Page 317

“So what's this big thing you wanted to talk about?”

I glance toward the hallway.

Players and equipment staff are moving between rooms. Somebody wheels a cart of water bottles past us.

“Not really a conversation I want to have standing here.”

Declan's smile fades. “Okay.”

“Can we talk after the game? Just you and me.”

He studies me. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah.”

“Bish.”

I take a breath. “It's about Laney.”

His expression changes. Not much. Just enough.

“What about her?”

I could wait. Tell him after the game, when neither of us has a stick in our hands. That would probably be smarter.

But I promised Delaney I wasn't going to keep hiding. And I'm not walking into another conversation with Declan pretending there's nothing to tell.

“We're together.”

He stares at me. For a second, I think he hasn't heard.

Then he laughs. Once.

Sharp and humorless. “That's funny.”

“Dec.”

“Tell me you're joking.”

“I'm not.”

His jaw tightens. “How long?”

I hesitate. “It's been developing for a while.”

“How. Long?”

“Since November.”

He steps back. “November?”

“Yeah.”

“Jesus Christ.”

He runs both hands through his hair. “You've been living with my sister since September.”

“I know.”