Page 104 of Risking the Pucking Defense
“Oh, she was definitely interested in his equipment,” Rett deadpans.
Bea explodes with laughter.
“I knew this was a bad idea,” I sulk.
“Aw, we’re sorry,” Bea says, although her lingering laughter doesn’t make it sound all that sincere. “I’m gonna plate up and you can tell us everything.”
“There isn’t much to tell,” I murmur as I watch them both move around the kitchen with ease. It’s like they’ve been doing it together forever, not just a couple of months.
That familiar knot tightens in my stomach again as Rett reaches for the plates and then pulls the giant lasagna out of the oven so Bea doesn’t have to lift it.
“Here you go. There is more if you need it. I’m still learning hockey player portion control.”
“It looks and smells incredible.”
“I’m trying, but I’m no Freya,” Bea confesses, her lips pinched tight with anxiety.
“You’re a great cook, sweetheart,” Rett tells her, kissing the top of her head as he takes the seat beside her.
“So…” Bea starts. “Tell us how you ended up having seven minutes of heaven in the closet before the game with Hailee.”
“Wow, cutting right to the chase, huh?”
“This has been killing me for twenty-four hours. I can’t wait any longer.”
I glance at Rett, and he has the decency to look at least a little sheepish, but I’m not mad in the slightest. In fact, I think I’d have been more pissed off if he hadn’t immediately run and told Bea.
I think for a moment, trying to come up with a way to put everything that’s happened into a sentence or two, but it’s an impossible task.
And when my lips part to finally say something, every single detail comes rushing from my mouth.
“Bea, please don’t do that,” I beg as she sits there with her bottom lip trembling and tears cascading down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffles, wiping them away with the back of her hand. “I just…you hid behind a plant?”
Out of everything I’ve just told her, that’s what she’s focusing on?
“Y-yeah. I—”
“Why didn’t you message me? I’d have come to get you. Hell, I’d have hidden behind that plant with you just so you weren’t alone.”
I move on instinct, rounding the table and pulling Bea into my arms.
She trembles in my hold, her hand intertwined with Rett’s, and I hold her. He smiles at me, and that one look says everything I need to hear.
I might have lost something so huge this summer that I can’t even begin to process just how much it’s going to affect me going forward, but I also gained something. Bea came into my life just as I needed her, and she’s been the shoulder I’ve needed, the understanding ear that has kept me going more than a few times. She might be Rett’s girl, but she very quickly became one of my very best friends.
“If you’d found him in a tree, then Hailee wouldn’t have found him in the stairwell, and then I might not have caught them getting hot and heavy in the closet. Bro, you know she has a massive office with a huge desk that’s just asking for—”
“Everett,” Bea snaps.
“What? It’s not like I’ve ever thought about making use of it while I’ve sat there and taken a dressing down from the woman in question. Christ, she’s fucking terrifying. Fair play to you, man,” Rett says, lifting his fist for me to bump.
“Don’t be an asshole,” Bea scoffs.
“What? I’m fucking proud. I know you’ve always had a thing for her, but I never thought you’d get a shot. No offense, man.”
“None taken,” I say as I return to my seat after grabbing Bea a packet of tissues. “I wasn’t rating my chances very highly either. I was happy just looking, but well…someone clearly thought I needed a fucking break because…”
