Page 100 of Bad Wolf

“Yep. Text me when you’re done. They’d be idiots not to donate.”

She makes an excited squeak and then hangs up. Her smile lingering on the screen for just another second.

They’re heading to speak with one of the leading brands in hockey gear, to set up an opportunity for the kids to wear the latest padding, helmets, and skates without having to pay unreasonable prices.

In fact, they’re going to ask for them to be gifted. They’d be crazy not to say yes and agree to anything that has Casey’s name attached to it.

My phone pings and I swing my legs off the bed reaching for it, hoping it’s Wren, even though it’s been less than five seconds, but it’s not.

It’s from my sister and I swipe straight into it.

Coralie: Really appreciate you watching Jack for us the night you get back into town. I’ve been dying to try the new Greek restaurant that just opened. Jack’s excited you’ll be staying over.

And God fucking dammit. It starts. She absolutely knows I’ll be desperate to see Wren. I groan and type out a message, my high from talking with Wren already wearing off.

Me: No sweat, Sis. You deserve a night out.

The door to the hotel room makes a beep and then it shoves open, my bear of a brother hulking through.

“You ready to go get some chow? What’s wrong?” Jason asks, as my head falls into my hands.

“Your sister is an evil mastermind,” I mutter.

“Oh no. What’s the first hoop you’ll be jumping through?”

I look up at him, “She’s got me babysitting Jack—”

“What’s so bad about that?” he interrupts.

“She’s got me watching Jack the night we get back.”

His eyes go wide and then he starts laughing which turns into him doubling over and hooting about how fucked I am.

“Dude, she knows you’re gonna wanna get to Wren as fast as humanly possible after being away for eight days. Ah man, she’s good. She’s really good.”

“She doesn’t even want to go out,” I fume, “I know her. She wants to cuddle up with Gunner and Jack and Biscuit on the damn couch, soaking them all in. But instead, she’s gonna go to the effort of getting herself ready and drag Gunner to a new restaurant—on a school night—that she’s not even fussed about, just to prolong me seeing Wren. Making me suffer all the more.”

It’s not lost on me that my rant turns into more of a whine there at the end.

Jason tries to fight the smile that wants to erupt on his face. “Have you replied to her yet?”

I narrow my eyes at him, “You know I had to.”

He cracks up again and I fall back on the bed.

* * *

When we land home four days later, with the playoffs now firmly within our grasp, I’m tired and ready to see Wren, only I know I need to hitch a ride with Gunner because I’m staying at his house tonight.

He whistles at me and points to the car like I might have forgotten, but I roll my eyes and nod, saying bye to my brothers, and head in his direction.

“Fucks sake, Gunn,” I grumble as I climb into his truck. “Like you even wanna go out tonight.”

“What the lady wants, the lady gets, and she wants to be wined and dined.”

“No, she doesn’t,” I huff.

“No, she doesn’t and I’m tired as shit, but what you gonna do?” he shrugs and navigates the car away out of the car park.

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