He reached out, rubbed his knee, kneading the swollen ligaments. He probably needed some ice.
The door opened, and snow swished in on the tail of Pete, who closed it fast, then stamped out his boots on the mat. “It’s cold out there,” he said as he pulled off his gloves. He looked up, around the room, back to Ty. “Where is everyone?”
“If by everyone you mean Jess, she went home with Sierra.”
Pete just looked at him, a muscle pulling in his jaw. Then he sighed, sat on a nearby stool, and pulled off his boots. “Is there any coffee left?”
“Yeah,” Ty said and got up, almost on reflex, to fetch it.
“I got it, Ty.” Pete beat him to the counter and poured himself a cup, then stuck it in the microwave to warm.
“There’s some soup too,” Ty said.
“Listen,” Pete said as he stared at the microwave. “We need to just . . .” He turned and pinned Ty with a look, something of desperation in it. “What’s the deal between you and Jess? I’ve sat back for five months, watching, wondering if you were going to make a move, and every time I think you’re not dating, every time I think maybe I could get close enough to talk to her, suddenly you show up at her house, or offer to drive her home, or even volunteer to team up with her on a callout, and frankly, I’m starting to think it’s not that you like Jess, it’s just—you don’t want me to date her.”
Ty looked at him, kept his voice casual. “You want to date Jess?”
Pete stared at him. “Oh, c’mon. Are you kidding me? What do I have to do—wear a sign? Yes! With everything inside me. Jess and I—we had this thing this summer, and it was great. And then suddenly, she just blew up at me and ran into your arms. And I wasn’t in the least okay with that, but you’re my teammate and I’m not going to call you out. I figured this thing between you two would blow over, or if it didn’t, then, well—okay. But I can’t figure it out . . .”
Ty closed his eyes, ran a hand along his forehead. “Pete, listen, you and Jess have to talk. I can’t tell you what’s going on in her head—”
The microwave beeped, and Ty looked up. Pete was just staring at him, his jaw tight.
“She won’t talk to me. Every time I try, she dodges me. Runs to you.”
Yeah, she did. Because in her head, telling Pete who she really was felt akin to standing naked in the middle of Times Square.
“She has her reasons.”
“Tell me what they are!” Pete ignored the beep of his coffee, palming the counter. “It’s about Tallie, isn’t it? Jess thinks I’m still dating that reporter, but I’m not—and I wasn’t. And that’s the old me. The new me—”
The microwave beeped again. Pete turned and hit the open button with more force than necessary. He yanked out his coffee and it splashed over him. He stifled a word, set the coffee down, and grabbed the paper towels.
Ty didn’t move to help him, pretty sure he didn’t want to get in Pete’s way. But apparently, Pete wasn’t finished, because as he attacked the stain on his thermal shirt, he looked up at Ty.
“So, are you in or are you going to get out of the way?”
So what, Pete could trample over Jess’s feelings? Because Ty agreed with her—Pete could be unpredictable, and the fewer people who knew her secret, the better.
“No,” Ty said quietly. “I’m not getting out of the way.”
Pete’s jaw tightened, and he drew in a breath. “Fine.” He glanced at the weather report on the screen behind Ty. “Any news of Gage?”
Ty shook his head. Pete threw the paper towels in the garbage. “Let me know if any calls come in. I’m going to get some shut-eye.”
He didn’t look behind him as he climbed the stairs.
Ty got up, drained the coffee cup, rinsed it, and loaded it in the dishwasher. Braced his hands on the counter.
He didn’t like lying to Pete. Or pretending in front of the team. But if it meant giving Jess some time to figure out how to tell Pete the truth . . .
Ty picked up a towel, started wiping his hands. If only he had feelings for Jess, then maybe this wouldn’t be so awkward.
Or if she had feelings for him. But any idea that she might harbor a spark for him had died tonight listening to her extol Pete’s accomplishments.
Maybe he should have told Pete the truth—he did seem different over the past five months. The old Pete would still be here, arguing. This Pete seemed kinder. Gentler.
As if he really had feelings for Jess, the kind that went beyond the usual Pete Brooks charmer persona.
A creak on the stairs made him look up. Brette appeared, looking pale. Ty met her on the landing. “Are you okay?”