“For the love of everything holy, Billie Rose. I can’t have commentary right now. It’s dangerous.” I picked up my coffee because I needed something to do with my hands. “This is complicated.”
“No kidding,” Sadie said. “Hockey players usually are.”
Taylor snorted. “Especially when fathers are involved.”
I stirred my coffee even though there was nothing in it. “My dad knows what that life looks like. The travel. The injuries. The attention. Being alone when things are hard.” I glanced toward Hunter before I could stop myself. “But Hunter isn’t twenty-three and partying through his first contract. He has Isla. He’s not that guy.”
Billie’s expression softened, which was rare enough to feel alarming.
“You really like him,” she said.
I swallowed. “Yeah.”
Liv leaned forward. “Does he know that?”
“I think so,” I winced.
“Does he like you?” she asked.
I looked at Hunter again. He was staring into his coffee like it had personally wronged him while Max talked beside him. His jaw was tight. His thumb tapped once against the table, then stopped.
“I think he does,” I said.
“Then what’s the problem?” Sadie asked.
I gave her a look.
She smiled. “Right. All of it.”
The food came, which saved me from having to say more. For about three minutes.
Then Billie whispered, “So are you going to see him again?”
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. My head felt like it was spinning. There was a discrepancy between what my heart wanted and what was the right thing to do.
My phone buzzed on the table.
Hunter: Come to my apartment after brunch.
My whole body went hot. I flipped the phone facedown. Big mistake. Everyone at the table noticed.
Billie’s smile spread slowly. “Who was that?”
“No one.” My voice went too high-pitched.
Taylor leaned over. “Was that him?”
“No.” I was such a bad liar.
Liv gasped. “It was him.”
Billie clasped her hands together. “He sexted you at brunch?”
“He did not sext me,” I argued.
“What did he say?” Billie asked.
I looked toward the guys. Hunter was looking at me now, expression unreadable, phone in one hand under the table. I should’ve ignored him. Instead, I texted back.