Page 9

Brett

F ate was a fickle bitch, but sometimes the Universe decide her cockblocking needed a detour and did you a favor.

When the attendant at the counter announced my flight was delayed due to a mechanical failure, I thanked my lucky stars it was found before the damn plane ended my NHL career before it started and made my way to the nearest airport bar, which happened to be Jimmy Buffet themed.

Not interested in totally getting wasted away, I ordered food and one margarita to celebrate my flight not crashing and texted Noah to let him know I’d be late.

The Triumph head of travel and logistics got me flight out within three hours, but I had to cancel my meeting to get my credentials and reschedule it for tomorrow since I’d land after everyone had left the facilities for the night.

Noah, the little shit, texted me back at least ten times before I muted him.

But, fuck, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about coaching him again.

As a hockey player, he was focused, intense and took every pointer and suggestion.

He’d improved so much since that first time on the ice when he was little, and I felt an odd sense of pride watching him grow up.

Even if he was just as weird as every fucking goalie I’d ever encountered.

“Big B!”

Even if I wanted to , I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face as Noah ran up to me and engulfed me in a hug, just like he was little and I came home from hockey camp. Of course, then, he had fired off nonstop questions, wanting to know all about what I learned and if I’d show him.

And so I had.

Crazy how some things come around full circle. From teaching him tips and tricks when he was little to coaching him in the NHL.

Yeah, life didn’t suck.

“Lil B!”

Noah didn’t waste a minute, grabbing my carry-on and slugging it over his shoulder as I rolled my suitcase behind me and adjusted my personal bag that contained my laptop.

I’d studied the old playbook and team write up the organization put together for me on the plane, even though I’d memorized it when I signed my contract over a month ago.

And even before that, I did my research.

“The girls are waiting, and we’re already late but I am always late. Hope you like fusion, It’s Zoe’s fave, and she was a little down on the phone earlier even if she won’t admit it. Which is weird, because she loves the preseason shit as much as I do.”

I buckled in, slightly nervous after the last time Noah took the driver’s seat when he was seventeen. Let’s just say I never let him touch a steering wheel since the incident. “The girls? Are you dating more than one and they know about each other?”

Noah scoffed. “Not everyone likes to fuck around, B. Guys and girls can be friends. Best friends. And they let me watch Bridgerton with them and shit. I draw the line at guy liner, no matter how hard Eden tries, though. Girl time is top tier. You should try it sometime. You know, friends and not fuck buddies?”

If he only knew. “Members of the opposite sex can’t be friends, Noah. One night, you’ll cross the line-”

“Let me drop some knowledge. You fucking can, and it’s magical. Plus, they remind me of Soph, let me be me, and Oliver is still in the chat. Which reminds me, I should put you in the chat.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Fuck no. Once was enough. I’ll just live in chat-less bliss, Noah. And I don’t only see women as fuck bodies.” Not anymore , I added silently.

The airport gave way to the suburbs and as we neared the city, Noah tossed a side-eye my way every now and then as Taylor Swift played from a playlist on his phone through the SUV’s speakers. I had to stop myself from doing anything and instead attempted to check my emails to distract myself.

Finally, after he snorted, I asked, exasperated, “What? What has your panties in a twist?”

He threw his head back as he pulled into a parking spot outside a crowd and eclectic themed restaurant.

“You, trying to convince me you aren’t into fucking around anymore.

A leopard doesn’t change its spots. But,” he held up a hand when an opened my mouth to deny it, “I’m not saying it makes you a bad dude.

It’s just I can’t see you settling down, at least not anytime soon.

Between moving to Montreal and coaching, you probably won’t have much time, anyway. ”

I wanted to protest, to tell him there was one girl I would make time for, but when I checked my emails, there were a few from HR and Laney that needed my attention.

“Relationships complicate things, and fuck knows my life is complicated enough right now. You head in, I’ll be in a sec.

” I pointed to my phone, and he nodded, climbing out and making his way inside.

I tapped out a few responses, one that included that damn haunted house I’d make an appearance at, and pocketed my phone.

The night air was still warm for this time of year as I pushed the door open as the fragrant scents of Indian fusion hit me.

Noah waved from a table midway into the place.

The hostess smiled as I pointed at my brother, and I weaved through the tables.

As I neared, I caught sight of a girl with bright pink and purple hair talking animatedly to Noah, as another woman with long raven hair nodded enthusiastically.

And stopped dead in my tracks. Because it couldn’t be. Fate wouldn’t be that kind, right?

But, fuck, there she was. The girl I couldn’t get out of my mind ever since she walked out my hotel room door.

My Little Tornado. And if I had my way, the love of my life.