Page 42 of Penalty Kill

Both women had already texted me, telling me how much they loved Sydney and the way she was with the boys. They were both very much Team Sydney and warned me not to screw it up.

“I don’t mind at all. I’m glad you’re making friends.”

“Me too.” Her gaze dropped. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve had anyone I really cared about. Even longer since I felt at home somewhere.”

But she felt that at my home? My heart swelled, but I felt guilty. “How long has it been since you went home?”

“Ten years. I had a fight with my parents and they told me I was no longer welcome.”

“I’m so sorry.” I couldn’t imagine not seeing or speaking to my own family for that long. We weren’t necessarily close, but I always knew they were there for me if I needed them.

“It’s for the best.” She tried to smile, but I could tell it still hurt her.

“Well, we care about you. The boys…” I hesitated to use the L-word, but it was true. I could see it. “They really like you. They don’t take to everyone the way they have to you. That means so much to me.”

“Me too.” Finally, a genuine grin appeared. “And the way everyone has welcomed me and made sure I was included.” She shook her head. “I never expected that. Thank you, Brandon.”

There was a lot left unsaid, but I just smiled. “Thank you, Sydney.”

She turned and shook her head with a laugh. “They’re making quite the mess. I’d better stop them before every block they own is on the floor. Good luck tonight. We’ll be watching.”

“Thanks.” I paused. “Oh, and Syd?”

She raised her brows. “Yes?”

“Don’t think I forgot about our interruption. We’ll be revisiting that when I get back.”

There. That was me being forward. Letting her know I was interested.

She bit her lip while her smile grew. “Bye, Brandon.”

“Bye, Syd.”

She might have started out as a nanny, someone to be there for the boys, but at some point things changed. She was so much more than that. She was a part of our family. She was a friend and confidante for me. If we got to this point so quickly, what would the future bring? Was there hope for more?

I felt incredible now. Invincible. I had my boys and one of the most amazing women I’d ever known cheering me on. This was the fire I needed to help get the team going. Tonight was going to be great.

* * *

We got to the arena and were led to where the press was set up.

“Hartman, Cullen, Schultz, Malkin at table one.” A younger guy with a headset pointed to the closest long table.

We headed over, but Chloe appeared and cut us off, staring directly at me. “I need to talk to you.”

“What’s going on?” Hartman asked with a stern expression.

She gave me a meaningful look, but I didn’t move. “It’s okay. You can tell them. They’re going to find out when the questions start anyway.”

“I tried to kill the story before it took off, but Olivia spoke to the tabloids. Again. She’s adamant that Sydney is the cause of your divorce.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose while Erik laughed. “How can she claim that? Sydney’s only been here for like a month.”

Chloe shot her brother a sharp look. “Because she’s addicted to attention. That’s not all, Brandon.”

She wasn’t calling me Dad or Cullen. This was serious. “What else?”

Was there anything else she could say to make this worse?