Except when Bast spoke, the words were unexpected. “You need to apologize to Reid, Dad.”
“What?” Henri was aghast. “For what? Making a crack at his woman?”
“For a start. Then you can say sorry for making him feel like shit and treating him like a second-class son and being a general all-around jerk.”
“I—” Henri spluttered. “Anything I did was to toughen him up. Toughen you both up. It’s the reason you’re both so damn good!”
Bast had never looked so stony. “We’re good because we work hard. Because we’re talented. And because we’re fucking Durands. Now say sorry or leave.” He pointed with his uninjured hand. “No, say sorry and then leave.”
Reid opened his mouth to say this wasn’t necessary and got the Medusa treatment from Bast. Holy shit.
Henri looked hurt, which pretty much confirmed where his priorities lay. “You—you’re serious?”
“Yeah, I am. Reid and I need to talk. If you can’t figure out how to apologize then you need to think about that and how you want this family to heal because Reid’s right. It’s toxic.”
Henri’s lower lip shook. “This is the thanks I get?”
But Bast held his ground. When the door closed on Henri’s back, Reid let out a juddering breath.
“You don’t have to fall out with him on my account.”
“I should have done it a long time ago. As he was being an asshole to you he wasn’t being one to me, so I let it pass. I should have done more.”
To hear his brother take on some of the blame lightened Reid’s heart a touch, but this wasn’t his fault. Reid was responsible for his own actions in that game. For long before that.
“Bast, last night—I went too far. I was upset about … something. Something else. And I was tired of being perceived as second-best. I needed to prove I deserved to be there. On that line, in that rink, with that team.” With her. “But, all that anger… I was just like him.”
“What, like Luke and Vader?”
“More like Vader and Palpatine.” Let the hate flow through you …
“You’re not, Reid. You never could be.”
Reid looked up, surprised at his brother’s heartfelt words.
“You’re not like Henri,” Bast went on, “no matter what you might think.”
Hearing his brother being so kind when he didn’t deserve it killed him.
“You’ve always had these fond memories of when we were kids. Or you’ve chosen to forget the bad ones. Not sure if you did that for my sake or yours.” Reid struggled to push the words from his throat, tied to memories that shamed him. “But you know what I was like. How I bullied you. I was older and I was supposed to protect you—”
“You did. Tommy Gunderson, remember?”
Reid swiped at his eyes. “I beat him up because he hurt you but I wasn’t much better, Bast. I was jealous of how Henri loved you more. I wasn’t a good brother and I haven’t become a decent man.”
Kennedy had said he was solid gold. Sold gold prick, more like. Last night he had reverted to that angry kid. He had hurt one of the people he loved more than anything and he needed to put it right.
“I’m sorry for harming you, brother, years ago and last night.”
His brother smiled, his emotion waving off him and enveloping Reid in a warm fraternal embrace. “I forgive you. I forgave you years ago, or I thought I had. But then I pulled my own shit and never stood up for you. Bystander revenge, I suppose. With Dad constantly on our backs, we somehow forgot what matters. You and me, the Amazing Durand Brothers!”
Reid choked out a wet laugh. “That makes us sound like fucking carnies.”
Bast chuckled. “Trapeze artists, bro. Now give me a hug without hurting my nose or wrist and tell me what the hell happened with Kennedy.”
Reid was in Detroit. Kennedy knew this, not because he had told her, but because one of his color-coded schedules said so.
They hadn’t spoken in two days. He hadn’t even come to see Bucky, though she knew he had stopped by while she was out because he emptied the dishwasher and took some clothes (she had gone into his closet to sniff his Henleys like a loser and noticed one of his suits was missing). Apparently he hated the idea of being in the same place as her so much that he was willing to ignore his dog. Only Reid would deny himself something he loved to avoid dealing with something he hated.
Well, she didn’t have to play by his rules.
Bucky lounged on the end of the sofa, looking his usual ugly-adorable self. She held up her phone, snapped a shot, and before she could second-guess the instinct, texted it to Reid with the caption: Ruff! I miss my daddy!
The team would be at the hotel by now, maybe getting ready to head out for something to eat. Reid might be in the shower. For better or worse, he was a man of routine.
A text came in thirty seconds later: I miss you, too. I hope you’re being a good boy for Kennedy.
Cute. He understood that the message was from Bucky, and not her.
Another one, almost immediately: And I hope you’re looking after her when she takes you outside, especially at night. Bark at all the strangers and anything in the bushes.
Kennedy closed her eyes against the sting of tears. Not cute. That was just … oh God, why did he have to be such a soft-hearted lug under that jerkish exterior?
I’ll do my best, she texted (or Bucky did). She claims she can kick all the ass but I’m there if she needs me.
I know you are. And yes, Kennedy can take care of herself. But she doesn’t have to do it alone.
She swiped at her eyes. The phone rang and Reid’s Chicago Rebels headshot came up. Composing herself, she answered.
“Hi.”
“Hi, roomie.”
A small thing that filled a large hole. Through all this, she felt like she hadn’t just lost someone she loved, but the guy who was also her friend.
“How’s Detroit?”
“I’m not there because I was suspended for a game. I’m staying with Bast.”
He was in the city? That was even worse. But it was a good sign that he was with his brother. “How’s he doing?”
“Okay. He’ll be out for a while so that’s weighing on him.” And on Reid, too, no doubt. “Thanks for sending that pic of Bucky. I’ve missed him.”
“You could see him at any time. I know you don’t want to—” see me “—because it might be awkward. But he’s yours.”
Long pause. “I need the space, and you need to be safe.”
Space from her. “This is your home, Reid.”
“It’s just four walls and some furniture.” He cleared his throat. “I need a favor.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be flying with Bast to Toronto on Christmas Eve to visit our mom, but I can’t take Bucky on the plane. After how I spoke to you the other night, I know I have no right to ask, but will you watch him over the holiday? I expect to be back on the 26th. That should give you plenty of time to wrap up things.”
Christmas was four days away and she’d barely given it any thought. Two days ago she had been ready to tear up her ticket to Bangkok and tell Reid how she really felt.