Rush: The Season (Austin Arrows Book 1)(131)

Okay, that isn’t entirely true. I’m here, but these kids are making me smile, not the other way around. I had to do something to clear my head, something to get my mind off Ellie and Bianca. I even stayed at practice longer than usual but finally gave up on that.

“Will you be back on Wednesday?” Willy asks.

“I’ll do my best, buddy.”

“Cool. Maybe we can have a rematch.”

“I’d like that.”

Figuring I should make my exit on that note, I get to my feet, say good-bye to the kids, make sure the nurses are aware that I’m finally leaving, and head out to my truck.

I’ve got nothing to do for the rest of the day, so I figure I might as well head home. Take a shower. Maybe cook up some dinner. And after that, if I’m lucky, I’ll be tired enough to sleep.



It’s a little after seven when a knock sounds at my front door. I peer up from my spot on the couch. I’m not expecting company, so it catches me off guard. Another knock tells me the visitor is impatient, so I get to my feet and pad across the living room to the door. Without bothering to check the security hole, I pull it open to find Spencer standing on my front porch.

He lifts his hand to show he’s carrying a six-pack of Sam Adams. I step back out of the way and let him inside.

“Is there a problem?” I ask, confused by his appearance at my house.

Not that he hasn’t shown up unannounced before, but it’s rare these days. Ever since I entered into the agreement with Ellie, my friendship with Spencer has been on the back burner. While he used to come over once a week, now it’s more like once a month.

“Wanted to talk.”

“Oh, yeah? You get your regular dose of estrogen today?” I joke, staring at his back as he makes his way to the living room.

“Sit down and shut up,” he grumbles, his smile completely absent.

I sit down and shut up because I don’t have anything else to say.

He passes over a beer, grabs one for himself, then takes a seat on the couch, propping his big-ass feet on my coffee table. “How’re things with you and Ellie?”

There’s something in his tone that tells me he already knows the answer to that question.

“Fine.” It’s a lie, but again, I’m at a loss for words.

“Really?” He doesn’t sound convinced. “That’s exactly what she said. In that same defeated tone, in fact.”

I roll my eyes and take a long pull on my beer.

“I don’t like to be the mediator,” he tells me.

“Is that what you call this?” I motion toward the space between us. “I thought it was you sticking your nose in other people’s business.”

Spencer’s eyebrow quirks and he continues to stare at me as though weighing his words. I have no idea what prompted him to stop by, but obviously it has something to do with his sister. And apparently me, as well.

“Have you had the chance to meet James yet?” Spencer prompts.

I shake my head.

“What do you know about him?”

I frown. “I don’t know anything about him.”

“So, after all this time that he’s been coming around, talking to my sister, meeting my niece, you know nothing about him? Yet you say all is fine with you and Ellie?”

I don’t bother to answer because I know he just set me up. Fucker.

“However, I know that you were aware that Bianca was trying to find him.”

“Those are old headlines, bro. Is that why you’re here?” I can’t hide the frustration in my tone. “To bitch me out because of that?”

“Would it make a difference?”

“A difference for what?” Again, Spencer has my head spinning. I have no idea which direction he’s trying to go here. I feel my anger start a slow burn in my gut, but I take a deep breath and exhale slowly. “I thought she knew.”

It’s Spencer’s turn to look shocked.

“She told me she monitors Bianca’s social media. I figured that meant she was aware of it.”

“Well, hell.” Spencer drops his feet and leans forward, his elbows on his knees. “So, why didn’t you bring it up in passing? You know, ‘hey, saw you and Bianca are looking for her dad. How’s that going?’”

“If she wanted me to know, she would’ve told me.”

“But she didn’t know.”

I roll my eyes. “I know that now. Besides, what Ellie does isn’t my business.”

“Why wouldn’t it be? You care about her, right?”

I don’t know what to say to that. Although Spencer’s my friend, I don’t care to share what’s going on with me and Ellie. Not with him, not with anyone.

“Or is this still just an arrangement for you?” he snarls. “’Cause if you tell me that’s the case, I’m gonna punch you in the face.”

It becomes very clear to me that Ellie hasn’t told him about our breakup. I figure I have to go along with it. “Of course it’s not,” I counter hotly. “It’s never been an arrangement to me.”

That seems to pacify him momentarily, because Spencer leans back and gets comfortable again. We’re both quiet for a few minutes, drinking beer and listening to the ceiling fan turn above us.