Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
“I should have come to see you sooner.”
She waves the comment away. “You were busy wooing your future wife.”
“I’m so in love with her.”
“Have you told her yet?”
I glance up from my cards. They’re shit.
“Phillip.” She puts two cards in her crib and gives me her full attention. “What the hell are you waiting for?”
“The right time,” I mumble.
“Is that the same reason you didn’t tell her about the ex-wife?”
I purse my lips and play a six.
“Fifteen for two.” She lays a nine. “Stop sabotaging your own future.”
“Twenty-four for two.” I match it with my own nine. “I need to make sure we’re stable before I put it out there.”
She plays a seven and takes two points. “Nut up, bro.”
I almost spray my scotch on the cards. It’s good stuff. “Who taught you that saying?”
“Nate and Essie were here last week. They brought his younger brother. The young Stiles. He has secrets, that one.”
“You think?”
“Oh yeah. Dark cloud over that boy. Looks like he’s afraid of hugs, and also desperately needs one. But really, Phillip, put your big boy pants on and tell her how you feel. If she’s the one for you, she’ll be able to handle all the downs, just give her a chance. And yourself.”
Gurdy beats me three times, not for my lack of trying. I walk her to lunch and hang out with her friends for a bit before I make my way to the Pancake House to meet with Tristan. I know he won’t stay mad at me, but he’s married to my sister, so that means he’ll have to handle her emotions over the secret I’ve been keeping all these years.
He’s already there when I arrive, two beers on the table. He shifts in his seat as I take mine. It’s a practiced move so both our legs fit under the table.
“How’s Rix?” We’ve been messaging, but I haven’t seen her since last night. We don’t have practice until later, which is when I’ll have to face the rest of the team.
“Okay. She’ll be here in about forty-five minutes, but she had to go into the kitchen this morning to get out meals for a few of the guys.” He pushes a beer toward me. “How are you?”
“Wishing I made different choices at the moment.”
Rainbow, our usual server, stops by to take our order. Tristan gets the hungry man, and I order a regular breakfast because my appetite is trash.
He waits until we’re alone before he digs in. “That’s a big secret to hold onto.”
I’ve hurt him. Again. I complicated our relationship when he was traded to Toronto and moved in with me. We’re okay now, but we’ll never be the same. Not just because he’s married to my sister, but because we crossed some lines that can’t be erased. It altered our friendship, and I hope this new revelation doesn’t change it in another irreparable way.
“Telling people meant owning the mistake. She ruined me for a long time.”
He nods slowly. “Did she leave or did you?”
“She did.” I roll the bottle between my hands. I tell him what happened, how it happened, why she decided to leave, and what I gave up to get her out of my life.
“Shit, man.” Tristan drags a hand through his hair and shakes his head. “That’s…she’s a terrible person. I mean, I wasn’t ever really a huge fan in high school, and when you broke up again, I was kind of relieved, but I didn’t realize it had been this serious.”
“I didn’t want it to be the thing I was dealing with at the beginning of my career,” I explain.
“Yeah, man. There’s enough pressure without that noise, too.”
Rainbow drops off our meals. She’s chipper as usual and probably doesn’t concern herself with the hockey gossip.
“This just explains…a lot.” Tristan accordions a slice of bacon into his mouth and chews thoughtfully.
He doesn’t need to elaborate. I already know what a lot encompasses. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Tris.”
“Look, I know you have it coming at you from all sides, and everyone will have feelings and opinions, but we were in different cities for a lot of years before we ended up here. I can’t even be upset that you told Dred because it’s fucking Dred. She’s a damn saint and I’m sure she compelled it out of you over Battleship. Dredging up the past sucks, and you have it done to you often. You’re forgiven, Flip. For whatever you think you’ve done wrong, let it go, okay? We’re good.”
He means it. “I appreciate it, Tris. More than you can know.” Now I just need my sister’s forgiveness. And my parents’, my teammates’, and my coach’s. It’s an upward climb.
Rix slides into the booth next to me like she was summoned. “I’m so glad you’re not dead.”
“Vander Zee might still take me out.” I wrap my arm around my sister. “I’m sorry.”