Page 35 of My Brother's Enemy
Rain hadn’t moved an inch, but man, the room was cold, and that sheet looked thin.
It was almost five in the morning. If I got back into bed, I wouldn’t be able to sleep, and I didn’t want to wake her up. Between the midnight skating and the bags under her eyes, I wondered how much sleep she got. But I also couldn’t leave her the way she was. I pulled up the blanket I’d been sleeping with and draped it over her.
When she didn’t move, I snuck out, grabbing my things as I went. We had a game tonight. Morning skate was in a few hours. I needed caffeine. Lots of it.
It was going to be a long day.
23
RAIN
Tyler left a note for me.
I found it as soon as he left because I’d heard him moving around before the far door clicked shut a moment later. I’d laid there only briefly before I got up, padding to the bathroom. Starting the coffee machine, I read the note as it began to brew.
I had a great time. Can we do this again? Call me. Text me. Wink at me. Whatever you want to do, I’m down for it. - Tyler
The note made me grin, but then I remembered hearing his sister’s voice through the bedroom door. I hadn’t been intending to eavesdrop, but I’d gotten up and stood at the door because I thought he was gone. But he wasn’t. She’d been upset while he spoke calmly back to her.
Before I could hear too much, I’d gone back to bed and rolled over the way I always slept—curled up in a ball on the farthest side of the bed.
I poured some coffee and looked at the clock. It was half past five now.
I didn’t think I could sleep anymore, and it was a game day. Morning skate was at nine, and I wanted to go in and lay some more groundwork with Sunny. I was eager to see if there’d be any change in his playing tonight, and there were some other dynamics I’d noted within the team, but my thoughts were a little muddied. I needed to take some time, write them out, and then go from there.
I looked back at the note. Tyler was right. Last night was fun. And I’d told him I struggled with personal relationships. I’d hinted at something that made me vulnerable, and I didn’t like that. Letting someone in never ended well for me. Ever. I tried over and over again in my twenties until I’d finally accepted that I’d never have a close group of friends or a partner. Being a loner was the safest route for me.
This was going to end in destruction. Mine. My career.
For a moment, self-loathing hit me. It hit me hard, and I let it.
We shouldn’t have done what we did last night. I shouldn’t let it happen again, but I remembered how I’d felt in his arms. My body was going to give in, no matter what my mind might say. And I wasn’t going to delude myself and pretend it wouldn’t happen again. It would.
I’d been starved of touch for so long, and here came Tyler Griffin, barreling down all my roadblocks. Yeah. This was going to end in devastation, and I wasn’t going to do one thing to stop it. I was helpless against him.
Maybe it was just time I had the final blow?
No. I could minimize the damage. I’d need some walls around me if I was going to do this with him again. How could I turn him down? I couldn’t. No one would.
I shook my head, clearing it all away because the more I pondered, the more my messed-up mind would cause problems for me.
I went down to the hotel gym.
A good, hard run would help.
24
RAIN
Something was wrong. The Grays were playinghorribly.
Sunny kept shooting on goal and missing. Ray was passing to the other team, and after the third time, the crowd began booing. The only one who seemed solid was Brick, but Brick was always solid. Hence his nickname. Even Tyler was off. He wasn’t connecting with his line. He was too fast, and when he tried to adjust, he was too slow. The second line was getting double the usual playing time in the second period.
I couldn’t wait anymore. Making my way down to the bench, I watched as Coach Hines held Sunny back and sent Davie out with Tyler and Jesse. He turned and saw me as I stopped next to Meester. There was frustration and a bit of accusation in his eyes.
Great. He blamed me for this.
I tapped Sunny on the arm and motioned toward the tunnel. He followed, and once we were out of sight, I asked, “What’s going on?”
