Rushing the Goal (Assassins #8)(8)

“Lucy. She’s tall, thin, green eyes, brown hair, and she has permanent resting bitch face. She’ll look pained.” Before Benji could ask why that was, Jayden went on. “Listen, gotta go. Thanks, bro, call me afterward.”

“No problem.” He hung up then, and as he leaned back in the chair, he found that he still wanted to know why Jayden’s sister would look pained. He knew he shouldn’t care. He hadn’t even met the chick, but for some reason, he wanted to know.

What was up with that?





Why was Lucy in a group text with her brothers? She hated group texts, she did, but for some reason, she was in one with her brothers. As each chime of her phone sounded, it only made her realize how much she really hated the ongoing messages.

Jude: Is anyone else weirded out by the fact Mom is getting married again?

Jace: Hey, at least we won’t be married to our sister. Can’t say the same for Jayden.

Jayden: Fuck you, and it is weird. That’s my wife’s dad.

Jace: You might want to get used to calling her your sister-wife.

Jude: Ewwww, Jay is doing his sister! Haha

Jace: Maybe you guys can go on that TLC show? You know, make some money for your unfortunate situation.

Jayden: Get real, how old are we? And the only unfortunate (which by the way, I’m surprised you can spell that) situation is that I’m related to you losers.

Jace: Hey, I wents to skool.

Jayden: Yeah, we can tell.

Lucy: OMG! Leave each other alone and can we not be immature children about this? Just be happy for her and Jayden’s stepdad?

She could have left off that last comment, and maybe that made her as immature as them, but if she was going to deal with this, she was going to do it the only way she knew how. Either with sass or making fun of someone. Because Lucy was far from happy about this, and she was weirded out by the fact her mother was getting married again. Though that was more because, let’s be honest, she could be a jealous, unhappy bitch.

News of their mother’s engagement had run through the family like wildfire. That was the problem with being such a close-knit family who were in each other’s business all the time. They all acted very happy for their mom, and they were, but it was odd. Lucy and her siblings had only known their mom and dad together. Now that their sperm donor, cheating-ass father was out of the picture, it had been only a matter of time before their mom moved on.

It just seemed so soon.

Or maybe that was the jealousy speaking again.

It had been four years since Lucy had gotten divorced, and she hadn’t even had a boyfriend. Mom, though, only two years after a nasty divorce, and she was back on the horse and getting married.

If she gets pregnant, I quit, she thought to herself as she parked the car, her phone going off like mad.

Jayden: Shut up! He’s not my dad! Gross! And I am happy. Just weirded out.

Jude: Yeah, what he said ^^ and technically, he’s all of our stepdad.

Jayden: Shut up, dude, you’re making this worse.

Jace: For real, but Lucy, sounds like someone is guilty cause they aren’t happy for our sweet, amazing mother and our new, gag, dad.

Jayden: Ugh, don’t call him that.

Jude: Coach, his name is Coach.

Lucy: For f*ck’s sake, shut up, of course I am.

Jace: Sure you are. Crazy mom got married before you and she divorced way after you.

Lucy: Wow. Really? You used to be my favorite.

Jude: We were all thinking it, and plus, you’re the only one who hasn’t made a congratulations Facebook post for Mom and Coach. Even Jayden did it, and soon his wife will be his sister.

Jayden: I hate you guys.

Lucy: Since I’m not a child like you *s, I don’t need to blast all over Facebook my happiness for my mother. Y’all know she loves me more, so f*ck off and leave me alone.

When she was answered by them laughing out loud at her, she shoved her phone in her purse before pushing her door open with more force than needed, but man, they just pissed her off. Stupid brothers.

“Dumbasses,” she muttered as she popped the trunk while Angie bounced beside her.

“I get to be the flower girl, right, Momma?”

Sucking in a breath, Lucy smiled. “I’m sure you will be.”

“Yay! Today is, like, the best ever. Grandma is getting married, and I’m playing hockey! Isn’t it the best?”

Not really, but she wouldn’t tell her baby that. “Yes, honey. Come on, we’re kinda late, even though I don’t see Jayden’s car.” Lucy looked around as they made their way into the ice rink, still not seeing her brother’s big truck.

“I wish Jace and Jude were here. I like when I get to play with all three of them.”

“I know, but Jace and Jude will be home for Christmas.” Still looking for Jayden’s truck, Lucy felt an uneasiness settle in her gut as she reached for the door handle. Maybe he parked in the back? Apparently, she was the only one worried about it because Angie was giggling with excitement. As they entered the building and went toward Rink B where they would be practicing, according to the email she received that morning, she kept looking for her brother. Thankfully, the texts had come to a stop. She loved her brothers, really, but they were exhausting.

When her purse vibrated, though, she closed her eyes, figuring she could answer it later. She needed to find Jayden, but she still didn’t see him and that made her anxious. She may have grown up with the sport and loved it, but she sure as hell didn’t know how to get Angie ready to hit the ice. Plus, Angie was looking forward to being with him on the ice.