Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(48)

“Why?” I picked up a pair of Bennett’s boxer briefs to fold and Liam rolled his eyes.

“You know why. He treated you like a meaningless whore.”

“Liam,” I said in a scolding tone, “how do you know that?”

“He knocked you up upon meeting you.”

I shook my head. “You want to hear a tough truth? He wanted to leave that night. It was me who persuaded him to come home with me and stay.”

“Just stop right there,” Liam said, cringing. “I don’t want the details.”

“We were both irresponsible that night.”

“Did he know?” There was vulnerability in my brother’s eyes when they met mine. “Did he know that night that you’re my sister?”

“No. I wanted a one-night thing, and to be honest, I wasn’t interested in details like what he did for a living.”

“Jesus, Charlie.” Liam ran a hand through his blond hair. “Do you know how f*cking stupid that was? He could have had any number of STDs.”

“I thought he used a condom.”

Liam jumped up out of the chair. “He didn’t use a f*cking condom? I assumed it broke. This just gets better and better.”

“Look, it was a miscommunication.”

He shook his head. “Stop covering for him.”

“I’m not! And what is your problem with him, anyway? He’s your best friend.”

“We live and travel together. I’ve seen too much. The guy’s never with a woman more than once.”

“He’s been with me more than once.”

He glared at me. “I don’t want to hear it, okay?”

“What? You’d prefer to think I don’t have sex? Aren’t we closer than this? More real with each other?”

“I just don’t want to picture you being one of his many conquests.”

“You’re not being fair to him. He’s been amazing through this whole thing. He’s the kindest, most supportive man I’ve ever been with.”

Liam arched his brows but said nothing.

“You know he’s a good guy. I know you do. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be your best friend.”

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Charlie.” He sank back into the recliner he’d stood up from. “I know Bennett will do right by his kid, but how can I know he’ll do right by you when I haven’t known him to commit to a woman in the two years I’ve known him?”

“We aren’t getting married or anything. Things are still really early with us.”

Liam’s face fell. “He didn’t even ask you to marry him?”

“No! What, just because I’m pregnant? It’s not 1950, Liam.”

“I just want the best for you.”

“I know you do, and I love you for that. I’m happy, Liam. Happier than I’ve been in a really long time. Bennett and I are good and I’m excited about our baby. Please just be happy for me. For both of us.”

He exhaled deeply. “I don’t think I can be happy about this right now.”

“Do you know something I don’t?” My stomach churned nervously as soon as the question was out. “Is Bennett still seeing other women?”

“No. He’d have a lot more than a sprained wrist right now if he was.”

“Just try, okay? Try to see the good in him. There’s so much there.”

“I’ll always be here for you,” Liam said, glossing over my question. “And my niece or nephew, too.”

“I’ll always be here for you, too. But I’ll be deeply disappointed if you don’t stop being so pigheaded. This isn’t about a teammate screwing your sister. It’s about much more now. Try to see that.”

I stood and carried Bennett’s laundry into his bedroom, setting it on his bed. His leather and cologne smell lingered in the room and I felt a pang for him. It would feel so good to sink against his chest right now and feel his arms wrapped around me.

He was sitting out tonight’s Flyers home game, wearing plain clothes in the stands. I was going with him and he was staying at my place after. Hopefully, some time away from Liam would help cool him off.

Bennett was right; I had too few loved ones to be estranged from my brother. This had to blow over, one way or another.





Bennett

The locker room was too quiet tonight. Something was up. And the timing sucked, because after sitting last night out, I was fired up to play hard.

Killian sat down next to me on the bench and started wrapping his stick.

“So. You and Liam’s sister, huh?”

“Yep.”

“I’ve got to admit, you’re the last guy I’d have thought would hook up with a teammate’s sister.”

I sighed heavily. “I didn’t know she was his sister when I slept with her.”

“No shit?”

“No shit.”

He looked up from his stick and grinned. “He failed to mention that part.”

“That’s a real nice dick punch. I’ll have to thank him for that.”

“You know how he is. Ready, fire, aim. He’ll come around.”

I looked around the locker room. No one would make eye contact with me.