A Little Secret (The Little Things #4)

Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

GRIFFIN

“ G ame Night?” Reeves suggests, shifting his attention from me to Ev as he slides his T-shirt on in the locker room. “You in?”

Everett smiles, then looks down at the ground. “Yeah, yeah, I think we’re in. Let me talk to Raine and make sure she’s good with it.”

“Yes.” Reeves pumps his fist into the air, cups his hands around his mouth, and yells, “Game Night at our place! See you there!”

Our teammates cheer, more than ready to replay the game with our friends and celebrate tonight’s win. Coach gives us a congratulatory speech, and we jump in the showers and get dressed. There’s always a high in the locker room after a good game. And a buzzer beater like tonight? It has us even higher than usual.

Or at least, most of us. I’m too lost in my own head to enjoy it. Pulling my phone from my locker, I check the screen for any messages from Uncle Henry or Finley or even the Lions’ GM, but there isn’t anything.

“Good game tonight,” Ev says .

Tucking my phone into my pocket, I clear my throat. “Yeah, man. You, too. Look, uh…”

“Let me ride the high, yeah?” he interrupts. “I know shit is messy with…everything, but I could use my best friend right now.”

I hesitate. “What is it?”

“Do you know what tonight means?”

“What?” I ask.

“It means…” His smile stretches, and he tips his head back, yelling, “Fuck, yeah!” Turning back to me, he explains, “I wanted to tell you, but, uh, after shit went down at the house, I didn’t know what to say.”

“Ev—”

“Let me finish.” With a laugh, he scratches his jaw, shaking his head like he’s in disbelief. “Did you hear the Lions’ GM was in the stands?”

I nod, unable to look him in the eye.

“Yeah, well, I asked Uncle Henry if, uh, if they’d be interested in trading with the Rockets for me, and after tonight’s win?” I catch his grin in my periphery. “Let’s just say I think it looks good.”

Fuck.

Unease floods my veins as I stare at my gloves hanging in my locker. “I heard.”

“And?” He shoves my shoulder, forcing my attention back to him. “Come on. I know we have our shit, but I thought you’d be happy for me.”

“Look.” I sigh. “You’re not the only one who, uh, who thought it might be a good idea to stay in Lockwood Heights.”

He frowns. “What are you saying?”

Fuck!

My hands tighten into fists at my sides as I fight to find the right words, knowing there aren’t any. “I, uh, I wanted to tell you before the game, but you wouldn’t listen.”

Moving closer, he demands, “What did you do?”

“After I found out about the baby, I knew I had to do…something, so I…”

“What did you do, Griff?” he growls.

Sensing the shift in the air, the teammates start filing out of the locker room, grabbing their shit and getting the hell out of dodge. Part of me wishes I could do the same. The other part? Well, I’m pretty sure this conversation is long overdue.

Facing Ev, I force out, “I asked Uncle Henry if he’d be willing to trade for me, but I didn’t know you reached out to him, too, all right? I didn’t know until I’d already asked.”

“And you didn’t back off?” he challenges.

“Your sister is pregnant.”

“Raine’s entire family is here.”

My head falls forward. “I know.”

“Her nieces, her nephews, her parents, let alone her job.”

“I know,” I repeat, lifting my head and holding his gaze. “And if the circumstances were different, I would’ve kept my head down, but?—”

Teeth grinding, he slams the locker closed and leans against it, staring blankly in front of him. “Did he make a decision?”

“Uncle Henry?”

Everett gives me a jerky nod, but refuses to look at me.

“Not yet. Or at least, not that I know of,” I clarify. “You kicked ass on the ice tonight, though. And if you make the team, you know I’ll be happy for you, but…” I scrub my face from forehead to chin. “But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t sit by and not try for the spot, too. ”

“Of course, you couldn’t.” He scoffs. “When did you ask him?”

“As soon as I found out Finley’s pregnancy was high-risk.”

Turning to me, his expression falls, his frustration melting into concern. “What do you mean, high-risk?”

The memory of the doctor’s appointment floods to the surface and leaves me queasy, reminding me how helpless I really am. “The doctor wants to keep a close eye on her and the baby.”

“Are they okay?” he demands.

“So far, so good,” I answer vaguely. “But it’s still early, and I couldn’t not do something, man. I’m sorry, though. I feel like shit.”

He closes his eyes, his defeat matching my own. It swirls around us. Ruining the high from tonight’s win and leaving me hollow as I stare at my best friend.

“I’ll pull my name,” he decides.

“Ev—”

“Don’t,” he grumbles. “Tell Fin I love her. I gotta make a call.”

“Ev,” I repeat, but he doesn’t listen. He only walks away.