“Looking good, Haley!”

“Keep your stick up, Luca!”

“Lookin’ into the middle, lookin’ into the middle, good lead!”

I skate over to the group of boys waiting and bend at the waist a bit so they can hear me.

“When you pass, try to fool me. Try to look at someone else —“

“And then pass to another guy!” Tyler interrupts me, and I smile.

“Exactly.”

We work on the drills for a bit, and by the time we’re finished, it’s time to wrap up camp for the day. I take off my helmet and stand next to the other guys, while Dane does his end of camp round-up with the kids.

“What do you need to be a good leader?” He leans on his stick and scans the group. “Yeah, Jessie?”

“Sportsmanship.” She grins.

“Definitely. What else? Connor?”

“You gotta be a team player.”

“Heck yeah. Good answers here, guys. One more. Will?”

“Being humble.” The kid nods very seriously, and we all laugh.

“Perfect. Okay everyone, really good work today. See you back here tomorrow, and don’t forget to remind your parents about the cookout this weekend.” We high five the kids as they pass with the other coaches, and follow them off the ice.

Dane and I meet outside the training complex after we shower and head to our cars.

“Dinner tonight?”

“Dropping by mom’s to meet Nico’s friend tonight. You should come with.”

“You trying to intimidate the girl?”

“Boy, actually.” I raise my brows and Dane’s face morphs into surprise.

“Really?”

“Yep. Told us the other week. Way he was acting, thought he was gonna say he’s moving to a cult or something.”

“Shit, well yeah. Must be a cool guy if Nico’s bringing him around Michelle.”

“Yeah, Ma’s not for the weak of heart. Dinner’s at 6.”

“Alright, see you there.”

The minute I start my car, the bluetooth starts ringing and I don’t recognize the number.

I back out of the parking space, still debating whether or not to accept the call.

Oh well.

I accept, turning up the volume.

“Yeah?”

“Harlan.” A husky voice comes over the line and I narrow my eyes, clenching my hands on the steering wheel.

“Delia.”

“You don’t sound happy to hear from me, darlin’.” She laughs and it crawls over my skin in a bad way.

I don’t have a shred of good feeling left for Delia.

Not a single fucking one.

“What do you want?”

“Well see, I might’ve done a bad thing…” She trails off and my heart sinks. Immediately, I feel nauseous. She talks and my blood pressure rises with every word.

By the time she finishes, I’m sitting in my parking garage for I don’t know how long, staring into space.

“I don’t even get a thank you for giving you a heads up?”

I click off the call silently, and numbly dial my agent.

“Cameron, we’ve got a problem.”

* * *

I stand in front of my Ma’s door with my key in hand, trying to mentally shake off my mood before I step inside.

I’m still standing there absentmindedly when Dane claps me on the shoulder.

“You waiting on me? So sweet.”

I force a laugh and unlock the door, stepping inside and calling out. “Ma, you decent?”

“Never!” She yells from the kitchen and I shake my head, leaning against the doorway after I round the corner.

“Michelle.” Dane grins and picks my mom up in a bear hug and I grimace, watching the way she blushes and looks at him like some starstruck teenager after he puts her down.

“Hey, Dane.” She giggles.

GIGGLES.

“I’m not in the market for a step-father, Dane.”

He throws me a grin and pecks my mother on the cheek, making me scowl even more.

“Call me later.” My mom whispers loudly just for my benefit and I gag, then Delia crosses my mind again.

I sober. “Hey, since I have you two here, I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Yes, you can be the flower-boy.” Dane smirks, crossing his big arms and leaning against the counter next to where my mom’s buttering dinner rolls.

When I don’t laugh, he straightens. “What’s going on?”

“I got a call earlier today from D—,” Nico interrupts me and skids to a stop, feigning nonchalance.

“Hey, uh, Ethan’s here.” He clears his throat, smoothing a hand through his dark hair. His hazel-green eyes are a little anxious.

“You don’t seem nervous at all.” Ma remarks, wiping her hands on a dishtowel and untying the apron from around her waist.

“Look at you, playing Step-ford mom for a night.” I whistle. Instead of her usual jeans or coveralls, she’s wearing an actual dress.

I notice now that her normally wild curls have a more uniform look and she’s wearing just a hint of makeup. Damn. Nico must really like this kid.

Nico and my mom leave to go to the door, and Dane helps me set the table.

“Who called you earlier?” He asks quietly, putting down forks.

“Delia.”

“Oh, fuck.” He stops and stares at me, trying to read my face but I shake my head.

“That’s what I said.”

“That bi—woman doesn’t bring anything but bad news.”

“Hindsight is 20/20.” I murmur, putting the bread basket on the table.

“What did she want?”

“To fill me in last that her computer was hacked and that she never deleted the video she made of us, and that it’s among the things that was taken from her drive.”

“Oh shit, well…sex isn’t as taboo these days.” He rubs a hand over his hair, looking as pained as I feel.

“I’m not even as worried about the actual tape, it’s….what we did. It’s not gonna be a good look man. Not at all.” I realize I’m clenching my hand on a fork and I loosen it, looking at the red marks on my hand with a sigh.

Fuck.

“Dane, Harlan.” We turn towards Ma’s voice and see her standing there with flowers in her hand and two slightly red-faced teenagers.

Lord only knows what she said to the poor kids.

I step up, holding my hand out to Ethan, trying not to let my shit show on my face. “I’m Nico’s brother, Harlan. It’s good to finally meet you, I’ve heard good things.”

“Thanks, I’m Ethan. I uh, I’m a big fan.” His grip is strong and sure even though he looks like he’s going to permanently be red for the rest of his life.

“Dane. Nice to meet you.” Dane steps up and shakes his hand too, smiling and I glance at Nico, amused that his eyes are narrowed.

Really likes this kid.

“So formal, we’re really not a formal family, Ethan.” Ma chimes in, moving to the kitchen and pulling down probably the only vase in the entire house.

“Says the woman who’s dressed like she’s about to grace the cover of Home & Garden.” I raise a brow and that actually gets a laugh out of the nervous kid, and my Ma sticks her tongue out. “Alright, let’s dig in.”

Eventually Ethan loosens up, joking with everyone and Nico, and watching the two of them together is a little endearing.

All I care about is that my brother is happy, and he’s lit up with Ethan right now. I share a glance with Ma and she nods her head, winking.

“Cannoli’s for dessert, who’s up for them?” Everyone’s hands fly up next to our heads, and my mom grins. When she walks away, Nico leans close.

“Don’t worry, I switched them out already.” He whispers quickly and Dane and I sigh in relief.

Ethan looks between us, his brow furrowed. “Switched them out?” He questions, keeping his voice low.

“Mom’s cannoli’s suck, but luckily she only makes them very very rarely so we switch them out so she doesn’t know.” I pick up my water when Ma comes back, and she puts a small plates with cannoli on them in front of each of us.

We all pick it up at the same time, taking large bites because we know it’s safe, and Ma’s at the end of the table grinning proudly.

Which is why it’s so hard to hold back my gag.

Ma takes a bite of her cannoli with a smug smile, shaking her head as we all choke and grab our napkins.

“I hid the rest of the good cannoli’s so now you’re stuck with what you’ve been lying to me about for years.” She laughs, eyes sparkling and throughly amused. “Checkmate, you little shits.”