Page 110 of Cheap Shot

Crawford had made a crack about refueling so they’d have energy later, anyway.

“I don’t need to know what thestuffis.” His sister waved vaguely at him. “And Luke decided to help out today because of Harper?”

“Yeah,” Sebastian said, confused. “What the fuck else would it be?”

“I don’t know. Maybe him having feelings for you?”

Sebastian choked on air. “Feelings for me? You thinkLuke Crawfordhas feelings for me? Oh my God no. I don’t think the manhasfeelings unless they’re about hockey.”

“Well, at this point, you are kind of a part of his hockey playing.”

“Yeah, but not likethat,” Sebastian protested. “Look, this is just both of us blowing off some steam is all.”

“If you say so.”

“I do!”

“So what about Nicky Calhoun? I thought he was your friend.”

“Nickyismy friend.”

“And you don’t feel guilty that you’re fucking the guy who ended his hockey career?” Brie’s voice was filled with disbelief.

“It’s notover,” Sebastian pointed out. “Nicky has been working his way back with the help of his medical team. It could still happen.”

“Okay, fine. Then you’re screwing the guy who injured him so badly it’s takenyearsfor him to get back. And you’reokaywith that?”

“I—I try not to think about it a lot,” Sebastian admitted.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah,realmature, Seb.”

“It’s just a fucking hookup, Brie! Nicky doesn’t need to know.”

“Oh right, because there are no feelings involved, it doesn’t count!”

“Pretty much.”

“Fuck, I wish I could turn my emotions off that way,” she said with a shake of her head.

Sebastian shrugged helplessly. Because he got it. Brie felt everything very deeply and always had. She’d never compartmentalized anything in her life, except maybe pushing away the stress about Harper’s health to do her work.

But Sebastian had always been able to do it.

He didn’t really think it had anything to do with their respective genders either. Hockey had taught him to do that. And sure, there was some of the bullshit fromyearsof playing that he’d undone but notallof it.

And sometimes, being able to keep shit in neat little boxes was a hell of a lot easier than what his sister did. Or at least it seemed that way to him anyway.

“Look,” Brie said. “I’m not gonna tell you what to do, Seb. But this seems like a fuckingterribleidea to me.”

“I am aware.”

“But it’s not going to stop you?”

“Um, no.”

“Fine. Screw around with Luke Crawford and get your heart broken for all I care then!”

“Uhh.” Crawford stood in the kitchen doorway, scratching the back of his head.