Page 28 of Over the Line

Given that this was an event full of pro hockey players, I’d expected to see a parade of wildly expensive cars. Lamborghinis. Aston Martins. Whatever flashy hardware millionaire athletes preferred to drive, especially the guys who’d been around long enough to get seriously rich.

Parked along the driveway and in front of the four-car garage, though, were expensive but relatively understated vehicles. Instead of brightly colored supercars, most had SUVs or sedans. High-end brands, of course—BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche—but nothing that looked like it belonged in a billionaire’s garage or on a racetrack.

I worried that Chris wouldn’t be able to park up here, since the driveway was already packed with cars, but three traffic cones stood off to the side of the garage. They blocked off enough space for three decent-sized vehicles to park.

“Hey Dad,” Chris asked. “Can you grab one of those cones and move it out of the way?”

“Sure.” As soon as he was stopped, I got out of the backseat, picked up one of the cones, and moved it. Then he pulled his SUV into the space.

When he got out, he explained, “Jasmine and two of the other wives are pregnant.” He gestured down the hill we’d just come up. “Liam didn’t want them walking up the driveway.”

“I can handle a hill,” Jasmine insisted.

“Not when it’s steep, wet asphalt covered in wet moss,” he countered.

She huffed. “Fiiine.”

He elbowed her very gently and very playfully. She returned it, and they both giggled.

Good God. They really were cute together.

We headed up the front steps to Liam’s front door, and Chris rang the bell. A second later, the door opened and⁠—

Holy. Fuck.

The rush of heat that went through me was so intense and sudden, it almost knocked me on my ass. I already knew Liam St. Clair was smoking hot in a suit, in his gear, and in a team hoodie and sweats. Trust him to also look like a goddamned dream in jeans and a dark green sweater.

Save some hotness for the rest of us, man. Jesus.

“Oh, hey, Garrett.” He extended his hand. “Great to see you again.”

Miraculously, I held on to my dignity as I shook his hand. “Yeah. Likewise. Thanks for having us.”

“Of course. Any member of the Phantoms family is welcome.” He released my hand and stood aside. “Come on in!”

We followed him into the house, and we joined the various teammates and family members who’d already arrived. I’d met quite a few before tonight, and there were even more spouses and kids this time, plus other family in town for the holiday. It was an overwhelming sea of faces and names, especially since a lot of the players went by their first names and their nicknames, and I just hoped no one expected me to remember them all. By the time I’d been introduced to everyone who’d arrived so far, I was lucky to remember one or two besides Chris and Jasmine.

And Liam. Somehow I didn’t imagine I’d forget that name any time soon.

Apart from me being a little overstimulated, the day progressed smoothly. Chris and I ended up watching football with some of the other guys in Liam’s enormous mancave, and everyone was having a great time.

I could usually take or leave football. Watching it with hockey players, though?

“Hey, Craws.” Temo gestured at the TV as the players set up for a field goal attempt. “Maybe next time you take a shot, someone should hold the puck for you like that⁠—”

“Eat a dick, Temo.” Craws gave his teammate the bird. “I’m not the one who missed a wide-open empty net from six feet away.”

That prompted an “oooh” from everyone in the room, including Chris.

Temo muttered something in what I assumed was his first language. Then, “Maybe if you’d have kept that dickbag from catching up with me, he wouldn’t have poke-checked the puck away before I could⁠—”

“I was two time zones away,” Craws insisted. “Not my fault you couldn’t protect the puck.”

Chris snickered. “He’s got a point, Temo. And seriously, would you really trust this guy to defend you and⁠—”

“Fuck you!” Craws kicked Chris. “Or do we need to talk about somebody faceplanting two steps out of the penalty box when he had the puck and a clear path to the goal?”

Chris smirked at Craws. “Only if we get into what happened in that shootout against Dallas last season.”