Page 8

Chapter eight

Evie

KAI: I’m outside

I pocket my phone, bend down to scratch Ruthie under the chin, then grab my purse before heading out the door.

At least once a month, Kai and I go out for dinner. We’ve always been close, for all that he’s my brother, and therefore, an expert at driving me nuts. I love the weirdo, and being close to him was such a huge reason behind me choosing British Columbia for my graduate program.

Outside, the sun is beating down on the pavement. The city is full of sounds, sights, and smells, and I can’t help but smile at the vibrancy of it all.

“Gigi! Let’s go!”

That smile turns into a scowl at Kai’s shout through the open passenger window. I fold myself into his ridiculously low sports car. “Calm down, it’s not like we’re going to be late.”

He peels away from the curb before answering. “Did you just spend four hours doing grueling training drills? Hmm? Didn’t think so. Don’t get between me and my food.”

I roll my eyes at his griping, even though he’s got a valid point. Kai, and Rhett, too, it seems, are perpetually hungry. It’s like every time I see Rhett, he’s grabbing another protein shake or eating another meal of chicken and veggies. I know from being around Kai that the players eat relatively well, but every now and then, they indulge.

And for Kai, there’s no better indulgence than all-you-can-eat sushi and Korean barbecue. A strange choice for someone with Japanese heritage who’s used to top-quality Japanese food made by our grandmother, but whatever. Even I can’t resist the allure of endless short ribs.

A short drive later, we’re walking into our favourite restaurant and being shown to a small booth.

As soon as we’re seated, Kai leans forward and fixes me with a stare. “Alright, spill. What’s the tea on living with Darling.”

I’ve just taken a sip of water when he asks, and it goes down the wrong pipe, making me cough and sputter.

“You okay?” he asks, his face full of concern. Once my eyes stop watering and I stop choking, I manage to nod.

“Yeah, fine, just went down the wrong way,” I rasp. Then, clearing my throat, I ask nervously, “What do you mean, tea?”

Kai settles back and waves his hand. “You know, gossip. Dirt that I can use to give him shit in the locker room. I haven’t lived with the guy in years. For all I know, he clips his toenails in the bathroom sink or leaves dirty clothes everywhere.”

“Right, because you were the picture of cleanliness when we lived together,” I respond drily. “Pretty sure I recall coming across stinky sports uniforms and worn jocks more than once in our shared bathroom. ”

“Whatever, I was a kid. That’s different.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Still gross. But for what it’s worth, Rhett’s been a great roommate.” And he basically saw my boobs yesterday.

I keep that last bit to myself, obviously. And then I’m saved from saying anything more by the arrival of a server. Kai rattles off our usual order, and before he can grill me anymore on living with his best friend, I change the subject.

“Mom called yesterday. When did you last talk to her?”

Ah, there it is, the flash of guilt I always manage to get out of Kai when I mention talking to our parents. It’s the easiest, foolproof way to get the heat off me when he’s giving me a hard time.

“We were just on an away series,” he mumbles, and I arch my brow at him.

“Mm-hmm, and does your phone stop working when you leave Vancouver?”

He lifts his straw to his lips, with half the paper wrapper still on, and blows it in my direction. I bat the paper away with a scowl. “Grow up, Kai.”

His shoulders lift in a carefree shrug.

“So how many times did Mom ask about your inhalers?”

Great, somehow he’s managed to shift the conversation back to me.

“Only once, thank you very much,” I say primly. “She trusts me to be a grown-up and manage my own health.”

“Did you tell her about the cold you had over spring break?” he asks pointedly, and I wince.

“There was nothing to tell. ”

“Oh, so I wasn’t at your place dropping off an emergency Ventolin refill? Huh, must have dreamed that.”

“I could’ve had the pharmacy deliver it,” I grumble back. At his sound of consternation, I make myself look up. “You know I’m grateful you were home. Especially with Carlee out of town.”

The truth is, that was one time I did need my big brother. A simple cold virus can turn ugly for me. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I need my inhalers and medications quickly. And with my roommate away, discovering I had somehow forgotten to refill my prescription and was out of one of my inhalers was an added level of stress I didn’t need when I was already feeling gross. The last thing I wanted was to spend spring break in the hospital.

“Either way, there’s no need for Mom and Dad to know. They’d just worry, and I’m fine . You know perfectly well that’s the only time I’ve ever run out of my prescription.”

Kai’s face softens in understanding. “I know, Gigi. You’re good at managing your asthma now. But it’s not so easy to forget the little girl that I used to visit in the hospital with fucking oxygen tubes in her nose.”

I muster a small smile. “I get it.”

Our food arrives and serves as the perfect reason to move on from the rather depressing subject of my health history. I know my brother loves me and means well when he hovers or worries. That doesn’t mean I don’t wish he — and the rest of my family — would dial it back a bit.

Eventually, we’re pulling up outside of Rhett’s apartment.

“Are you coming up?” I ask as I unbuckle my seat belt. Kai looks at the clock on his dashboard and turns his lips down in a pout.

“Nah, I should go home. We’re heading out early tomorrow for the next series. But you’re coming to our next home game, right?”

“Of course.” I smile, then lean over to give him a hug. “Thanks for dinner. Next time, you let me pay.”

Kai just rolls his eyes, the same way he does every time I try to pay the bill for our dinner. “Yeah, whatever. Night, sis.”

I enter the apartment quietly, in case Rhett has already turned in for the night. But he’s not only awake, he’s once again shirtless.

“Oh. Hi,” I say, coming to a stop just inside the door. Because not only is he shirtless, but his lower body is covered only in a towel, and droplets of water are running down from his wet hair.

“Shit, sorry,” he says, apparently just as surprised to see me as I am to see him like this. “I didn’t think you’d be home already.”

Don’t look down, Evie. Don’t look down.

“Kai wanted to get to bed early, travel day tomorrow,” I say, then cringe. “But you know that, of course.”

“Uh, yeah. I was just grabbing some water, then I’m headin’ to bed myself.” Rhett nods his head toward the kitchen. “Sorry about this.” He gestures at himself, and dang it.

I look down.

Then immediately back up, hoping my cheeks are not flaming red. Because while he might be holding that towel tightly so it doesn’t fall down, the side effect is that it’s tight enough around his hips to make a certain bulge very noticeable .

“No problem, it’s your apartment you should be allowed to wear whatever you want. Or not wear.” I say.

Oh God, kill me now .

“Have a good trip.” I fly down the hall, into my bedroom, sinking to the floor as soon as the door closes. It’s only then I realize something’s missing.

Taking a deep breath, I crack open my door, keeping my eyes cast down to the floor. “Hey Rhett, where’s Ruthie?”

“Ah, about that.”

Why does he sound guilty…

He walks past, still wearing that damn towel, and I’m treated to a view of his backside. And what a view it is.

Stopping at the door to his room, he gestures for me to come over. Swallowing down my whimper at moving any closer to his half-naked body, I step just close enough to be able to peek around the corner of his door.

And spy my puppy sprawled out across his bed, her head on one of his pillows, fast asleep.

“Oh.”

He chuckles. “She snuck in during my shower and passed out, I guess. I don’t mind keeping her tonight.”

“You can’t do that,” I protest. “You’ve got to be up early tomorrow. You need to sleep.”

Rhett shrugs and looks surprisingly bashful. “It’s okay, I always wake up when you get up with her anyway.”

“You do?”

He lifts his gaze to meet mine. “I do. It’s the middle of the night; I just want to know you make it back inside okay.”

Do not melt into a puddle of goo. Do not melt into a puddle of goo.

“That’s…sweet of you. Thank you.”

We share a smile, then Rhett moves farther into his room. “Anyway. She can stay here if you don’t want to wake sleeping beauty. Maybe you’ll get a good night sleep.”

“Alright. I mean, I guess that’s fine, if you’re sure.” I twist my hands together. I should take his offer and go back to my room for a night of hopefully uninterrupted rest. But I’m also reluctant to walk away from the peaceful, almost intimate moment we just shared.

Rhett looking out for me when I take Ruthie out at night doesn’t feel the same as when my siblings or my parents pull that sort of protective nonsense. No, this makes me feel safe, and in a small way, cherished.

Which is probably not a great way to feel about a man who’s doing nothing more than being considerate and polite. Heck, for all I know, he’s just doing what he thinks Kai would want him to do, acting like a big brother again.

That ruins the moment.

“Okay. Good night. And good luck on your trip.” I turn on my feet and go quickly back to my room, closing the door and flopping face-first down on the bed.

I’m jealous.

Of my puppy.