Page 15 of Risking the Pucking Defense
Never in a million years did I ever think I’d get the chance to play with him, but to have him sitting here looking at me with concern in his eyes? Well…
“Yeah,” I force out.
“We’re gonna do it this year, and she’s gonna be right there with you.”
Fuck.
Tears flood my eyes in an instant, and I reach up to wipe them away before they hit my cheeks.
“You’re an asshole,” I mutter.
“I didn’t mean…fuck,” he breathes, sinking back in his chair. “Bea would handle this so much better than me.”
“You’re doing great. And I really do appreciate it. Who’d have thought I’d have Everett Donnelly messaging me to check in during the worst weeks of my life?”
“We’re family,” he says, reaching out to squeeze my shoulder.
Before I can respond, the rest of the guys appear and find seats.
“So, what are the plans for next week? We gotta get our asses in shape,” Calvin says, ignoring what I can only assume is obvious tension coming from Rett and me.
“Pfft, speak for yourself. I’m ready,” Kodie states, although as he speaks, his eyes are locked on Casey out on the dance floor.
I get it. If I had a girl out there, I wouldn’t be able to look away either.
“Same,” Handsy states. “Freya’s been helping me train.”
“Sexercise ain’t gonna get you anywhere on the ice, man,” Linc states. “If that were true, I wouldn’t have needed to work out since Parker moved in.”
“The fuck?” Rett grunts. “That’s my sister.”
“And my wife,” Linc says proudly. “She didn’t have a choice to be related to you. She chose me.”
“I’m never gonna fucking hear the end of this, am I?” Rett mutters.
The smirk on Linc’s face grows, and I barely manage to contain my groan.
“I can’t fucking wait for this party to be over,” he muses, mischief glittering in his eyes.
“This party is your fucking wedding, man,” Cole points out.
“Exactly. When it’s over, I get to consummate our—motherfucker,” he grunts when Rett punches him full force in the shoulder.
“Jesus Christ. I’m pretty sure Sutton’s classmates are more mature than you two.”
“How is Adrian?” Calvin asks, mentioning Sutton’s arch nemesis.
“Ugh,” he groans.
“So, still a little prick, then? I’d have thought having his nose broken by a girl would have taken him down a notch or two.”
“Casey is confident that Sutton will either kill him before they hit middle school, or he’s gonna end up being my son-in-law.”
“Childhood enemies to lovers. Classic trope.”
Everyone glances at me, but we’ve been teammates for a year now; they’re used to these kinds of comments.
“Marilyn has a point,” Cole points out.
