of adding a speaker, but then the event becomes less normalized, if that makes sense.” He blew out a breath. “While attitudes toward LGBTQ kids have come a long way, this would be another avenue to show support.”
“Sam. That is a grand idea.” I grinned. “And I’m not just saying that because you’re saving me from being bachelor number two.”
“You really think so? I mean, I was worried you’d think I was creating a personal platform—”
“Which you are, but not in a bad way. This is how community outreach is supposed to work—funding great ideas, promoting them and getting involved.” I rubbed my hands together. “Turn on the answering service and come into my office so we can get this started.”
* * *
* * *
The last place I wanted to go at nine P.M. on a Monday was Lakeside, the ice rink Jax owned. But he’d left the paperwork for renting the bowling alley for my LCCO project on his desk and I needed physical proof to turn in tomorrow morning that I actually had an event lined up.
I timed it so I could briefly pop into Jax’s office, grab the envelope and go, since Margene, the rink manager, usually closed up on Mondays.
But Margene’s car wasn’t parked up front. Instead I saw Gabi’s Toyota Tundra.
Gabi—“the” Gabriella Welk, Olympic athlete, superstar women’s pro hockey player—who coached at Lakeside. The woman I’d (mistakenly) accused of having a crush on my brother, which turned out to be totally untrue, which made me look like a complete dick.
Unsurprisingly, I wasn’t Gabi’s favorite person. She called me Mr. Fancy Pants. If there weren’t students around, she’d slip up and call me dickhead.
I, in turn, called her by her full name—Gabriella. I knew it annoyed her, but hey, it was her name.
As I sat in my car, debating on whether to just go home and stop back in the morning, another vehicle zipped past me and parked near the front entrance. A guy jumped out and strode into the building.
Although I’d never officially met him, I recognized him as Gabriella’s boyfriend. His appearance would distract her, so while they played grab-ass or whatever, I’d sneak in, get what I needed and get out.
As soon as I walked in, I knew there’d be no quick grab and go. An angry voice echoed down the hallway, from her office, which I’d have to walk past to reach Jax’s office.
Her tone immediately put me on alert when she yelled, “Jesus. You scared the piss out of me.”
I could see his shadow, just inside the doorway. He said, “I need to talk to you.”
“And you think now is a good time? Dammit, Tyson. You can’t just show up where I work—”
“You’ve left me no choice but to track you down since you’re not returning my calls.”
“Because I’m busy.”
“It’s an excuse. Avoidance. Whatever. This can’t go on any longer.”
Not good. I didn’t want to listen in on what sounded like a serious conversation, but Gabriella was here alone with her pissed-off boyfriend and I wouldn’t let her fend for herself.
“Fine. Spit it out,” she retorted.
“I’m in love with your sister,” he blurted. “We didn’t mean for it to happen, it just did.”
Silence.
“Say something,” Tyson demanded.
“If you and Dani are in love, why isn’t she here with you right now sharing the happy news?”
“Because she’s scared of you, Gabi.”
“She should be. How long have the two of you been sneaking around behind my back?”
“It’s not like that,” Tyson protested.
“Oh, so you two aren’t currently fucking?”
“For your information, no, she and I haven’t been together like that.”
She laughed. “Then how could you possibly know if it’s love?”
Ooh. Good one, Gabriella.
“Because it is love. Just because you don’t understand it—”
“Omigod, spare me! If you say something lame like your love transcends intimacy”—she snorted—“I swear I will brain you with my goddamned hockey stick.”
That one was even better.
“We haven’t been intimate because we knew it would hurt you. This is a screwed-up situation, but the last thing either Dani or I want to do is cause you any pain, Gabi.” A pause. “You introduced us, for god’s sake.”
“This is why I don’t do nice things. They always come back to kick me in the ass,” she retorted.
Another pause.
“Will you knock off the sarcasm for one minute and listen to me?” Tyson asked.
“Fine. Say what you need to.”
“Things haven’t been great between you and me for a while.”
“You aren’t seriously thinking about blaming me for the fact you’re lusting after my little sister, are you?”