Page 121 of Traded

He leans in to brush his lips against mine. “Aren’t they?”

I wait for him to say something else. Anything else. But he turns and heads for the door. “Come on. You need to eat before we leave. It’s gonna be a long day since we’re not coming home before the game.”

“What’s going on with Carter?”

I catch a flicker of irritation that he smothers as he turns, his hand on the door. “What do you mean?”

My body aches as I haul myself upright. “Youknowwhat I mean. Did anything happen with the team?”

He offers me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Cart is fine. Coach is riding him hard since he found his rhythm again, that’s all. Wants to get the most out of him for playoffs, usual shit. Nothing to worry about.”

But I am worried. “He left early this morning.”

Again. Liam taps on the door, his eagerness to get away from this conversation clear. “Yeah, because he had to go in early to talk to Gabe. There’s no conspiracy here, Ro. We’ve got enough to handle without you seeing things that aren’t there.”

He waits for me to slide off the bed and join him. “Can you talk to Lauren about dinner tomorrow? I know it’s your night, but I’d like you to work on it together.”

I’d forgotten. “What time will they get here?”

“Dad said around seven.” He hesitates. “Look, my family… They're a bit different, Rosie. Keep an open mind, yeah?”

Following him toward the kitchen, I wonder what he means. I stop outside Lauren’s door. It’s open. “Hey.”

“Hi.” She looks up. There’s a box in her hands, and she tilts it to show me the soft toys inside. “Will these work? I’ve never done a toss before.”

“You’re good. How is that possible? They’re a rite of passage.”

She pulls the door closed behind her as she joins me. “They only do them at APHL level in New York, and I moved straight into NPHL when I left college. Feels like I missed out.”

“You did.” Teddy Bear Toss is my favorite event of Blackwater’s regular season. And as far as I can tell, it’s going to be the best damn part of an otherwise shit day. I glance around the kitchen as we enter, but Jonas and Liam don’t even look up, apart from a muttered greeting.

My whole stomach sinks into a whirlpool of nausea. “Seriously?”

Jonas looks up with a smile. “Oh. Morning, Lauren. How’d you sleep?”

Fuck my actual life.

I slam the door on the cupboard hard enough that all the chinaware inside shakes and settle down with my plate. Liam pushes a kiwi onto it without speaking.

A fucking hairy kiwi.

Today of all days. I don’t think so. Holding his gaze, I pick it up and fling it toward the hall, a faint distant thud filling the silence. “Whoops.”

I reach for a cereal box instead. Fruit Loops never let me down.

All three of them are watching me, and I silently dare Liam to push me when I grab the sugar bowl and sprinkle some over my bowl, going back for a second spoonful.

Clearly his sense of self-preservation is intact, because he snaps his mouth shut with an irritated glance at my kiwi-free breakfast and keeps quiet.

“So,” I say cheerily when I’ve eaten at least half. “Lauren. Family dinner tomorrow night.”

She looks up from her tablet, glancing at Liam. “Uh, yeah. It’s your dad’s pack, right?”

“Yeah. I want them to meet you.” He holds her eyes, his voice dropping. “It’s important to me that they get to know my scent match.”

Ew. Barf.I decide not to point out that I’ve never met them. Funny how it doesn’t hurt anymore. A few months ago, I probably would have holed up next to the spattered hairy kiwi and cried a few silent tears.

I seem to be all out of tears right now, though. Especially where Liam and Jonas are involved.