Page 13 of He Has It All (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
Chapter 4
Ryan
Driving to Levi’s parents, only a couple of miles away, I enjoy speeding around the curves in the road, watching her stare out the window as if I’m her paid driver, as if I’m some stranger. Maybe I am a stranger. When we get to the oceanfront residential neighborhood, I check out the house I rented, squinting in the moon- and starlit night. But I pull into the driveway next door, Levi’s parents’ house. That’s where he’s staying and he’s expecting us—me.
“Why don’t you come in and say hello to Levi?” Apparently she agrees, because she opens her door and gets out. I follow.Fuck.
Is she the innocent girl I turned away four years ago or is she the jaded Gossip Girl trashing me on air for a living? And why the fuck does it matter? Either way, all I need to do is get through this weekend without touching her, without touching anyone for that matter, and then never see her again—at least not until the next family holiday or occasion because she’s like goddamn family. Slamming the car door behind me, I see her startle and I swear under my breath.
No reason to vilify her just so I can keep my dick under control. Fuck that. All I need to do is keep in mind the vision of her as that nine-year-old girl playing street hockey, beating up all the boys and palling around with Gramps. That’s who she is, no matter what else has been layered on top, no matter what else has happened to her since then.
No matter if what happened to her was me.
Especiallyif it was me who disillusioned her, who took away a chunk of her carefree confidence, made her the kind of girl who settled for the job of Gossip Girl.
She rushes farther ahead of me on the walk to the front door and I catch up to her, take her by the arm, and I have no idea why except that it’s instinct, still the big brother protecting her. She tries to pull away but I don’t let her as I open the door.
“Shouldn’t we ring the bell?” she says as I drag her inside.
“Since when are you reluctant about anything?” I look at her, really wondering what the answer is, really wanting to know where the fearless tomboy went, when Levi calls out and shows up in the foyer. The Browns’ house is far from a modest summer cottage, though that’s how they refer to it. Levi’s dad, Dr. Brown—we call him Doc—has done well for himself in spite of starting out poor. Mrs. Brown doesn’t do too bad either as an interior decorator and artist, though now she’s mostly an artist. Chelsea spins, taking the place in, stopping and staring past Levi to the great room beyond the entry and the walls of glass overlooking the Atlantic.
“Shit.” I hear her say the words under her breath, making me smile.
“About time you got here. Where the fuck you been?” Levi grabs me in a hug like we haven’t seen each other in a while—it’s been a couple of weeks—and I let go of Chelsea to bump a fist on his back.
“Chels, how you doing?” He takes her in a hug and I notice he’s barely taller than she is. His parents join us in the front entry, all smiles.
“Ryan, so glad to see you.” Mrs. Brown gives me her cheek and I kiss her. “Who did you bring for us to meet?” Her eyes light up with mischief as I shake Doc’s hand and he slaps my back.
Levi says, “This is Maggie’s maid of honor, Chelsea Wilde.” He gives me look like I’m an idiot.
“Oh yes, we’ve heard all about you from Maggie,” Mrs. Brown says. “I didn’t realize you were with Ryan—”
“I’m not.”
“She’s not,” I say at the same time as Levi.
Doc booms out a laugh and says, “This is going to be fun.” His wife gives him a disapproving look that does nothing to dissuade his laugh.
“I’m staying with Maggie at the Periwinkle Inn over on North Water Street,” Chelsea says, a slight note of panic in her voice.
“Join us on the back patio for a drink,” Doc says and leads the way. Levi herds me and I take Chelsea’s arm as we follow because I can see her already shaking her head no. I’m not sure why I want her to stay when I can see she’s uncomfortable, but I do. I need to understand what it is about her, about us, that has me restless and at odds. That makes me feel excited and disappointed at the same time.
“Ryan, I should get going,” she says, digging in her heels.
Leaning close to her ear, I say in a low voice, “You can’t drive. You’ve had too much to drink. Stay for a coffee.” I study her face. “Or stay over with me.”
She yanks her arm free of mine and marches forward. “Mrs. Brown, these paintings are gorgeous. Maggs told me about your artwork and showed me photos, but in person they’re stunning.” She sounds sincere, has me convinced that she’s in love with the artwork and we all sit down to drink coffee.
Levi is restless and Doc puts a shot of whiskey in his coffee and his son’s. He goes to add a shot to mine but I put a hand over the cup to stop him.
“Ah, so you’ve been out drinking and I thought you were coming straight to the house,” Dr. Brown says, with a grin. “Let me guess? You wanted to find a last-minute date for the wedding?” He slides his gaze to Chelsea.
“No,” Chelsea says, before I can answer. “He was with me—rescuing me from a mishap. I’d lost my shoe and—”
“So you are together then?” Mrs. Brown says to her, putting a hand up to stop me from saying anything when I would have.
“No, honestly,” Chelsea says, darting me a look. “No such luck. I’m like the kid sister.” That raises brows on all the Browns, including Levi, and I want to shake her, pick her up and carry her to the house I’m renting next door and wring the truth from her, find out what’s in her head, why she hates me and why she wants the likes of me. Why I want her and why I can’t let myself soil her whether she wants me to or not.
