Page 44

I rush out my front door, fighting every urge to run back inside to Ellie.

The look of uncertainty on her face had me almost telling my cousin to go without me.

The last thing I want is for Ellie to second guess everything that’s happening between us.

Me rushing out the door, keeping her a secret, and leaving her behind goes against everything inside me.

If I had it my way, the entire world would know Ellie Montgomery is mine.

But the world is cruel and I’m following Ellie’s lead.

If she wants to wait and keep this thing a secret, then that’s what we’ll do.

Doesn’t mean I have to like it.

The heat is on full blast when I take a seat in my cousin’s car.

Wait a damn minute.

Did she drive here?

Surprise visits are not her thing.

I’m immediately on high alert and worried.

Even though she’s able to take her work on the road with her, Katie is not a spur-of-the-moment type of person.

My concern overwhelms me, causing me to question her first thing.

“What the hell are you doing here, Katie? Is everything okay?” I fasten my seat belt and turn my upper body so I can look at her.

She puts the car in reverse and begins to slowly back out of my driveway.

“It’s good to see you too, cousin.”

Her deflection isn’t enough to make me drop it so I push a little bit.

“Katie, you know I love you, and of course I’m happy to see you. This is just a surprise. You don’t usually do surprises.”

I let the questions hang in the air.

She knows me well enough to know I’m concerned and want to know what’s going on.

I also know her well enough to know that she’s stubborn as hell and won’t tell me something if I push too hard.

The silence lingers between us and Katie starts driving down my street in the direction of the city.

Her fingers tap on the steering wheel, even though there’s no music on.

“I know downtown is this way, but if you want to actually get something to eat, I’m gonna need you to put the directions in my phone so I know where I’m going.”

Okay, so she’s not going to tell me what’s going on.

You’d think as a therapist she’d know the benefit of talking through shit and letting it out, but hiding our feelings seems to run in the family.

I grab her phone from her outstretched hand and search for the family-owned pancake house I love just on the outskirts of the city.

Once I plug in the address to her Maps app, I put the phone down in her cupholder and continue staring at the side of her face.

I’m hoping to burn a hole in the side of her head, maybe irritate her just enough to get some information out of her.

Lord knows if I open my mouth I could anger the beast, so silently staring is my only option.

We’re about six minutes into our drive when she finally gives in.

“Ugh, quit staring at me like that! You’re freaking me out! Let me just collect my thoughts a bit, okay?”

The vulnerability in Katie’s voice is something I’m not used to, and it has me shifting in my seat.

Giving her the space she requested, I face forward so I’m looking ahead out the windshield.

“Of course, Katie. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. This trip is just very out of character for you, and I’m worried. We can talk when we get there or we can eat in silence. Just know that I’m ready to listen whenever you’re ready to talk.”

Katie nods to her phone in the cupholder.

“Put on some music that will cheer me up. And don’t think for one second we’ll be eating in silence. I saw another shadow moving around in your house when I pulled up. I know you weren’t alone in there, and that is something we most definitely will be talking about.”

Of course she fucking saw Ellie’s shadow.

She’s the most perceptive human being on the planet, which is why she’s so damn good at her job.

She can read people better than anyone I know.

It only takes a few minutes to get to Floppy’s Pancake House and less than that to find a parking spot and get seated in a booth.

By the time the waitress stops by to write down our orders of peanut butter pancakes and bacon, Katie’s ready to interrogate.

“So, you wanna tell me who you were hiding in your house when I showed up?”

I take a sip of water as I try to decide how I want to handle this.

After lying to Ellie about Niko, there’s no way in hell I can break her trust again and tell my cousin about her.

Katie would never speak a word of it to anyone—I know that.

Hell, I could slide her a dollar and insist on doctor-patient confidentiality, but I don’t want to utter a word to her.

I promised Ellie and I refuse to break that promise.

“It’s just something new. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable with a ‘meet the family’ situation, so I thought it was best to give her an out.”

Katie’s eyes scrutinize me as I speak and she tilts her head, trying to figure out if I’m lying to her or not.

She brings her hands up under her chin and raises an eyebrow at me.

“Someone new who slept over? Last I knew, you didn’t do sleepovers. Last I knew, you didn’t do women at all. What’s it been, a year since you’ve dated?”

A little girl runs by us screaming as her mother chases her.

I’m grateful for the distraction so I can break eye contact with Katie, even if it’s just for a moment.

I contemplate how I want to play this.

My cousin knows my deepest darkest secrets.

She witnessed them firsthand when she found me that morning knocked out cold as a kid.

Although I’m a vault when it comes to my feelings, through therapy I’ve learned to be more open with the people who love me.

Apparently it was a mistake to let Katie know I was officially taking myself off the market last year.

My dreams of becoming the youngest head coach in the NHL required dedication and discipline.

Gone were the all-nighters that consisted of women and alcohol.

In its place was a different kind of all-nighter, complete with game tape and research.

After a while I didn’t even miss the late nights with random women in my bed.

It was never really my thing anyway.

I usually just met a woman to scratch an itch.

Afterward, I was always left feeling empty, so deciding I was done with that life wasn’t too much of a sacrifice.

“Yeah, it’s been at least a year since I’ve been with a woman.”

Katie looks surprised, even though she knows I made that decision to further my career.

“Wow, I know you said you were done dating, but I thought you’d maybe swipe right once in a while. Men having needs and what not.”

This conversation is entering territory I’d rather not discuss with my cousin.

I chuckle lightly before trying to change the subject.

“Nope. All work and no play. It seemed to work, didn’t it? I got the dream job.”

“And apparently the dream girl? Something must be special about her to change your stance on dating. Don’t shake your head at me, you little liar. You have a goofy grin on your face right now! The same goofy look you had on your face when I brought her up two minutes ago.”

The waitress returns with our food and we both take a minute to cut up our pancakes.

“I don’t know about dream girl, but she’s definitely special.” I’m hoping that’s enough to appease her.

Katie impales a piece of her pancake with her fork and points it at me.

“You don’t have to tell me about her, just like I’m not gonna tell you about my shit. But let me say one thing.”

I have my fork halfway to my mouth when I look up to see Katie looking at me.

The look she wears reminds me of my aunt.

It’s a maternal look that my mother only wore in the beginning.

It squeezes my heart and I set my fork down to hear what she has to say.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Lincoln. The last time I saw you, your shoulders were tense and you had a permanent scowl plastered on your face. I look at you now and you seem lighter, happier. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time you smiled twice in the same day. I don’t know if it’s the job or the girl. But whatever it is, don’t mess it up.”

My head bobs as I pick up my fork and take my first bite of the heavenly pancakes.

I smile while I chew, thinking of the mystery woman I want to tell my cousin about so badly.

Katie’s still watching me with a look of pride on her face.

“What?” I ask, before picking up another piece of pancake.

She leans back in the booth again and crosses her arms over her chest.

“It’s more than special, isn’t it? You love her.”

The accusation causes me to pause.

She voices what I’ve been thinking but it’s not something I’ve ever said out loud before.

My response is out of my mouth without a second thought.

“Yeah, I do. ”

The biggest smile I’ve ever seen stretches across Katie’s face, and she leans across the table and squeezes my hand.

“Have you told her yet?” She lets go of my hand and leans back.

I drop my fork again and wipe my mouth with my napkin before answering her.

“Not yet. I think I just realized how I really felt last night. But I’m working on how to tell her. I’m kind of pissed I told you before I told her.”

Katie gives me another smile before picking her fork back up to eat her breakfast.

“Well, let’s just pretend you didn’t. And, Lincoln…I can’t wait to meet your mystery woman. I’m glad you’re finally happy.”

Happy.

The understatement of the century.

My cousin could easily pester me with questions and go into full therapist mode to get me to spill everything.

She’s done it many times before, it’s like a super power.

I’m grateful she’s giving me space and respecting my wishes.

I want so badly to tell her everything there is to know about Ellie.

How I love the way she sings in the shower, so off-key but thinks she’s Adele.

Or the way she snorts and cackles whenever she finds something hilarious, not ashamed of being the loudest person in the room.

Since this thing is supposed to be a secret, I have to keep all of that to myself.

Besides, the worry churning in my gut over my cousin’s surprise arrival is at the forefront of my mind.

“Now that you know what’s going on with me, are you ready to tell me what’s going on with you?”

Katie takes a sip of her coffee, her hand shaking a bit as she sets the mug back down on the table.

“Not really.”

“Katie. I’m worried about you.”

Her eyes flick behind me, avoiding my own, her nerves clearly visible.

She wrings her hands in front of her before finally making eye contact.

“I’m extremely unhappy at my job. It’s literally sucking the life out of me. ”

We spend the next hour discussing her work and brainstorming different career opportunities that may fulfill the empty space she’s feeling in her heart when it comes to her job.

As we go over options, Katie’s excitement overtakes her sadness.

The prospect of something new seems to have brought her back to life.

“Thanks for talking this out with me, Lincoln. I didn’t know how much I needed you until I saw you.”

We slide out of the booth and I head to the front register to pay our bill.

Once we make it to the parking lot, Katie’s playful demeanor is back in full force.

“So, are we going back to your place, or am I taking you to your girl so you can confess your love to her?”

Shaking my head, I dip my head and get into her car.

“No…I don’t think I’m quite ready for that just yet.”

I want to let Ellie know just how much she means to me.

The first time I tell her I love her I want it to be special.

And I’ll need some reinforcements to make that happen.

Hunter, I need your help.

Hunter

Is this about the lineup?

I was a little concerned about the second line too.

No, you asshat.

It’s about Ellie.

*Hunter adds Sadie to the chat*

Sadie

You rang?

Hunter

Lincoln needs our help telling Ellie how he feels.

How the fuck did you know that?

Hunter

I know everything.

Sadie

I already have an idea planned.

I knew this day was coming.

Are you sure you two aren’t related?

Sadie

Hunter is my twin flame, but there’s no blood relation.

We checked on ancestry.

com

Why does that not surprise me?

Hunter

Postgame grand gesture planning tonight?

Sure, we can meet at my house.

But what about Ellie?

She usually comes over after a game.

Sadie

I’ll see if one of the girls on the training staff will take Ellie out after the game for a drink or two so she’s not suspicious.

Perfect.

Thanks guys.

*Sadie names the group: Operation Grand Gesture*

Hunter

OMG I was just going to do that!