A Perfect Trade. Anna Sugden

he hedged, leading the way back to the kitchen. “Can I get you a coffee? Beer?”

      “You said it was urgent.” Jake shot him a disbelieving look. “I broke the speed limit getting here and you’re playing freaking hostess?”

      “You speeding is unusual, how?”

      “Funny, Truman. Don’t give up your day job.”

      Tru tried not to squirm under the all-star defenseman’s penetrating gaze. Normally, it wouldn’t have affected him, but with his emotions in turmoil, Tru’s nerves were raw.

      He grabbed the letter and tossed it to his friend. “See for yourself.”

      Jake groaned. “You called me over here to read some puck bunny’s fantasy?”

      His friend’s words sent a dart of pain to Tru’s chest. An image of one particular puck bunny sprang to mind.

      He hadn’t seen Jenny since her boss’s collapse. Tru figured she had to know he’d inquired after Sturridge several times, yet she hadn’t reached out to him. He shouldn’t be surprised or hurt; it would take more than keeping her company in the E.R. to regain her trust.

      Worse, memories of the past had plagued him over the past ten days. Now, with this letter, he felt as if he was in some weird kind of hellish purgatory—the misdeeds of his life being held up before him so punishment could be exacted.

      Hadn’t he already paid the price—over and over again?

      “Is this serious?” Jake’s disbelief mirrored Tru’s initial reaction to the letter.

      Tru tried to sound nonchalant. “Crazy, huh?”

      “What’s your old man after? Does he need money?”

      Jake’s assumption that Radek Jelinek had an ulterior motive stung, even though Tru had thought the same thing. “Why would he need money? He ran off with that Boston heiress.”

      “Maybe she dumped him. Maybe he cheated on her, like he did your mom.”

      “Which is why he wouldn’t approach us for money.”

      “You don’t think it’s strange he wants to meet his rich hockey-star son?”

      “Maybe he wants to reconnect with his kids.” The words escaped before Tru could stop them.

      Jake shook his head sadly, his apologetic expression acknowledging the unspoken emotion roiling through Tru. “Why didn’t he get in touch before? He could’ve contacted you guys at any time over the past twenty-plus years. Why now?”

      “Perhaps he’s sick and wants to see us all before it’s too late.” God, he sounded desperate. Pathetic.

      “Possible.”

      Tru slumped into a chair. “But you doubt it.”

      “I think he’d have mentioned a terminal illness.”

      “He might not have wanted to play the sympathy card.”

      Jake sighed and sat next to him. “You’re giving your old man way too much credit.”

      His friend was right. Perhaps Tru was eager to believe the best of his father because he’d always hoped he’d have a chance to put things right for his family one day. Because, since he’d opened the envelope, he’d wanted the letter to be that chance.

      “He’s still my father,” Tru said softly. “He deserves the benefit of the doubt.”

      “Does he? He didn’t care that much about you guys when he was around and until now he made no attempt to reach any of you for all these years. This sudden change of heart stinks. I’d be wary about his motives, bro.”

      Tru hated to admit it, but Jake was right. He sighed with frustration. “My mind has been working overtime trying to figure out what to do.”

      “That’s your problem. You shouldn’t think.”

      Tru punched Jake in the arm. “Like your nickname’s Einstein.”

      “Hey, I can use my brain.” Jake hit him back, harder.

      Chairs scraped as the two men jumped up and squared off.

      “We all saw what using your brain did. You almost lost Maggie with your stupid ideas.”

      The mention of Jake’s wife brought a big goofy smile to his friend’s face. “I was smart enough to go after her and win her in the end.”

      “With a little help from your friends.”

      “I know.” Raising his hands in mock surrender, Jake sat back down. “You didn’t do so well with Melanie, though.”

      “I tried.” Not hard enough. He should feel worse; couldn’t explain why he didn’t. “Probably for the best.”

      “Yeah. Probably.” Jake made it sound like definitely.

      Tru went to the refrigerator and pulled out a couple of soft drinks. Passing one to Jake, he popped the top on his and took a long swig, before grabbing a chair and straddling it.

      The letter lay on the table between them. Demanding his attention. Demanding action.

      They both stared at it. The silence lengthened.

      “Are you going to tell your mom?” Jake asked finally.

      Tru shook his head. “Not until I’ve checked my dad out. I don’t want her upset unnecessarily. If he turns out to be on the level, I’ll consider telling her then.”

      “Ike may disagree with you.”

      “Ike won’t know.”

      Jake’s head snapped up. “What?”

      “I’m not telling any of my brothers,” Tru said firmly. “Not yet anyway.”

      “Why the hell not? You can’t keep them in the dark about this. It’s too important.”

      “I have to be sure my dad isn’t screwing with us again. I won’t raise their hopes, only to have them shattered.” Tru thrust his fingers through his hair. “Kenny’s finally got his shot at making the Cats full-time and is working like crazy to be ready for training camp. Linc has to decide whether to stay in college or turn pro.”

      “And Ike?”

      He had no excuse for keeping his older brother in the dark. At least, not one he could admit. Tru had to be the one to get to the bottom of this; he owed his family that much. He’d been the one who’d made sure his mom had found out about his father’s infidelity. It was Tru’s fault their old man had left.

      No damn way he’d let Radek Jelinek hurt them again.

      “I’ll tell Ike, just not right now. Dad leaving hit Ike the hardest. I think because he’s the oldest, he felt responsible somehow.”

      Tru hadn’t had the courage to tell his brother what he’d done; not then, and not since. “It shouldn’t take me long with the internet to research my father. Then I’ll bring them all up to speed.”

      God, he hoped his old man really had changed and this was a genuine attempt to reach out and reconnect.

      Concern filled Jake’s blue eyes. “Ike’ll be mad as hell if you blindside him.”

      “He’ll understand, when I explain.”

      Jake didn’t look convinced. His friend opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by a knock and the sound of the front door opening.

      “Hey, bro,” Ike called out.

      Tru swore. “Don’t say anything about this, okay?”

      “Damn it, Tru.” Jake rubbed the back of his neck.

      “Come on, man. I need you to go with me on this.”

      Jake