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I did.
I noticed the past tense when he said it, but Wyatt moved on so quickly that I let him. At the time, I figured he’d tell me whatever there was to tell when he was ready.
Maybe I’m reading too much into it, and the sound had nothing to do with anything. But for the rest of the day, I can’t forget the way he froze.
My dad finds me not long after the family portion starts, his clipboard tucked under one arm as he heads toward me.
“Didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Nice to see you too.”
“You know what I mean.” His attention shifts toward the ice. “Team’s looking sharp this week.”
I follow his gaze and find Wyatt talking to Kai near the boards.
“Larkin especially,” Dad says. “Kid’s been dialed in lately. Best I’ve seen him.”
“Yeah.” I try to keep my voice completely normal. “He looked good.”
Dad nods, apparently satisfied, and it strikes me how easy that was. He talks about Wyatt, I answer, and neither of us hesitates, even though he has absolutely no idea that I slept in Wyatt’s bed last night.
“You headed to the concession stand?”
“I was thinking about it.”
“Get me nachos.”
“With jalapeños?”
“Obviously.”
“But then don’t complain to me when you sweat through your shirt. I know you.”
He laughs, acknowledging that I’m right, then pats my shoulder twice before heading off toward one of the assistants. I watch him go with an uncomfortable little twist in my stomach.
I didn’t lie to him, but it definitely doesn’t feel good to be hiding the truth from him. An important truth, one that would immediately affect him if he knew.
I sigh and get his nachos with the jalapeños on the side, because maybe this will somehow atone for keeping secrets from him.
I carry everything over to Dad. He reaches for his nachos and immediately picks up a chip with an entire jalapeño ring sitting on top.
“Don’t,” I warn, but he puts it into his mouth anyway, chewing vigorously.
Five seconds later, he starts coughing.
Without saying anything, I hand him the soda I bought for him.
“I’m fine,” he says once he can breathe again.
Ava, who’s standing nearby with her and Kai’s daughter, laughs. “Too spicy, Coach?”
Dad shakes his head even though his eyes are watering. “Perfect.”
That gets everyone laughing, including me, and for a while there’s nothing complicated about any of it.
Dad is eating nachos he can’t handle, Riley is beside me, kids are running around everywhere, and nobody seems particularly interested in the fact that I’m Coach Brennan’s daughter.
I’m just here with everyone else.