My skin prickled at his tone. Of course I knew. I just didn’t care.

He added, “Carter is one of our worst enemies, B. Me, the whole team.”

“Oh, grow up,” I said. “It’s just hockey.”

“Hockey is one of the most important things in my life. You don’t even respect that anymore.”

“You’re literally screwing your friend’s girlfriend, and you’re giving me grief about a consensual relationship between two single people?” I asserted, throwing a hand in the air. “And for what it’s worth, Chase has been ten times nicer to me than your best buddy Luke ever was. Or you lately, for that matter.”

“I know I’ve been a shit.” He sighed again, shaking his head. “I’ve been so preoccupied with this Jill stuff that my head has been up my ass.”

I crossed my arms over my pink pajama top, leveling him with an icy glare. “I’m glad we can agree on something.”

“I’ve been avoiding everyone because I’m scared it’ll come out.” His tone was forlorn, like he wanted me to feel sorry for him, but he was the creator of his own problems. It wasn’t like him to play the victim like this.

“As you should be,” I said. “Why doesn’t Jill break up with Eddie? Are you scared it’ll mess up his game?”

As ridiculous as it was, hockey came before everything else for the team, even personal relationships. It was totally within the realm of possibility that they’d cover this up to preserve their goalie.

“It’s more complicated than that.”

I arched an eyebrow.

Derek glanced over at the stairs again, leaning in closer and lowering his voice. “Last time she tried to end things with him, he threatened to kill himself.”

My stomach lurched. I blinked, trying to process the details. “That’s messed up.”

“I know,” he muttered.

Though as terrible as it was of me to think, part of me wondered if it was true. If this intel came from Jill, it likely couldn’t be trusted. She was playing puppeteer with my brother like a pro.

“If that’s true, he needs help.” I wiped at the countertop in front of me. “Her staying with him is only fueling the problem.”

“I know,” he said again, defeated.

I studied his face in the shadowy light. Our mother’s eyes, our father’s nose, hair the same color as mine. Never once did I think he would be capable of this.

“I don’t even know what to say to you right now,” I told him. “I’m beyond disappointed. This is wrong and you know it.”

“You aren’t going to tell anyone, are you?”

“No.” I shook my head. “But I hope you wise up and do the right thing. I’m going to bed. Lock the door behind you, please.”

* * *