Page 112 of Branded (Breakers Hockey)

Forty-One

Cas

“What the fuck is up between you and Eva?” I muttered to Theo.

Silence.

Tense enough that I looked away from where my woman was talking to fucking Lake Jordan, gabbing like they were old friends—because they were fucking old friends. Ugh. Ethan was glued to her side, hero worship on his face.

Tiny little traitor.

But seriously, trust that my woman would be friends with a pain in the ass like Lake Jordan.

Even if the man had stood by my side during the shit that had gone down with Nate fucking Miller.

Nate Miller, who’d disappeared, looking wrecked by the things Jules had— rightfully —laid on him. I was so fucking proud of her, had agreed with everything that she’d said. My woman standing up for herself, being so strong after what that fucker had done to her.

“Nothing’s up between me and Eva,” Theo said.

Which was a bullshit answer, and my mind was so twisted up by everything that had happened that night, I almost let it slide.

I didn’t trust Nate’s disappearing act.

Professional hockey was a small circle, so it was a well-known fact that the man was a motherfucking snake, that Miller had made it his mission to be an asshole.

All of which meant that I didn’t trust anything the man did.

So yeah, I wasn’t buying the wrecked expression on Miller’s face and I was also thinking that the asshole just being on the same planet as Jules and Ethan was too fucking close, let alone the fact that Miller was still in the same building as my family.

That ate at me.

But I couldn’t do anything about it at the moment, other than watch out for them and stay close.

And Ethan and Jules didn’t need me to take out that frustration on Lake.

I had already done that enough that evening—enough to feel a little bit guilty about it for sure—so I was making amends by giving them space.

Because Jules deserved to connect with her old friend, and because I wouldn’t burst Ethan’s excitement.

But seriously, Lake played with Miller.

I didn’t know how the man could stand it. I understood that Lake had no control over the Sierra’s roster (and knew that management sometimes kept assholes on that roster because they produced by scoring goals and helping to win games, just like I knew that Miller was good at both).

But I also understood that Lake had made his dislike of Nate clear.

A point in the man’s pro column.

Though, the fucker was still a pain in the ass on the ice.

Two more—as much as I hated them—were that Lake was good with Ethan and he was clearly keeping his gaze on his surroundings, ready for Miller to make a reappearance.

I wouldn’t breathe easy until Miller was back in California.

Which was why I’d only left Jules alone for a minute with Lake while I’d retrieved Ethan from the locker room.

I wanted to sweep them out of here, to take them back to my place where it was safe.

But…old friends and hero worship.

So, I was propping up the hallway’s wall—the same wall that one Eva Moreno had tried to disappear into during the confrontation with Theo.

“You were pretty harsh with Eva for there being nothing between you two ,” I said lightly.

Theo’s jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek, and I wasn’t so focused on Jules and Lake and Ethan—and that fucking hero worship—to miss the flicker of guilt cross my friend’s face.

Theo wasn’t normally an asshole.

Though, no one could argue that I’d been one tonight.

“She’s a fucking reporter,” Theo muttered. “She spreads bullshit for a living.”

“I wouldn’t consider the stories that Eva writes bullshit.”

Theo grunted but didn’t argue.

Mostly because he couldn’t—or couldn’t without looking like even more of an asshole.

Eva was smart and talented, and her blog had become popular—even among the trolly asshole male fans, who liked to discount a female fan just because she was female.

But no one could discount Eva. She was a fan, and she knew her stuff.

Which was why she’d gotten a media pass.

Which was why she’d been picked to color commentate on the pregame show more than a few times in recent months.

It was also why her social media had exploded.

And it was why I knew that she was under Theo’s skin.

Deep .

I didn’t know how or why, just knew that I was right. Eva Moreno was smart, took absolutely no shit, and was gorgeous.

Which was why I also knew that Theo was fucked.

My friend had hurt a good woman’s feelings, and he wasn’t normally an asshole so the fact that he’d acted like one was going to eat at him.

So, yup, Theo was fucked…in the best possible way, and I, for one, couldn’t wait to watch the show.

The team’s most eligible bachelor matched against the league’s up-and-coming broadcaster, successful blogger, social media expert, and general Jill of all trades.

Yeah, watching that show from the sidelines was going to be awesome.

I just wanted to watch from the comfort of my own home.

With my woman in my arms and Ethan tuckered out from watching movies and?—

“I’m going to shower and get the fuck out of here,” Theo muttered.

“And go find Eva?” Smitty asked, proving the big man had ninja skills and could sneak around when he wanted to. Of course, his booming voice made the both of us jump as well as drew the attention of Lake, Ethan, and Jules. “Word on the street is you have some groveling to do.”

Theo had started to turn away but froze at the booming voice. Now he swung back, irritation in every line of his face. “You all are fucking annoying.”

“But you luuuv us,” Raph said, joining the party and slinging an arm around Theo’s shoulders.

“Fuck you,” Theo muttered, shrugging him off.

“You’d be better off asking Eva to fuck you ,” I couldn’t resist adding, waggling my brows.

Theo dropped his chin to his chest, sighed. “I hate you all.”

“Hate is a bad word.”

Theo’s head popped up and, for the first time since Eva had walked away, hurt written into every inch of her body, he smiled. “Trust fate to bring him by after all the other bad words,” he muttered before crouching down in front of Ethan and lifting his fist. “You’re right, buddy. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.” A pointed rebuke, brows lifting.

Rebuked…by a five-year-old who had us all wrapped around his pinky finger.

I smothered a bark of laughter—or attempted to, anyway.

Though, I didn’t think I did a good job because Theo glared up at me.

Worth it.

Especially when that glare was accompanied by a grumbled apology to all of us.

“Cas?” Ethan asked after Theo had gotten his fist bump from Ethan, made it back to his feet, and then left—though not until after he’d glared at us all (minus Ethan) again, just for good measure.

“Yeah, bud?”

I braced for questions about what had happened earlier, about who the man was, and what the tension was for.

But instead, Ethan just asked, “Can we go home?”

And God, I loved this kid (and especially the fact that going home meant getting Ethan and Jules out of this building).

“Yeah, bud,” I said. “We can go home.”

I knew that the questions would most certainly come later.

Just like I knew that this night wouldn’t leave Jules unscathed.

But, for now, going home seemed like the best fucking idea anyone had had all night.