Page 154 of Rookie Rules

"I watched. Your pass was right."

"It missed."

"Those facts can coexist. I have spent my career explaining that to executives."

Luca rolled the ball between his palms.

Theo's expression shifted from attorney to brother. "What else?"

"Nothing."

"You say nothing like it has counsel present."

"Maybe I learned from you."

"You learned evasive charm from our mother. I am merely immune."

Luca smiled despite himself. It did not survive long.

Theo waited.

As children, Theo had been the person who checked the locks when their father traveled and sat outside Luca's bedroom after nightmares without asking Luca to admit he was afraid. Protection, from Theo, had always made space. It had never required Luca to become smaller inside it.

The contrast hurt.

"Have you ever been lonely with someone?" Luca asked.

Theo became very still. "Yes."

Luca looked up.

"That was fast."

"You asked a direct question. I respect the occasion."

"What did you do?"

"Eventually? Left. Before that, I became extremely reasonable and hoped he would notice I was dying of it."

Luca rested his head against the sofa.

"There is a person," Theo said.

"There was."

"Does he work in hockey?"

Luca laughed once. "You make it sound like a diagnosis."

"Hockey culture has spent a century confusing silence with character. I remain skeptical."

"He is not cruel."

"I did not ask."

"He thought he was protecting me."

"Did you feel protected?"