Page 5

INDIE

irascible: (adj.) easily provoked to anger; irritable

Three and a half months later…

“ H e’s so insufferable,” I grumbled as Nia rolled her eyes. “What?”

She shelved a stack of new arrivals, all signed and sent by indie authors we had both slid into the DMs of, and laughed. “Indie, he’s-”

“Rude, a jerk, and even if he’s ‘reading’ romance, that doesn’t change the fact that Theo is a dick.”

Nia nudged me with her shoulder as I handed her two more books. “And a new dad who has no idea what the hell he’s doing. Who you’ve been helping out.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s lucky Travis is such a cute kid.”

Yep. Theo Gerard, the one person on this earth I hated more than anyone, was a decent daddy.

And his kiddo had somehow struck up a friendship with Nia’s girls at the Montreal Triumph haunted house event, and had been hanging out with him ever since.

And now, after Laney, the Montreal Triumph head of PR, revealed his romance book shenanigans to Nia, I was forced to deal with him.

At least on the periphery. After all, the Book Boyfriend of the Month charity calendar would be nothing without Mr. Book Boyfriend himself.

Or whatever the hell his stupid hashtag was , I thought with scowl.

“ He could bring in more readers than any PR campaign we run, and get us out of the red, Indie.”

Nia tssked as she straightened the books, color coordinated them instead of alphabetizing them like the rest of the books in Book Boyfriends & Lattes. “You can protest all you want,” my cousin teased, “but despite those damn fishnets and combat boots-”

“I’m adorable and you know it,” I protested with a wicked grin, hoisting the now empty shipment box over my head and weaving through the shelves and seating area as I headed to the back of the bookshop. “And I wear non-combat boots, too. I clean up real nice, and you know it.”

“You’re a hopeless romantic,” she called.

I snorted loudly, and shouted back. “You’re lucky you’re family, or I’d boil your bunny.”

“At least quote Ten Things About You or something,” she yelled back as I chucked the box next to the alley door and slammed the door to the small storage room shut.

“Fuck,” I whisper yelled. After the damn Holiday Book Boyfriend Auction event I had hoped Nia would drop any further…

anything with Theo. It was bad enough that he was here, so damn close.

And so damn annoying. I didn’t mind helping with Travis, because it was like a divorced parent hand off, something I knew about all too well.

My cheeks flushed, and I picked at the hem of the denim skirt.

“I like my fishnets!!” I yelled at the door.

Unbidden memories of the night of the haunted house whispered in my ear.

Of Theo taking me over his damn knee. And spanking me.

The bastard spanked me in the middle of the damn woods behind the haunted house, all the while his son , that I knew nothing about until well after, when he dropped him off to play with my little second cousins a week later, played in the damn corn kernel pit.

Spanked me. Over his damn knee . I hated him even more afterwards. What the fuck made him think he could do… that …to me?? And now, three months later, I had to deal with him. Still. Granted, it was partially my fault. And Nia’s. And her girls, who decided Travis was their new bff.

It was cold as fuck outside. I kicked the toe of my chunky heeled combat boot against the lower tier of the steel shelf laden with random bookish items. Candles.

Wine glasses. Bags. I promised to help pick up Travis, because the nanny Theo hired had a family emergency and needed to go out of town. Indefinitely.

My phone pinged, and of course, it was Eden.

I snickered, because if there was one thing I loved, it was my pink haired friend who unfortunately was dating one of Theo’s teammates, Cole Sunders.

Who rivaled Theo in grumpiness. At least his brand of grumpiness was sexy and the way he looked at Eden?

Even if she was his stepsister. Sigh. A forbidden romance. One of my favorite tropes.

Of course, Theo had been smiling more since Travis came to live with him, or at least from what I’d seen over the past few months. But, that wasn’t the point. Neither was that his damn romance book loving thing made girls swoon over him.

Despite how he had helped Book Boyfriends & Lattes in an off handed and not entirely intentional way. And his stupid appearance in the damn Montreal Triumph Book Boyfriend Calendar.

I knew Theo. And he wasn’t the MMC in any romance novel. Because they would rescue a damsel in distress. Not leave her stranded in the shower, crying her eyes out. Wondering why the one person she never thought would let her down, did.

Asshole. I hated him. And I’d never forgive him.

EDEN: How’s operation Nanny to the enemy going?

I snickered again. Usual Eden reaction. She may look sweet, but under that pink hair and adorable outfits was a deep soul who loved mischief and cared more than she admitted.

INDIE: If you were here, I’d tell you. But, no, #ghosthockeydaddy Cole can’t handle a few nights without you.

EDEN: Ha ha. You know you’re going to tell me all about #HOCKEYDADDY anyway. And I’m telling Noah you called them that. He’ll be so happy.

INDIE: Anything for #HOCKEYBOY.

EDEN: Avoidance???

INDIE: No. I am not avoiding anything. You uppercased me. Especially since said subject matter is out of town.

EDEN: And got cornered in the lobby by a few romance readers. One asked him to sign her tits.

I snarled. Of course they would. And I bet he did. A leopard rarely changed its spots.

EDEN: I pushed Cole into the elevator before any boobs were taken out.

Theo’s reputation prior to Travis wasn’t squeaky clean, and him signing boobs was just the type of thing he would’ve done, while he barked at people to not take pictures. On the ice, he was a machine, and could handle his stick better than almost anyone.

But off? He wasn’t exactly known for being overly friendly unless it came to a certain type of fan.

When Laney, the Triumph’s head of PR had mentioned having him onboard with the calendar, I initially balked at the idea.

But Nia suggested I ‘take a deeper look’, so I did.

Evidently, a few months before he knew Travis existed, Theo had started reading romance novels and posting reactions.

It looked like he was trying to turn his rep around, because there hadn’t been pictures of him with anyone for over six months prior to dad status activation.

I wouldn't call him an angel or anything any time soon, but since he came to the Triumph he seemed…different. And not that I’d been following his career, either. Isaac mentioned him sometimes during our catch up calls.

I refused to look him up.

But Nia?

The traitor followed him, and once he moved to Montreal? Updated me on every book and author he shared. And had me order their books.

Book Boyfriends & Lattes’ ‘ Hockey Book Boyfriend Book Recs ’ section sold out almost every week.

I secretly hated it, but smiled through the annoyance of it all. Because business did need a pick up or kick in the ass. It wasn’t fair to Nia to have to shoulder all the financial responsibility.

And when Laney asked if I would help with Travis since Nia’s girls had taken such a liking to him, I grumbled on the inside but plastered on that smile and agreed to help out since he was having such a rough time finding a nanny since Helen had to leave him.

Not one was good enough for Travis, she said.

Theo vetoed everyone or refused to meet with them.

Probably because every single applicant didn’t swoon at his book boyfriend schtick and bow at his feet.

Travis was a great kid though, and he’d been through a lot losing his mom then finding out his dad was a famous hockey player. But, just this weekend, he’d watched Ratatouille with me, then asked if we could make the ‘peasant’s stew’ for his dad since it was a comfort food.

Travis’ love language was cooking and food. Such a cute kid who didn’t deserve to be hindered by the fact his dad was a dick. No matter the ‘change’ he instituted, I’d never forgive him for the way he walked away then ignored me after. For years.

My current love language? Annoying Theo every chance I got. And then walking away while he glared at me. Small price to pay for leaving me and breaking my heart the way he had.

Travis, though, was innocent, and the girls loved him, and I loved them. It’s not his fault his sperm donor was a jerk. So temp feral nanny it is.

“Hey,” Nia called through the door, before opening it. I snatched a box of bookish stickers, and spun to face her as she poked her head in. “Do you want me to pick up Travis and the girls, or-”

I plastered a bright face on my lips. “Nope, I have it. Just going to-”

“Restock the stickers you restocked this morning?” Nia interrupted wryly.

She took the box from me and set it back where it belonged.

My cousin might be a little older than me, but she’d become more of a sister and best friend since I moved back home after college.

And when she decided to open Book Boyfriends & Lattes two years ago, she insisted on giving me a percentage.

For my amazing knowledge of all things words and romance book smuttiness, of course.

She crossed her arms over her chest and gave me a pointed look. “Are you staying at Theo’s?”

“Maybe,” I shrugged. “I mean, Travis will probably feel better sleeping in his own bed.”

“And you’re going to sleep, where?” she let her voice trail off, eyes wide. A shit eating grin on her face as I glared at her. “Indie, maybe things aren’t-”

“He’s not the same boy I knew, Nia. And could just stop being all happy and glowing? You and Jax don’t have to remind the rest of us about how much sex we’re not having.” Deflection was my favorite ally, and when it held an element of truth, even better.

Because ever since the damn holidays, Nia and Jaxon Hunter had been worse than two horny teenagers.

Just yesterday, I walked in on them in the office, making out like two teenagers.

Or maybe borderline exhibitionism time, cause, phew.

Thank God for away games unless nowhere would be safe.

Nia shrugged and straightened her necklace and smoothed the skirt of her dress.

“Maybe you should try it. Not that battery operated assistance isn’t worth-”

I snorted. “Trust me, if I found someone who could make the world spin better than Mr. Purple, I’d jump on it.

But unfortunately, most guys can’t find a clit without an explicit map and extra hand.

And then, they lose their way unless you yell constant guidance, like a damn GPS.

Less let down and disappointment with a solo session.

” I put up my hand when she opened her mouth.

“Present company’s dick,” she gasped in mock horror, “excluded. If you and Eden would stop snatching up all the good ones, the rest of us would stand a chance. Until then,” I shrugged, and snuck around her as I tossed over my shoulder. “Have fun sex!!!”

She yelled back at my retreating form, “Keep being delulu, Indie!”

Ten years ago…

“Shit, Indie, when I said go hard, I didn’t mean into the concrete,” Theo winced with a scowl, then squatted down next to me as I fought back tears.

The tiny first aid kit Mom kept by the front door out of habit from when Isaac was little and got into all kinds of scrapes.

My knee looked like a cheese grater attacked me, and I knew if I cried the neighborhood boys would never let me live it down.

My bottom lip trembled, jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

The last thing I wanted Theo to see were tears, because then he’d really think of me as Isaac’s little sister.

He glanced behind him, shooting a death glare at the boys who snickered behind him.

The same ones who dared me to try the stupid trick they were trying. Because Theo and my big brother were sitting on the front steps after practice, I couldn’t back down.

My bike looked fine, which was more than I could say for my knee. I flinched as he used gauze to wipe away the pieces of gravel sticking to the scrapes and cuts. With a grimace, I tried to get up before he could put the really big embarrassing bandage on it. “I can do it-”

Theo shook his head. “But not everyone gets up and tries again if they fail,” he added.

He studied my face, held up the bandage, and canted his head.

“Why do you care what they think? You planning on marrying one of them someday and don’t want them to bring up the time you tried a trick on your bike and had a nasty spill?

” He teased with half a grin, as Isaac went over to the boys and sat down next to them, daring them to say another word.

I snorted. “Absolutely not. I’d rather marry no one than one of them. Even if I’m thirty.”

He quirked a brow. Ran a hand through his dark blond hair, messing it up.

“Thirty, huh?” I let him slap the stupid bandage on my knee and help me up.

“Tell you what, Indra, if you aren’t married by thirty, I’ll marry you.

” Theo hooked his thumb at the boys, still snickering silently, though less than if Isaac hadn’t sat on the curb next to them not.

My big brother eyed them and they instantly froze in place.

“So you can never have to worry about marrying any of those idiots. Deal? Now, go prove them wrong.”

Deal ? I swallowed, and nodded as he nudged me.

Theo was eight years older than me, and at fifteen, there was no way I’d think about marrying anyone until I was at least thirty.

Boys still sucked most of the time. But at least Theo wouldn’t make fun of me the way those idiots did.

Even if he was grumpy most of the time. But I think it was because he took things seriously, unlike those idiots. I lifted my chin.

And nailed the trick, with my big brother and Theo cheering me on.