He shrugs. “During the draft, there was some talk about Chicago having an interest in me. My family really hoped it would come together, but it never did. I was pretty homesick my first year, but it’s all worked out. Not many of us Drakes have left the town limits. Frankie and I are the only ones. She went off on her own to make a life and I did my thing. I grew up with the goal of making it to the NHL and I’ve done that. And it’s been amazing. But the hardest part was what happened with Emma.”
I look at him. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“I want to. What Frankie said was right. We thought it would be okay, but should’ve known better. There’re a lot of assholes lurking online. Maybe we were naïve. Emma started to get bullied online by people she didn’t even know. They’d say nasty things about me, about her. One guy in particular got really vulgar with her and was incessant about it. We didn’t know about him until after she tried to end her life.”
“What did she do?” I slide my arm through his.
“She took some of Kendra’s painkillers she had from when she hurt her back. Luckily Joe was home. He heard her fall. Found the open bottle on her bedside table. I’m not sure what she thought would happen, but they said she didn’t take enough to do any permanent damage, thank god. She had a lot of psychiatric help afterward and she seems great now. But yeah, that’s why I hate social media. But we should’ve all been monitoring it better. The fault lies with us.”
“How were you afterward?”
He makes a sound. “I hated myself. Blamed myself. But I tracked that guy down, and Maksim and I went to his house and we had words. I ended up beating the shit out of him for doing that to a kid.”
“What?” My mouth drops open.
“My family doesn’t know,” he says, sounding a little ashamed.
“Aiden, I did a search on you. There’s nothing out there.”
“I settled with the guy out of court. Paid him to keep it quiet.”
I stop for a moment, surprised but not. One thing I know for certain about Aiden is that he protects the ones he loves, no matter the cost.
“After that, I was off social media. Nothing good comes from it. Like now, you won’t even let me brag to the world about my girlfriend.”
I take out my phone and pull off my glove, then log into his account. I pose us in a selfie and we both smile when I snap the picture.
Then I hand him the phone. “Have at it. Say whatever you want.”
He smiles and takes off his gloves, then takes my phone, types, and hands it back to me. “Don’t read it until I’m on the plane, okay?”
“Why?”
“Just don’t.”
I smile at him. “Okay.”
I close the screen and put the phone in my pocket, then I put my glove back on.
We walk the rest of the trail in silence, enjoying the stillness. I should’ve known Aiden came from good people. He’s so kindhearted himself.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Saige
“Oh, you’re not leaving until I see that drink thrown in your face.” Kendra comes out from their parents’ bar area holding a bottle of white wine.
Aiden rolls his eyes and I laugh.
“He can’t go through the airport smelling like alcohol,” Barb says, but she’s also grabbing a glass.
“I guess we’ll have to be careful.” Phil grabs a towel and wraps it around Aiden’s neck.
Barb fills the glass and sets it in front of me.
“Saige! Saige! Saige!” The triplets pound on the kitchen counter, chanting my name.
Emma stands behind them, smiling. Joe’s at work already, and the rest of the family came by to see us off this morning.
I throw the wine all over Aiden. As always, he snakes out his tongue and licks the drops off his lips. Sexiest move ever.
“Yay!” the triplets scream.
Aiden takes the towel from around his neck and wipes his face. “You didn’t say ready.”
“You told me not to last time.”
“I like it better when you do it at my house.”
I must blush because Kendra says, “Ew, there are children present.”
Aiden laughs and picks up his three nephews in two arms. “Be good for your mom.”
“Nah,” they say.
“I figured. Just don’t get arrested.”
“Nice.” Kendra shakes her head.
He sets them down, giving them each a high five. Then he turns to his parents and hugs each of them, saying goodbye. I swear Barb has tears in her eyes. Kendra pretends she’s okay with Aiden leaving, but her deep breath while they’re hugging says it’s hard for them to watch him go. I can imagine.
“Walk me out,” he says to Emma.
The two of them walk out to the garage while I say my goodbyes. The triplets grab glasses and throw water in each other’s faces while Kendra scrambles to stop them. Phil goes in as backup.
“Nice meeting you, Saige. Have a safe trip back. You’re welcome anytime.” Barb picks up my computer bag while I wheel my suitcase. “Take care of him, okay? Maybe show him a life that’s not all hockey.” Her eyebrows raise as though it will be hard but maybe I can do it.
I smile. “I’ll try.”
She runs her hand down my back, following me into the garage. Aiden’s out there with Emma. The two of them have sticks, him showing her a play.
“Perfect. Damn, you’re legit going to beat me soon.” He hugs her and whispers something in her ear.
Emma nods a few times, and when they part, she quickly wipes her eyes. The bond they have as uncle and niece is obviously a strong one.
“Okay, Drakes, see you after the season!” He opens up my car door, and I slide in.
As we pull out of the driveway, we wave until they’re out of sight.
“I think I love your family,” I say.
“I think they love you.” He takes my hand. “I can’t believe you aren’t coming to California with me.”
“It’s only one night. You’ll be back in Florida tomorrow and I’ll already be there by the time you arrive. Plus, I’ll be watching you.”
He nods. “Yeah, and we did the drink thing.”
“Yep.” I squeeze his hand. “So we’re good.”
“Yeah.” He doesn’t sound convinced.
We’re driving along when suddenly both our phones go off with notifications.
“What the heck?”
He laughs. “My parents live in the sticks. Service is up and down all the time. Must’ve been down for a while.” I pull my phone out of my purse, but he grabs it. “Not until I’m on the plane.”
“But—”
“But nothing. I’ll give it to you when you drop me off at the airport.”
“So bossy,” I say, kind of loving it.
“I expect some sexy pics tonight, okay?”
I chuckle. “I do too.”
“You want a dick pic?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, careful what you ask for. I might send you Maksim’s.”
“You want me looking at another man’s dick?”