Page 29 of Ice King

She turned and looked at me with the scrutiny of a mother hen, concentrating on my shoulder. “You’re not using your arm. Right? Or do I need to find you a sling?”

“I’m taking it easy.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“I’m telling you the truth.

Beck popped a cashew into his mouth as he swaggered toward me. My younger brother was all suave and soul, as he likedto coin himself. “Mom was ready to send out a search party. Weren’t you, Mom?” At least he was trying to pull the heat off my injury, which wouldn’t last long.

“No,” Cole said as he joined us in the kitchen, tossing his first beer bottle into the trash. “She was ready to send an old timer after you. You know what that would have meant.”

“Punishment,” the three of us chimed in at the same time. The worst thing a kid could do was disobey their parents to a level where they felt the only way to keep their kid on the right track was to require them to spend time with an elder wolf. They were revered because of their knowledge in all things. At least that’s what we’d been told.

However, their greatest strength and the thing all pups worried about the most was the elders’ abilities to both read minds and see into the future. And they ensured the misbehaving child would learn his or her terrible fate in the upcoming years in very creative storytelling.

All while being forced to spend time deep in a forest with the elder, days of hiking and becoming one with our shifter. Not as easy as it sounded.

I shuddered openly to tease my mother.

“Stop it, all three of you,” she chastised. “One of you take the salad to the table. Your father is hungry.”

“Pops is always hungry,” I told her before taking a swig of my cold brew. We’d been having dinner together every Thursday there wasn’t a game since I could remember. It was our parents’ way of keeping us close. Or in some cases, keeping an eye on us.

“Mom, why don’t you ask our injured star player about his new massage therapist.” My sister always knew how to make an entrance.

“Fucking fantastic,” I muttered under my breath. Now Beck and Cole were working in tandem against me. Why had I come to dinner again?

“A massage therapist?” Mom asked with her eyebrow arched.

“Yeah, the coach brought in a girl to replace Joe’s position.” Joe, who hadn’t held the job in how long?

Beck glanced at Cole and both grinned. “How sexy is she?” Beck just couldn’t help himself.

“If you think you’re going to touch her, think again, buddy.” My reaction was unplanned and surprised even me.

Cole almost choked on his gulp of beer. “You like this woman.”

“Hell, no. She is a major pain in my backside.”

Our mother dropped a utensil. She could swear like a sailor, but could not tolerate when one of us did at a family get together.

“Sorry, Mom. I can’t stand the woman. She’s opinionated, thinks she knows everything about hockey when she knows shi… nothing.” Thankfully, I corrected myself just in time. “She’s pushed me when she doesn’t know a thing about me. She acts like she owns me and for some incredibly ridiculous reason, the coach is taking her word for when I can return to play. A freaking massage therapist. I mean come on. What the he… eck does she know about hockey? Nothing. She’s even reading a book on the subject.” I laughed, the sound dripping with bitterness.

The entire room was quiet for a full ten seconds.

Before Samantha burst into laughter, almost doubling over.

“Do you get the feeling our boy is finally in love?” Cole stepped away from me immediately, which was a good thing since I was prepared to break his damn nose.

“Stop teasing your brother. Would someone please take the salad into the dining room? And one of you go help your father with the steaks. They should be about to come off the grill. Do I need to do everything?” Our mother was becoming exasperated, which was never a good thing. She ruled the roost and could make our lives miserable.

But we adored everything about her. She was our rock.

“I got it,” Samantha offered, grabbing the huge wooden bowl.

“I’ll help Dad with the steaks,” I told her, already heading for the door.

“I’ll assist you since you’re too busy trying to get your…” Beck added, obviously eager to get out of the room.