Page 36 of Rebel Secrets (Devils Hockey #3)

Chapter Twenty-Three

R ebel

Wednesday afternoon after camp, my sister stalked into the room I was using as an office in the arena and shoved the door shut behind her.

I needed to finish these developmental reports for the kids, giving them suggestions for areas they should focus on before their season started. It’d taken me longer than it should have. My mind kept wandering.

I had to give the Redtails my answer next week, and I still wasn’t sure what it was going to be. And if I wasn’t chewing that over, I was thinking about Erin. Namely, about what we’d done the last time she’s been in this building.

I covered a wince at the sound of the door hitting the frame and threw my pencil on the table.

“What the hell did you do to Erin? Her mom shows up in a freaking Town Car, does I-don’t-know-what to upset Erin and then you follow her into the kitchen, and you both disappear for, oh, between five minutes and half an hour, according to certain sources.

Then you walk out, don’t say a word to anyone, and Erin isn’t talking. What gives?”

Good question. Leaning my elbows on the desk, I watched her drop into the chair across from mine and glare at me.

“Hello to you, too.”

Rain’s brows arched. “I’m not kidding, Reb. What’d you say to Erin? She’s been quiet, and that’s not like her.”

Damn it. Yeah, it probably was my fault. She’d sent someone else with the lunches today, and I figured I wouldn’t see her tomorrow either.

What did you expect, asshole? You’d told her she was amazing and walked out the door. Of course, she wasn’t talking. You confused the fuck out of her.

“Your sources tell you her mom is a fricking ice cube? That woman could freeze the balls off a reindeer.”

My sister’s mouth opened and closed twice before she shook her head, amazed at my skill with words, probably. Then she started to laugh. And laugh. She continued for at least half a minute, and I wasn’t sure she was going to stop any time soon. By the time she did, she had to wipe her leaking eyes.

“Oh, my god. What the hell does that even mean? No.” She held up her hand, trying to catch her breath. “Don’t explain. I think I might have a stroke if you do. Just…give me a minute.”

It took her at least another fifteen seconds before she calmed down enough to continue.

“Damn, Reb, you gotta warn a person when you’re going to be funny. It’s not like you. And yeah, I know her mom’s not exactly warm and fuzzy. But I don’t think that’s all she’s upset about. What did you say to her?”

Should I tell her? “Your source didn’t tell you?”

Her nose wrinkled. “No. They weren’t close enough to hear anything.”

I paused for a few seconds. “I told her she shouldn’t let her mom get to her.”

“And…”

“And what?”

“What else did you say?” She enunciated each word perfectly and slowly. “I know that’s not all that happened.”

I paused, considered, and decided fuck it. I wanted to know what Rain had to say. “I told her she was fucking amazing.”

I don’t know what I’d expected Rain to do with that, but it wasn’t grin like the fucking Grinch, and not the three-sizes-too-big Grinch. No, it was the evil Grinch grin, the one who was planning to steal Christmas.

She shrugged. “Okay. You’re not as stupid as I thought you might be.”

I frowned even harder. “What the hell does that mean?”

She looked way too innocent. “I’m not sure what you’re asking?”

This was a trap. I’d already told her more than I should have. And yet…

“You’re a menace.”

“Not the first time you’ve called me that.”

“Won’t be the last.”

“Aw, there’s the grumpy older brother I know and love.” She studied me for a second. “Are you going to take her to that wedding?”

“You’re a pain in my ass.”

She burst out laughing again, nearly doubling over. When she finally got herself under control again, she said, “Rebel, you like her, right?”

Actually, I more than liked Erin, but I wasn’t going to give my sister any more ammunition than she already had. So, I glared her until she calmed down enough to speak again.

“You know I love you,” she shook her head, “but you’re an idiot.”

Now, I glared at her and, when that didn’t work, I sighed and studied the wall behind her.

“I’ve got to finish these reports?—”

“You know you could just ask her out, right?”

Of course I could just ask her out, but…

“What happens if I go back to Reading?”

Her eyes shot wide, and I realized what I’d said.

“What do you mean ‘if’? Are you seriously thinking about turning down the contract? Is everything okay? Did something happen?”

“Everything’s fine. Nothing happened. And would it be the end of the world if I turned down the contract.”

She shook her head. “No, not at all. Sorry, that’s not… I didn’t mean it like…” She huffed out a sigh. “Look, don’t take my head off when I say this, but I never really thought you were going to be a good fit with the Redtails.”

Biting her bottom lip, she looked at me like I was an unarmed land mine that could go off at any time.

Instead, I just shook my head. “Why didn’t you say that before I signed?”

“Oh please. You got what all the guys want. You got asked to play up. They came to you, which meant they think you’re good. Isn’t that what everyone wants? To be recognized for their skill?”

When I didn’t say anything, she heaved a huge, exaggerated sigh.

“Reb, come on. You’re not stupid. You know you’re a damn good player. And if you don’t, maybe you are an idiot.” She pulled a face. “Sometimes you are an idiot. Like this thing with Erin. Dude, we all know something’s going on with the two of you?—”

“What do you mean, ‘we all’?” A pit opened up in my stomach.

“I mean, do you really think people don’t see you two making eyes at each other every time you’re together? Trust me, we do.”

“I’m not making eyes at her.”

“Uh huh. Keep telling yourself that. Just don’t think we don’t see it.”

I bit my tongue, trying not to be that guy, the one who asks the juvenile question.

“I’m not sure she wants to deal with me.”

She looked at the ceiling as if it might agree with her that I was an idiot. “Have you tried asking her?”

She said that like she was speaking to my younger self. The awkward teenager who barely knew how to talk to girls.

I sighed, shaking my head. “I’ve got reports to finish.”

“Fine. I’ll go and leave you to it.” She stood and walked to the door, but I knew I wasn’t getting off that easy. She turned as she opened it. “Don’t be an idiot. And don’t miss out on something that could be amazing just because you don’t think you should want it.”

“Hey Coach, we got something for you.”

It was the last day of camp, and the kids had had a blast scrimmaging against the Devils players who were still in the area for the summer and a few of the parents.

I’d just come off the ice after the handshake line and stood in the home bench as the adults left the ice.

Juli Petrovski stood on the ice, stick across her shoulders and hands on either end. One of the best forwards at camp, the sixteen-year-old grinned, eyes bright, brown ponytail hanging over her shoulder.

I glanced up and saw the kids gathered at center ice.

“What’s up, Pets?”

Juli glanced over her shoulder and nodded toward the media booth above the penalty box on the other side of the ice. Music pumped out of the speakers, this season’s Devils’ theme song, making all the kids grin like demons.

Juli backskated to the group, and I laughed as I realized what they were doing.

I don’t know when they’d managed it, but the kids had learned the Devil’s victory dance.

All of the teams in our league had a dance they performed at the end of every game they won.

Ours was a line dance that involved a little Electric Slide, a little Hustle and something Rainy called “coordinated chaos.”

The kids gave it their all, and honestly, they were a hell of a lot better than the Devils ever had been. The Devils players and the parents crowded into the box with me to watch the kids, shouting encouragement and pumping their fists in the air.

Halfway into the song, Juli came back to the bench, waving at me to join them.

I got a few pats on the back when I didn’t move fast enough, but of course, I wouldn’t turn down these kids. I’d had the best time with them these past two weeks, and I was going to miss seeing them every day.

My blades hit the ice, and the kids cheered as I got in line with them and finished the dance. It’d been a hell of a long time since I’d done this, and the steps didn’t come back as easily as I thought they would. Probably because I was laughing my ass off. And so were the kids.

They circled around me and laughed and sang until the song was over and then they all waved their arms at whoever was in the media booth and the song played again.

This time, the Devils players and the parents hopped on the ice with us.

Even though Ian didn’t exactly know what was going on, he gave it his best shot, grinning like he’d never had so much fun in his life.

Bonesaw had moves, and he and a few of the other kids got pushed into the center of the circle to show off.

I was happy to be back on the outer line, cheering them on. My face hurt from smiling by the time we’d gone through four full songs.

I didn’t realize she was there until a few of the adults started to file off the ice, pleading bad knees, bad backs and general old age, which made the kids laugh even more.

She stood at the doors to the Zamboni entrance, watching through the glass.

Maybe she thought she wouldn’t be seen. Maybe she wasn’t trying to hide but had just stopped on her way out, curious about the music.

Our gazes met and held. And held. Until finally, I told the kids I’d see them after showers.

Skating over to the open gates, I stopped at the boards and said, “You busy tonight?”

Her eyes blinked open wide, and her lips parted. Then she blew out a short breath.