Page 31 of You’re The One (Saints Hockey #2)

TWENTY-NINE

“I’m sorry I’m late,” a woman I’ve never seen before announces as she bustles into the dining room like she owns the place.

The air changes. Sharp and sudden. Based on the way Dom and his dad both go white, it can only be his mother. And judging by Dom’s stunned expression, there is no way he knew she was coming.

Ryan and Hannah both turn to get a better look.

“Krista?” Charlie says, like he’s seeing a ghost.

Close enough. From what Dom’s told me, this must be the first time he’s seen her in almost a decade. For his dad, I’d guess it’s been even longer.

“My flight was delayed. It was a whole thing.” She waves a hand, already moving toward Charlie. His brow furrows when she wraps her arms around him from behind and kisses his cheek. He doesn’t hug her back.

“It’s so good to see you,” she adds, pulling away.

Dom grips the arms of his chair so tightly the wood creaks.

I slide a hand up his forearm, the muscle taut beneath my touch. It’s enough to ease some of his tension. He exhales, then presses his palms to his thighs.

I hate seeing him like this. I want to take the weight off him, but I don’t know how.

Krista makes her way around the table and pulls Dom into the same embrace she just gave Charlie.

“Dominic…” Her voice is somehow both soft and sticky.

He doesn’t move. Doesn’t respond.

Then I smell it. The sharp, sour sting of alcohol on her breath.

If possible, Dom becomes even more rigid. Krista doesn’t seem bothered by the cold reception. She settles into the empty seat at the end of the table, caddy-corner to him, and reaches across as if expecting him to take her hands. But his hands stay glued to his lap.

“My boy?—”

“Your boy?” he cuts in, a mix of disbelief and anger.

Krista blinks, unfazed. “How’ve you been?”

I rest my hand on the arm of his chair in silent support. He accepts it, pulling mine into his lap and sandwiching it between both of his.

The chef steps in, setting a plate and glass in front of her. She grabs the bottle from the center of the table and pours, the glug of wine painfully loud in the stunned silence.

“You look even better than I remember. I’ve missed you so much?—”

“You’ve missed me?” He huffs a bitter laugh. “That’s rich.”

My eyes flick to Bodhi, who’s stepped out from behind the cameras with an uncertain expression. He gives a small shake of his head, and I can’t tell if it’s a warning or a denial of involvement.

Krista keeps going like her being here is normal. “I’m sorry our schedules haven’t aligned?—”

“For the past eight years—” His knee bounces under the table. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.”

Dom’s chair scrapes loudly against the wood floor as he stands in a rush. His jaw clenches so hard the muscle twitches.

“Honey—” She starts.

Without a word, he walks out of the room. The back door clicks shut, the sound carrying through the silence that’s swallowed the table.

No one moves.

“What was that?” Hannah whispers, her wide eyes darting from the door to Dom’s empty chair.

Ryan keeps watching me like I’m a puzzle he can’t quite figure out. And Charlie hasn’t said anything, still staring at Krista like he’s not convinced she’s actually here.

Krista doesn’t seem to notice, or maybe she just doesn’t care.

She turns to me with a too-bright smile. “And who are you?” As if her son didn’t just flee.

Her deep blue eyes match Dominic’s, but there's a glassy distance in hers I’ve never seen in his.

Before I can answer, Bodhi motions to the crew and the cameras lower. A small mercy.

I half expect them to chase after Dominic, but they don’t. Which tells me Bodhi didn’t know. That production wasn’t in on this. Because if they were, they’d be capitalizing on it. This is TV gold. The fact that they’re not earns them a sliver of my respect.

I hesitate. I could go after Dominic—every part of me wants to—but that would only raise more questions. And someone needs to clean up this mess.

And somehow, I know he’d do the same for me if the roles were reversed.

I stand.

“I’m Mia,” I answer evenly, then tilt my head and let my gaze sweep over her. “But the more important question is, who are you? And why are you here?”

She laughs. “I’m here to see my son, of course.”

“Are you?” I fold my arms. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like he wants nothing to do with you. He just walked out of his own house to get away from you.”

I hope I’m not overstepping. I’m going off what he’s shared, and the fierce protectiveness sweeping through me.

Something in me snaps. All the heat I used to waste on Dom in our worst moments—it's back. But this time it’s for her. For the woman who abandoned him, and now has the audacity to walk in like she’s entitled to be a part of his life.

“You need to leave.”

That finally wipes the smile from her face. Her brows lift, just slightly.

“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” She pushes to her feet, stumbling before catching herself on the back of a chair. “You know nothing about my son.”

Ryan rounds the table and comes to stand beside me, his presence solid at my side.

But it doesn’t deter her. She lets out a brittle laugh, the kind that belongs to a Disney villain. “You must not watch the news. My son can have anyone he wants. Aren’t you, what, one of five?—”

“Four,” I correct, even though that’s beside the point.

How dare she talk about Dom like that? Sure, he has a reputation. But one real conversation is enough to know he’s not exactly proud of it—or the press’s obsession with turning it into his entire personality.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m one of four or one of a hundred,” I snap. “I’m his friend. And you hurt him by showing up here… for what, exactly? Please enlighten us.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is my business.”

Ryan clears his throat, but I don’t dare look at him.

“Listen, Krista?” he starts carefully. “I think Mia’s right. You should leave.”

She scoffs, like we’re the ones being unreasonable.

“Okay.” Bodhi finally steps forward. “Let’s call it. I’ll get you a car, Krista. You’re done here.”

“But—” she protests.

“We agreed to pay for your trip based on what you told us, which was clearly lies. Leave now, or you’ll have to find your own way home.”

That gets her attention. “Can I at least talk to Dominic first?”

“No,” I cut in. “You won’t get help from him.”

I don’t know if that’s true, but I must say it with enough certainty, because she pauses, then lets Bodhi guide her toward the front door, her heels clicking too loudly across the hardwood.

“I look forward to reading about him breaking your heart,” she tosses over her shoulder, just before Bodhi helps her down the brownstone steps.

Funny that it’s the laid-back surfer bro who manages to reason with her. But whatever works. She’s gone.

“I’m so sorry about that,” Charlie apologizes, stepping beside me. “Are you all right?”

It’s clear I won’t be winning any points with Dom’s mom, so all I can hope is that I haven’t burned a bridge with his dad, too.

“I’m okay,” I tell him, and for once, I mostly mean it.

Dealing with other people’s problems is always easier than dealing with my own.

He pulls out his phone, probably to call Dom, but I gently stop him. “He won’t have it,” I explain. “Phones are off-limits with production.”

Charlie frowns. His flight leaves in two hours, but he’s reluctant to go without making sure his son’s okay. I promise I’ll find Dom and have him call from a landline.

He hesitates, then nods. “Seems Dominic has someone else watching out for him. Thank you.”

Ryan orders him a car to the airport then I walk him to the door with a promise to see him soon. I hope that’s true.

Bodhi steps back in long enough to tell me he genuinely had no idea about their history and that they’re heading out. I’m a little surprised he doesn’t try to wrangle me back to the hotel after everything that’s just happened.

He gives the crew and the chef a few clipped instructions and starts ushering everyone out the front door. Before he leaves, he reminds me of the ten a.m. call time.

The door shuts behind him, and I flip the deadbolt.

I turn to head for the back door, intent on finally finding Dom, but Ryan steps into my path.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going? We need to talk. Especially after”—he gestures vaguely toward the front of the house—“all that.”

“Could we do that tomorrow… or never?”

I try to sidestep him, scanning the darkness beyond the glass. I have no idea where Dom went, but I need to make sure he’s okay.

Because he’s my friend. And that’s what friends do.

Ryan shifts in front of me again, blocking my path. “Is there something going on with you two?”

I step sideways, and he mirrors the move like we’re doing some kind of awkward dance.

“What?” My voice pitches up. “Of course not.”

Which, technically, isn’t a lie. One kiss doesn’t equal “something.”

Ryan studies me, his brows drawing together. “Are you sure?”

I’m sure of absolutely nothing. Which, unfortunately, is nothing new for me.

“As much as I’m enjoying this weird game of keep-away,” I snip, “don’t you think you should be more concerned about your best friend?”

“You’re right.” He straightens. “I’ll go find him?—”

“No!” I wince. “I’ve got it. We’re…” What the hell are we? “Friends now,” I settle on. It’s close enough to the truth.

His eyes narrow. “Is that all ?”

I glance away and then back at him. “Let me check on him. And we’ll talk tomorrow. Okay?”

“Will we?”

We’re all supposed to see him tomorrow for the so-called hockey game, the last thing on the Chicago filming schedule. Am I going to talk to him? Sure. Probably.

But what will I say? I’m not exactly known for my emotional honesty.

“Promise.” I hold out my pinky. The universal, sibling oath.

He sighs but hooks his little finger with mine. “All right. We’ll go. I’ll leave the back door unlocked. You’re still crashing at ours tonight, right?”

“Yep. See you later.”

Hannah pulls me into a hug, whispering into my ear, “I’m here if you want to talk.” Then she melts into Ryan’s side.

“I’ll walk you guys out.” I practically herd them toward the door, a hand on each of their shoulders as I guide them out of the house.

I follow Ryan and Hannah’s path across the yard, watching as they slip into the house next door. Their patio light clicks off, and that’s when I notice a faint glow coming from Dominic’s garage.