Page 31 of Blue Line

“Not a whole lot I can do. Maybe one day I’ll meet more relatives, but until that time, I’ll have to assume there’s no one else. Maybe my grandfather was an only child too.”

I go back to eating my food, thinking about what he said. I can’t imagine being all alone in the world, with no family. I mean, technically, he’s got my brother and the other guys as pseudo brothers, but I’m sure it’s not the same thing.

“Are you almost ready to go over to Holt’s?” he asks a few minutes later.

I shove the last bite of toast into my mouth, chewing and swallowing before getting to my feet and rinsing my plate and cup out.

“Give me a few minutes to change into going-out clothes.”

“I’m going to change too.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder toward his bedroom, and I nod, staring down at the ring sitting on my finger.

Why does it feel as if things with Weston just got a whole lot more complicated?

Chapter twelve

Wes

After my conversation with Hadley this morning, where I told her way more than I had planned to about my family, or lack thereof, I really need this workout. Not only has it been a few days since I hit the gym, but there’s been all the travel and the changes to my life, or at least temporary changes, so a workout to burn off some of my energy and anxiety is just what I need. I put my Jeep into park and grab my phone from its spot in the cupholder to see a text message from Hunter he sent while I was driving.

Hunt: Climbing into my truck. Be there shortly.

I text back a thumbs up and let him know I’m at the arena, grab my bag and water bottle, and head inside.

“Hey, Wes. Just the guy I was looking for,” Sutton, the head of PR, says as I turn the corner near the locker room.

I barely hold back my groan. It’s not that I don’t like, Sutton because I do. She’s great. I just have this sneaky suspicion that I know what she wants to talk about, and I was hoping to avoid this discussion.

“Hey. What’s up?”

She shoves her hands into the pockets of her jeans and rocks back on her heels, surveying me. “I heard a rumor. A wild and crazy rumor, and I wanted to ask you about it.”

“Go ahead.” Here we go. This will be an interesting test to see if she buys what Hadley and I are selling.

“I heard you were engaged.”

“Yep,” I tell her, popping the p.

“To Hadley Abbott. Holt’s sister.”

“What about Hadley?” Hunter asks from behind me.

Man, he got here fast.

“I was just asking our boy here if the rumor that he’s engaged to Hadley is true,” Sutton tells Hunter.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see his mouth fall open.

“So are you?” Sutton asks again.

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry, you’re what?” Hunter asks. “How long have you been dating? Why didn’t we know? Does Holt know? Why didn’t he say anything?”

I put up a hand, silencing my best friend. “One question at a time. Of course Holt knows.” I shrug. “It just kind of happened.” Not a lie. “We didn’t know where things were going at first, and with everything going on last season with Holt and Hazel …”

“Well, this is an interesting turn of events.” Sutton grins at me. “Congrats. I’m happy for y’all.”

“Thanks,” I tell her, relieved she just seems to be accepting the story.