that were taken at a family event. “None. I repeat, none of these images include Sister Connors. Where are you, Sister Connors?”
The screen changed again to an interview with Daniel. “Daniel was recently asked about his sister, and this is what he had to say.” The reporter asked, “Is it true that both you andDane are estranged from your sister? What do you have to say about the rumors that she’s working with the Grays, the team your long-time nemesis, Tyler Griffin, recently joined?”
Daniel scowled. “I don’t give two f-BEEP-s what that girl does. She wanted nothing to do with us growing up and still doesn’t, apparently. Good riddance to her.”
“So you’re saying the estrangement is her choice? Shechoseto be estranged from you?”
He glowered back in annoyance. “She’s had a chip on her shoulder all her life. We could never make her happy, and it’s not my fault she chooses not to have anything to do with her family or her nieces.” His eyes gleamed as he leaned into the camera, dropping his voice. “Do better, Dylan.”
The image flashed back to the girl on the TikTok, and her eyes were dramatically wide. “There you have it, people. Who is Dylan Connors, and what is she doing with the Grays? People want to know. Also, how is this going to affect the upcoming game between Minneapolis and Montreal? I’ve got a feeling things are going to get bloodier than normal. Don’t forget to subscribe, like, or follow for more about this story.”
I couldn’t think, speak, or function. I only sat there as Tyler pulled his phone away and typed on it.
“Come on, you little piece of shit. Such a waste of space. Let’s go. You’re going to make us late.”
I winced as Daniel’s voice came back to me. He’d been angry at me for making him late to school, but I’d been on the steps waiting for him. He’d come out, stopped, and glared at me.“What the fuck? Next time fucking speak up. Tell me you’re there. Did you start my truck? Could’ve been useful to get it warm. Christ.”
My mouth had dropped open, because just the day before he’d growled at me,“Listen, you little shit. I want you on thesteps here every morning, ready when we need to leave for school. I’m not going to be late because of your ass.”
And two mornings later, when I’d taken his keys and started his truck, warming it for him, he’d snapped at me, throwing his bag into the backseat and almost hitting me on the way.“What the fuck? You stole my keys? You don’t ever fucking touch my keys and start my truck. Waste of gas and waste of space. Now shut up and let’s go.”
I could never make him happy. Had never made him happy.
I felt myself spiraling into panic.
Daniel was going to put everything on me.
After takeoff, Tyler put his phone away. “Dane hasn’t said anything.”
“Shocker,” I mumbled. “He never did.”
The weird looks now made sense. Fuck. The team had asked me if I was related to Daniel and Dane, and I’d evaded them with a vague lie. A bubble of laughter worked its way up my throat. I’d been worried about losing my credibility because I was in a sexual relationship with Tyler—even last night, I’d seen the hesitation on his face. I watched him pause and shut down. I knew he was going to leave, and I’d dissociated in that heartbeat. I had to be ready, because no matter what he said, hewasgoing to reject me. He was going to leave.
But now this happened?
My relationship with Tyler hadn’t even been disclosed yet.
Once we reached altitude and the seatbelt sign turned off, Coach Hines came over to stand by our seats. “The team’s confused. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. Put your own work into action here. Give the guys a chance, and if you want to say something to them when we arrive, they’ll listen.”
I nodded. That was the least I could do. “If they could go into the locker room, I’ll say my piece there.”
He nodded. “Done. Good.” He gripped the back of my seat. “Speak from the heart. That’s the only kind of advice I can give at a moment like this. This shouldn’t be a story. An estranged sister? It’s getting attention because it’s a brother duo and you’re with us. That’s the only reason. Fans love to hate Daniel, but they like Dane. My own girls have crushed on him, so I understand the appeal on that app thing. All the TikToks these days and reels and apps.” He rolled his eyes. “What’s next? I can’t even imagine. Chin up, Connors.”
