Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84114 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I find myself answering honestly. “It’s… different from what I’m used to, but I’m adjusting. The people have been amazing.” I look around the suite. “This invitation is amazing.”
“That’s Pittsburgh for you.” He nods. “And Atlas—I’ve never seen him so over the moon about anything as he is about that little girl. Everyone in the locker room can tell.”
Heat blooms in my chest. “Graycie’s easy to love.”
“Still,” he says with the conviction of a man who’s lived in both locker rooms and nurseries, “it takes a real man to step up. You’ve got a good one in your corner.”
Before my blush can swallow me whole, Brienne cuts in with a knowing smile. “Drake, why don’t you go say hello to the Greens? I’ll steal Maddie for a bit.”
Drake’s eyes glitter with mischief, and he leans in conspiratorially. “That’s Brienne’s code for she wants to talk about girlie stuff with you, so… I’m out of here. I’ll catch up with you two later.”
Drake moves off and now I’m wondering what kind of girlie stuff Brienne would want to discuss. Makeup? Best medicine for period cramps?
She guides me to a high-top table tucked along the side wall, away from the heaviest foot traffic. The arena stretches in front of us, offering a perfect view of the ice below.
Warm-ups are underway. Players streak across the ice with dizzying speed, pucks pinging off boards, music pounding through the rafters. The crowd is already a roar, thousands of purple towels spinning in the air.
Brienne waits until I’ve settled into the tall chair before speaking. Her voice is softer now, intimate. “I’m sorry about your loss. I know Gray meant a lot to you.”
Definitely not discussing makeup and period cramps.
Grief tugs sharp in my chest. “Thank you.”
She nods, her eyes steady. “I lost my brother in the plane crash.”
My eyes widen. I don’t remember reading that and Atlas never said anything. The original Titans team perished in a crash a little over two years ago, and Brienne has rebuilt the organization from the ground up. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t know that.”
She offers a soft smile, one that still holds pain and is a testament that grief never fully goes away. “So I know what it is to lose family suddenly and the need to keep going anyway.”
I swallow, the shared ache knitting a fragile thread between us. “I have to keep going for Grayce.”
“Yes, you do, and Atlas says you’re doing an amazing job. He couldn’t do this without you.”
I shake my head. “I’m finding that I couldn’t do it without Atlas.”
“You’re both building a new life. And different doesn’t mean lesser. Just… different.”
I nod, throat tight.
Brienne’s voice gentles, warm but steady. “Tell me about Gray. What little I know, he and Atlas were childhood friends, but how did you two meet?”
A sneaking suspicion had been growing on me that I was going to really like Brienne Norcross by the end of this evening, but it’s fully confirmed now. No one, other than Atlas, has asked me that question. Not that I blame anyone. Most people focus on me and Grayce and other important life things.
But it’s been forever since I could talk about Gray with someone who didn’t have anything to do with his death.
I let out a half laugh, unexpected as I remember the first time I met him. “First week of freshman year of college, Gray and I met in the dorm laundry room, of all places. I shoved all my clothes into the only open machine, and of course, it died the second I hit start. He was right behind me with his basket, saw the whole thing, and I think saw I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Instead of letting me stew in embarrassment, he dumped his laundry on top of mine and declared us ‘co-owners of a broken appliance.’”
Brienne laughs with delight and a smile tugs at me. “We ended up hand-washing socks in the sink that night and splitting a Snickers from the vending machine for dinner. After that, laundry night just… became our thing. Sarcasm, bad folding, junk food. All the things necessary for a good friendship.” I smile in fond memory. “He became my first true friend in this world.”
Brienne’s eyes shimmer with curiosity. “And it never turned romantic?”
I snort, the idea of it preposterous. “Never. Our bond was instantly like siblings.”
“He sounds incredibly special. Were you and Atlas close too?”
I look horrified. “God, no. We really didn’t like each other at all.”
“Really?” she asks, leaning forward.
I nod with a chuckle. “I think we were jealous of each other, but you sort of have to throw that away when you become responsible for a tiny human being.”
Brienne’s lips curve. “That sounds about right.”
“Yeah. Looking back, it’s ridiculous. Turns out we’re both stubborn as hell, both protective of Gray, both convinced we knew what was best.” A softer note slips in before I can stop it. “But when we finally stopped circling each other? I realized… we were more alike than I ever wanted to admit.”