Page 126 of Keeping Score

“I—” I started, not knowing what I could possibly say in that moment besides I love you.

But that would be selfish of me. Just like with Liam, I couldn’t rely on empty words anymore. I had to show him I meant it with actions and follow-through.

And before I could do that, I needed to get a grip on my life. I needed to follow through on my promises.

“I have to go to practice soon,” Brody said, offering me a sad smile at all the things unsaid between the two of us. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” I said, but he was already walking up the stairs.

I waited till he rounded the corner before breathing out, “I’ll be seeing you.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Brody

“Can you keep a secret?” I asked Liam early the next morning, watching as his hands worked to brew a pot of coffee.

It was a rare moment of calm before the rest of the house woke up and might be the only chance I got to talk to him without listening ears.

“Can I?” Liam asked, his back still turned to me as he moved through the kitchen. “Or do I want to? Because those are two different answers.”

“Actually, I think they’re the same,” I grumbled, sitting at the counter.

He turned with a glare. “You think I can’t keep a secret?”

“Not anymore,” I agreed. “You tell Cassie everything.”

“Cassie doesn’t count,” he said.

“Why not?”

“Because wives are excluded from vows of secrecy. It’s just a given that you share everything with them.”

“Even if your best friend asks you not to?”

Liam paused, granting me his full attention.

“Just tell me what the deal is, Brody.”

“I’m thinking about moving.”

“Okay—” he said in confusion.

“Back to Michigan,” I clarified.

“Oh.” He said, eyes widening. “Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“Because of Maggie?” he asked, backing up until he was leaning against the sink.

I shrugged. “I just… don’t know what else I’d be here for. I only have a couple good years left in me for hockey, and then what?”

“Have you talked to Maggie about this?” he asked, seemingly skeptical about the entire idea.

“I don’t see why I would,” I said dejectedly. “My life plans don’t really concern her anymore, do they?”

Liam stared, lips tight in the way I knew meant he was holding something back.