Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

I turn back around from grabbing my purse. “Why are we killing time?”

“Your mom is having lunch with the GM of the Rangers.”

Just the mention of the New York Rangers puts me on edge. “What for?”

“You didn’t hear?” Owen asks, a funny look on his face.

“Mom made a blockbuster trade to get Aiden home,” Evan says, giving me the same look. Almost like they’re disappointed I didn’t know already.

But what they don’t know is that the acid from my gut is currently eating away at my heart.

“Aiden who?”

Owen laughs. “Aiden Brooks, dude. Come on. You know who!”

I was worried it was that Aiden.

Shit.

“Yeah, he’s actually moving back home today too,” Dad says. “I asked if he needed help, but he said he’s good.”

“I can’t wait to see him on the ice!” Evan says, super pumped.

“He’s gonna kick ass. It’s so awesome,” Owen agrees.

Dad nods. “Yeah, he should help bring the Cup home.”

Home.

My home.

Aiden is coming home to Tennessee.

Well, isn’t that just peachy?

Chapter Five

Aiden

“What do you mean?”

I’m standing by the gate I just walked out of. I should head to the front of the airport where my family is waiting, but when I turned my phone back on, there was a text from Chris.

About Grace.

“She doesn’t want to see you again. She’s pretty pissed at me, actually.”

“Why?” I ask incredulously. “We had a great night.”

“I may not have been up front with her on the conditions.”

My blood runs cold. “What the fuck do you mean, Chris?”

“No, dude, I promise. She won’t ever say anything. She’s solid, but she was pissed that I basically made her a call girl and didn’t tell you who she was.”

“Oh, well, that was a dick move.”

“Probably, but in my defense, it was getting her back for all the times she rejected me.”

“And now you’re a double dick,” I say, and I’m not joking, though Chris laughs. “But nevertheless, she has to want to see me.”

“Nope. She said she didn’t want anything to do with you. That if I gave you her name and number, she’d file a lawsuit against me. She’s kinda crazy, I’m finding out.”

“Well, in her defense, you did actually try to turn her into a call girl and deliberately kept her identity from me,” I say simply. “I think that’s shitty, and she has every right to be upset.”

“Well, fuck. I was just doing what you wanted.”

“No, I want girls who know the score and want me anyway.”

“She wanted you! She’s just pissed it didn’t play out like her little fantasy.”

“Fantasy?” I ask, confused. “Dude, I don’t like this. Just give me her info so I can talk to her myself.”

“Can’t. She kinda scared me and threatened to beat my ass, so I’m washing my hands of this.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Nope. You’ve moved, so why does it matter?”

“It matters ’cause I want to talk to her. Get to know her.”

“Yeah, I can’t help you.”

“Can you give me her last name? I’ll find her myself.”

Chris lets out a long sigh, and I realize I’m getting nowhere. “Sorry, bro. Can’t help you.”

When the line goes dead, I throw up my hands, a curse falling from my lips. When an older lady side-eyes me, I press my lips together. “Sorry. News I didn’t like.”

I even shake my phone at her, but she raises her brows. “You’re entirely too handsome to be using that language, son.”

I nod, a grin covering my face. “Yes, ma’am, you’re absolutely right. Can I help you with those bags?”

“Well, my goodness, yes, please. It’s a long walk to baggage claim.”

“I know, and for some reason, I always come in to the gate that’s the farthest.”

She grins, her crinkled eyes making my heart swell. “It does always seem that way.”

I reach for her suitcase, and she takes my arm. By the time we reach baggage claim, I learn she is here to see her granddaughter be born. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, who is coming in at the end of the week. Their daughter is married to a country singer. Not that she’ll brag who he is. I wait for her to get her bags, and then I help her out to the car that is waiting for her.

“If you’ve got yourself a rich son-in-law, make him hire someone to help you with your stuff,” I tease, but she flashes me a big smile.

“But if I did that, I wouldn’t get to enjoy having such a handsome man to come to my rescue.” When she winks, I feel my face burn with color before she gets in her car. When she waves, I wave back, just as I hear my name being screamed.

“Aiden!”

I turn at my sisters’ united voices. They run toward me with wide grins on their faces, and my heart about explodes out of my chest. I haven’t seen them in months, and I swear they’ve gotten taller. They both run into me full force, but I catch them in my arms, hugging them tightly. Being the oldest, it was my job to make sure they were always taken care of when my parents were busy. Because of that, I love them way more than a normal brother would. Asher, my nineteen-year-old brother, is completely over them, finds them annoying, but I don’t. I think my siblings are amazing. Even his weird self.