Page 124 of Top Shelf

“Hey! He pushed the smaller kid in line in front of him.”

I groan into my hands. “Please tell me you didn’t shove him in retaliation.”

He scoffs like that idea is ludicrous, but this is Lucian Caulfield we’re talking about. Absolutely nothing is off the table when it comes to him, especially when it involves violence.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I told the tiny kid to shove him back. He needs to learn to stand up for himself.”

Sighing, I shake my head. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? That he shouldn’t have encouraged a little kid to stand up for himself? I can’t do that!

“Probably not the best way to have handled that,” I grumble instead, giving Lucian aplease don’t do anything elseglare.

“It might have gone over better if he hadn’t then high-fived the kid afterward.”

Ronan steps into view, looking unfairly attractive in a fitted Kings quarter-zip with the sleeves pushed to his forearms. The dark purple color suits him, and I momentarily wonder how he will look kitted out in Serpents colors next season.

“You surviving?” he asks me quietly, eyes scanning my face in that way he always does. Like he’s cataloguing every detail.

“I think so.”

“You think so?” His mouth curves slightly. “Wren, this entire weekend is running smoother than actual NHL events I’ve attended.”

Something warm unfurls low in my chest at the sincerity in his tone.

Before I can answer, Silas appears beside him carrying a cardboard tray stacked with coffees in one hand and a paper bag in the other. His gaze finds mine immediately beneath the messy fall of white-blond hair over his forehead. He passes me one of the coffees along with the bag before pulling out his notebook.

You haven’t stopped to eat or drink anything.

“I’m fine,” I promise. Still, I peek inside the bag, salivating at the sight of a large blueberry muffin.Mm, maybe I am hungry.

“Silas is right,” Ronan agrees, nudging the coffee toward my lips. “You need to eat.”

Sighing, I roll my eyes, knowing I’m not going to get away without eating every bite of my muffin. I’ll probably have to lick up the crumbs at the bottom of the bag to satisfy these guys.

Still, a warmth builds in my chest, knowing they are looking out for me. That they care. Especially when they have so much of their own stuff going on this weekend. As part of the team, they have been busy doing photo ops, drill and skate sessions, as well as just hanging out with the children and their parents.

“I’m just shocked nothing has gone wrong yet,” Lucian comments, looking around as if expecting something to suddenly go awry. “Remember the fire alarm went off last year?” His lips hitch as he glances at the others.

“Oh, God, that was a disaster!” Ronan groans while Silas nods in agreement. “The fire department was called, and allof us had to stand out in the pouring rain for hours while they cleared the entire building.”

We looked like a pathetic group of drowned rats.

Silas adds.

“All because one of the older kids decided to light up a cigarette in the bathroom.” Ronan shakes his head. “This is a roaring success in comparison.”

You’re good at this. Silas writes, making me blush.

“Understatement of the century,” Lucian snorts.

I shrug, acting all nonchalant, like it’s no big deal, but I can’t deny being proud of what I’ve achieved this weekend. “It’s nothing, really.”

“Don’t do that,” Lucian says, with a bit of bite. “Don’t diminish your hard work.”

“Yeah,” Ronan agrees. “You’ve worked your ass off to pull all of this together and ensure it goes off without a hitch. Just look at how everyone turns to you to solve a problem when it arises.”

My throat tightens unexpectedly. He’s not wrong.

For the past three days, people have been turning to me for answers. For direction. For reassurance. And instead of panicking under the pressure, instead of wanting to run from it…I’ve spent the entire weekend thriving on it. I’m high on the adrenaline rush.