Sin Bin (D.C. Stars, #5)

by Chelsea Curto

A pass through his (very limited) social media later, concluding that Brody is really fucking fine would be an understatement. He’s a man in every sense of the word with broad, wide shoulders and a neatly-trimmed beard. Dark hair, dark eyes. Tattoos decorating his arms and the back of his massive palm. I’ve always been drawn to people who would burn the world down for me if given the chance, and I have a feeling Brody fits that characteristic to a tee.

“Fuck it,” he says, losing the war with himself. A battle I’m glad to win. “I don’t give a shit anymore,” he adds, and his lips crash against mine.

“I officially removed you as an unknown number. You’ll be henceforth saved in my phone as GC.” “What the hell does GC mean?” “That’s the best part. It can stand for so many things. Grant’s Coach. Grumpy Coach. Good-looking Coach.”

Inhale confidence, exhale fear?’”

“Brody. That’s obscene. Especially for someone who has no experience coaching. I don’t pay my coaches close to that.” “Is it obscene?” He folds his arms and peers over my shoulder again. “My daughter is smiling. She’s not hurt, and from the way she’s practically sprinting over here, I’d say she had a good time.” There’s pressure behind my ribs. It expands, taking up too much space when his eyes shift back to me. “There’s no number you could come up with that would ever be too high a cost to make Liv this happy every day.”

“Discussion is over. I’ll get a contract drawn up, and we’ll switch to biweekly payments going forward. Consider this a deposit.” Brody pulls out his wallet and counts five hundred-dollar bills. His fingers wrap around my wrist, careful as he lifts my arm and unfolds my hand. He sets the money in my open palm, his thumb grazing my fingers when he pulls away. “Pleasure doing business with you, Hannah.”

Do you like coffee? Me I do like coffee. H.E. Let me guess. Black? Me Not even close. I go for iced brown sugar oat milk shaken espressos, but a regular coffee with cream and sugar is fine. H.E. Sugar oat WHAT? Holy shit. That came out of left field, but I love surprises. I’m going to bring you the biggest size with as much espresso as the cup can fit. Since you’re a big boy and all.

“I would die.” “I hope you’re not planning on dying anytime soon,” Brody says, and Liv and I turn our heads in his direction. He’s in gray sweatpants today, the material loose on his hips and paired with a plain long-sleeved white shirt with the word STARS across his chest. Another backward hat, the ends of his hair sticking out by his ears. “I’d miss you.”

“Well, if you ever do decide to date, I’d be okay with it.” Liv smiles. “I like Bryant. I’m sure I’d like whoever you started seeing. Especially if they’re a pretty figure skater who could keep coaching me.” “Olivia Elliot. Knock it off.” “This is when I wish I had a twin sister so we could plan some ‘Parent Trap’ level scheming.” She sighs, lighting up when she spots a photo booth. “Can we take pictures?”

I peer at the diner sign. “Are we here?” “No. I thought we’d sit outside a different diner first,” he deadpans. “Please don’t ever become a standup comedian.”

Emmy is in labor. I’m not surprised when responses start flying in. Sullivan Cool. Everett OH MY GOD. Are you seirious?! Where is she?11? Is Mavrick shtting hmself? Why am I crying????? It’s not ev3n my kid!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sully!!! I need some mre fkng enthsusm from you! Sullivan Learn to spell, then we’ll talk. Everett I’m so excited I can’t type right!!!!!! Richardson DADDY MAVVY!!!!!! Hayes Is Maverick having a panic attack? Me He’s having an appropriate response to the situation. They’re at MedStar Georgetown. Mitchell Maverick is the only person I’d go back to that hospital for. Me He’d understand if you didn’t want to. Mitchell No way. He was there for me. I’m going to be there for him. Me I’m sure they have a private room, but phones get turned off when we get there. No posting to social media. No photos. Same team rules apply. Got it? Richardson Come on, Coach. We’re always on our best behavior ;) Me Don’t test me, Richardson.

“Rejected you?” I move even closer, until the tips of my shoes touch hers. Until I can smell the wine she was just sipping on her breath. Until I can see the collection of freckles on her right shoulder. “I’ve spent every day since that June night going out of my goddamn mind with missing you. With wondering what you were up to or how much you hated me for not coming back to apologize. I couldn’t, Hannah, because I knew the second I did, you’d suck me in. I’d be a lost cause. And being on the ice with you? Seeing you at dinner and bars and when you’re in a fancy dress that should be criminal it looks so stunning on you? I get weaker every day. So close to giving in. So sick of trying to fight it.” My mouth drops to her neck. I press a kiss to her throat, indulging in irresponsibility. Just for a second. “I fall asleep dreaming about you, and I wake up mad as hell that I let you get away.”

sneak out from her hold. I keep my eyes on her while I take off my jacket and drape it over my forearm. Rolling up my right sleeve, I point to the tattoo I got last year on a night when I was drunk and stupid and missing the hell out of her. When I thought I’d never see her again. It’s been easy to pretend it’s something for Olivia. A design I had made to celebrate her accomplishments, but I know who it’s really for. Blonde hair. Long legs. A laugh I can’t stop hearing. “What do you think this is?” I ask. Hannah holds my arm. “A tattoo?” “Look closer.” Her thumb traces the outline of a pair of skates with a ribbon threaded through them. It’s the same color, the same pattern as the one she was wearing the night we were together, and her gasp is a dagger to my chest.

Fuck

“Horribly,” I croak. “You need to be the one to do it, Hannah. So I know⁠—” “What was it you said?” she murmurs, her exhale tickling my skin. “Fuck it, right?”

“No. Let me see the flower again.” “This one?” My left hand slides up her neck, wrapping around her throat. “Look at you wearing my jewelry.” “I’ve always liked necklaces.” Her eyes flutter closed. She sighs, the strap of her dress slipping down her arm. “The tighter the better.”

“Liv told me you were competitive. That checks out.” I laugh. “You lift me pretty easily, and I’m not light.” “Hush, Hannah. I squat double your body weight before I start my workout.” Brody brings the box to the bedside table, taking out a packet. “Want to sit on my face so I can prove it to you?”

“If you’re not doing anything tonight, Liv is going to Kali’s. I’ll probably be asleep by ten, but if you want to come by and enjoy some early festivities before the ball drops, my door is open.” “Yeah?” She steps closer. “What kind of festivities?” “Pineapple pizza. Whiskey. Three fingers,” I murmur, and her cheeks turn bright red. “Maybe four.” “Can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than with good dick and good food.” Hannah opens the back door, dropping into the leather seat. “Count me in, Brody.”

“What the fuck, Brody? You wear glasses? You can’t have all four things,” I say. “What are the four things?” he asks, pushing them up his nose. “Glasses. Backward hats. Gray sweatpants. Tattoos. It’s not fair.” “I don’t wear glasses. I use them at night when my eyes are tired and I’m doing the crossword puzzle. The print is too small.” “Oh my god.” I pull a pillow over my face and scream into it. “You’re not serious.” “When have you ever seen me joke about something, Hannah?” “Can I tell you something stupid?” “Nothing you could ever say would be stupid.” “I like you. I think you’re so fun. And, yeah, the mutual orgasms are great, but this?” I gesture between us, that same happiness from earlier when I first saw his text message making itself known. “This is even better.” “You know I don’t like talking to people.” A long pause. A slow blink behind his thick-framed glasses, and Brody adds, “But I like talking to you.”

sin bin?”

“You smile plenty around me.” Because you make me happy. Because no one else has ever made me feel this way. Because I miss you when you’re not around. “Must mean you’re special.

I’m considering getting on one knee and asking if you’ll hang out with me for the rest of my life so I can laugh like this forever. I want to bend you over this table and show you how much you mean to me. I think I might be falling in love with you, and it scares the hell out of me because the last thing I ever want to do is hold you back or not be good enough for you. I don’t know what I’m doing, but I want to try with you

“Can we grab a bite to eat? I’ll pay, since you wiped the floor with me.” “Abso-fucking-lutley not. I might kick your ass, but I’m going to take care of you too.”

Someone is walking toward me in a black sweater and dark joggers. White sneakers, backward hat on his head. Long strides that bring him closer and closer. I blink, positive this must be a dream, and then he’s there. Right in front of me, and the earth stops moving. Brody. “I thought I was late. I thought I missed it.” He scrubs a hand over his face, but I can’t answer. “But I made it.”

He holds up his finger, gesturing for me to spin, and I blush. I turn, skipping to my seat and giving him the perfect view of my jersey and his name stretched across the back. He uncaps a marker with his teeth, scribbling something on the board, then holding it up.

I zoom in on the picture I took of Brody’s whiteboard, discovering the secret only for me. Mine

It’s a Saturday night. It’s probably someone getting back from the bar, tipsy and on the wrong floor. I wait, listening for retreating footsteps, but then there’s another knock. “Han?” a voice calls out, and I recognize it instantly. Brody

“You said you were lonely, and I missed you too.”

Acts of service. You’re important to him

“Oh, my god. I knew it. I knew it! That’s why I’ve been spending more time at Mom’s. That’s why you’re always smiling at your phone. That’s why there’s a candle in the living room.” She hums. “And I know who it is. I’ve known this whole time!” “You do?” I freeze. “How?” “Come on, Dad. You show up before my lessons are finished when you used to wait in the car until I was done. You charted a freaking plane to DC so you wouldn’t miss Hannah’s competition.” Liv holds up a hand and starts ticking off items on her fingers. “She came to a game and wore your jersey. You’re happy happy.”

Love. I fucking love her, and I grin at the revelation.

“Dad is in love,” Liv squeals, spinning on her stool with her arms out at her sides. “I’m so glad you don’t care that she’s younger than you!” “What do you mean?” “She’s cool and hip. You’re old and go to bed at nine p.m. No offense,” she adds, and I wave her off.

“I promise.” Liv’s face softens. “But you shouldn’t wait too long to talk about her. If you love someone, you should want to show them off to the world. If not, someone else might,” she says, and I wonder how the hell she got so goddamn smart for her age.

A throat clears, and we spring apart. My hand falls from her knee. She scoots away so there’s distance between us. Riley’s eyes move from Hannah to me, pausing to look at her leg. “Sorry to interrupt,” he says. “You’re not interrupting anything.” Hannah tosses her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going to get some food. Good to see you, Brody.” “You too,” I offer, staring at the floor instead of her ass while she walks away. “That was interesting.” Riley takes a seat on the couch. He adjusts his prosthetic leg and looks at me. “Anything you want to talk about?” “You didn’t see anything,” I warn him. “And if you did, do I look like I want to talk about it?” “No.”

“Hey.” He hops off the barstool and walks to me, cupping my cheeks with both hands. “I’m going to say the thing to you I know I’m never supposed to say to a woman, but I’m willing to pay the consequences.” “What’s that?” I ask. “That I should smile more?” “No.” The low rumble of his chuckle relieves some of my tension. “That you need to calm down.” “I’d argue with you, but I’m pretty sure you’re right.” I stand on my toes so I can rest my forehead against his. “I’m just nervous.”

“Bruce Leeland said he could beat me in a race around the track because I’m a girl and so much slower than him, so I told him to give it a try. I kicked his ass, and after, I put up a sign in the cafeteria with a picture of his face on it.” “And?” Brody asks through clenched teeth. “And… I might’ve written lost to a girl under it,” she adds innocently. “It’s not defamation. He did lose to a girl.” “Jesus Christ.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “You know what? We’re going to table this discussion. Soup and brownies are on the agenda. I’m in a good mood, and that’s a parenting conversation we’ll have later when we don’t have company over.” He pauses to ruffle Liv’s hair. “How much did you beat him by?” “Five seconds,” she tells us proudly, and Brody smirks. “That’s my girl.”

“True.” Brody kisses the top of my head before sliding back in his seat. “Uh.” He coughs and sips his beer, cheeks turning red. “Sorry for the PDA, Liv.” “Two adults who like each other kissing on the cheek?” She gasps. “The horror!” “Okay, enough with the sarcasm, kid. This is new for me. For all of us. I’m trying to figure out how to act around you without making it uncomfortable for anyone.”

“Family on three. One. Two. Three.” “Family,” everyone yells, and Grant jumps up and down.

“You’re so down bad,” Maverick says. “So what if I am?” I challenge. “Is that a problem, Miller?” “No. I just think it’s fucking hysterical all it takes for grumpy, broody brutes like you and Liam to fold is a blonde woman who is basically sunshine fucking incarnate,”

“Sin bin?”