you and our friendship, and I can understand that you have to go your own way. Just know that I’m here for you. For anything.”
Mia smiled. “I know you are. The WHL franchise is taking up a lot of your time. It’s really important and I’m fully supportive.”
“I hope so, Mia, because there’s a good chance you can get a spot on the team.” At Mia’s demurral, Iz spoke up. “No, hold on. This wouldn’t be nepotism or special treatment. You have to prove yourself like anyone else, maybe even more so because of who you are. If you’d rather try out for another team, I’d understand. But I’d love to have you here in Chicago with us. We love when you’re around. You make our family complete.”
Mia swiped away a tear. “I love being here as well. I miss Mom, but Chicago feels more like home these days.” That might have something to do with six feet and change of Boston Southie currently cooking up a storm, and not just in the kitchen.
“I’m glad you feel that way. So let’s think about the best way to apply your talents on the ice here in Chicago, okay? And I’m glad you’re making more friends here. I think this is going to be a great year for you, Mia.”
The door opened and Gordie Howe came skittering through on his little legs, followed by Cal.
“Wakey, wakey, gorgeous girl. Time for coffee or something more—” He clamped his mouth shut and grimaced when he saw she was on the phone. As he mouthed “sorry,” any hope Mia harbored that he had not been heard by Iz vanished into the ether.
“Who’s that?”
“The … TV?”
“You. Liar. I know that voice. That’s Callum Patrick Foreman!”
She peered up at Cal, who apparently had the middle name Patrick, and let him know with a look that they’d been busted. He put the coffee down on the nightstand and loomed over her.
“Iz, it’s not what you think.”
“Oh, what do I think?”
“We’re just—” She searched for the words, conscious that she had an in-person audience that might be interested in how she labeled their current relationship. “We’re really good friends.”
Cal’s lips curved into a grin. He liked that. He liked that she’d led with the defining thing between them. Their friendship was the one thing she hoped would last in a post-fling world.
“How good?” Iz asked. “Because it’s okay. You’re a grown woman and you can sleep with whoever you like, even if it is a friend and teammate of your brother’s.”
“It’s complicated. I know Vadim wouldn’t like it but—I’m not sure he has to know.” She caught Cal’s expression, the smile no longer there, now replaced with something more practiced.
He sat on the bed and gestured for the phone.
She crimped her brow in query, and he nodded, so she handed over the phone.
“Hey, Isobel. How’s it going?”
He listened for a moment. “Right. So this is our private business, and while I don’t want to put you in the position of having to not share something with Vadim, I’m asking that you honor Mia’s wishes on this.”
He sounded so clear and forthright, not the easy-going cajole she would have expected. During the pause while Isobel responded, Mia watched his face, its focus intense because the words were important. Such a nice face. A face with character. How had she ever assumed otherwise?
“Thanks, I appreciate that. I’ll see you in a couple of hours for practice. Here’s Mia.”
He passed her the phone, then leaned in and kissed her forehead. The sweetness of it made her heart melt.
“Come on, Gordie. Let’s give Mama some space and you some food.” Without another glance back, he led her doggo out and closed the door.
“Hi, it’s Mia again.”
“Well, that’s just gotten more complicated,” Isobel said.
“Okay, I know it’s awkward to have to keep something from your husband.”
“Sure, but that’s not what I’m talking about. By complicated, I mean that guy is crazy about you.”
Her heart skipped several beats. “You got that from two sentences?”
“I could write a manual on how these guys think. Cal seemed very concerned about your specific wishes. I know he’s a nice guy but that’s a level of evolved male I wasn’t expecting. He likes you.”
“Of course he likes me—”
“As in like likes you. So is he any good?”
“Not going to talk about this.” She giggled, feeling unaccountably happy. Cal Foreman like liked her. “And it so happens my wishes that Vadim not know align with Cal’s wishes that Vadim not