Page 33 of Blue Line

I chuckle, pointing at him. “But you’ll be a dad soon.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead.

“It’s Coach. Or Brody in the off-season. At this point, I’ll even accept Brod, but not fucking Daddy,” he says through gritted teeth.

I hold up my hands as if in surrender. “Okay, fine, I won’t call you Daddy. But I am shocked to see you here since Aubs is due so soon.”

He runs a hand through his hair. “She threw me out of the house.” I bark out a laugh. “Maybe threw is too strong a word. She told me to get the fuck out of her hair for a few hours.” He shakes his head, pointing at me. “But don’t tell her I told you that.”

“I won’t.”

“So, we’re planning the baby shower for …”

“Don’t,” he hisses. “I told you all, no baby shower. We don’t need anything.”

“But—” We’ve been having this argument since they told us they were pregnant.

“No.”

I blow out a breath, shoulders slumping. “Fine. But we want to celebrate the two of you. My gift is on its way.” I make a mental note to order them something when I get home, since I haven’t actually done so. I meant to, but other things got in the way. Like my fake engagement.

He raises a brow at me. “You just want an excuse to eat sweets.”

I snort. He smirks. Fucker’s got me.

“I heard a crazy rumor about you,” he says.

I groan, shaking my head.

“What’s going on? Because it feels a little off. Sutton said it’s true, but I don’t know. Something seems strange. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s weird you and Hadley are together, but it is weird that none of us knew.”

“It’s fake,” I blurt out and then clamp a hand over my mouth, glancing around to make sure there’s no one else on the ice.

Shit, I shouldn’t have said that, but if anyone will understand, it’s him. Brody starts laughing, like full-on belly laughing, a sound I’ve never heard from him before.

“You are so screwed,” he says through his laughter. “So very screwed.”

I stare at him.

“Oh, come on.” He scoffs, finally composing himself. “That’s how Aubs and I started out, well, as fake boyfriend and girlfriend, and you know how we ended.” He holds up his left hand, wiggling his ring finger so his wedding band catches the light.

A pang of sadness washes through me that he’s married to the love of his life, and I’m in a fake relationship. I push the thought away. No time to feel sorry for myself.

“There’s no way we’re going to end up like the two of you. You two were destined for one another. Hadley and I … are not. I’ll be surprised if we pull this off.”

He frowns. “Why are you doing it?”

“This stays between us. The only other people who know are Holt, Becca, and Hadley’s parents.”

“Of course.”

I give him the short version of events. “I was trying to help Hadley out. Then it got leaked, and companies started knocking. I probably should have come clean to John.”

“Are you sure those are the only reasons why?”

He smirks at me. The man fucking smirks, and if he wasn’t one of my best friends and my coach, I probably would check him into the boards.

“Brody,” I warn.