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Some things really are worth waiting for, and I don’t doubt that about Evie. But something about that response doesn’t sit right with me. Because if I’m with Evie, it shouldn’t always be me waiting for her while she takes care of the baby. I’ll be taking care of the baby too.
I want to learn everything there is to learn so I can be an expert. I realize it’s early to want all that. I can imagine Nathan lowering a hand on my shoulder and telling me I’m running when I really need to walk, and it would probably be very good advice.
On the left side of Alec’s head, his hair is slightly creased on one side, mussed from sleep. I lift my hand to the spot, running my fingers through his hair to smooth it down. Alec is always so poised and put together, and noticing this tiny imperfection triggers a wave of affection for him that makes my heart crawl into my throat. The vulnerability in his eyes as he looks down at me doesn’t help. “You were just…?” Alec repeats.
He leans down and kisses me on the mouth this time, his lips soft and coffee-warm. “You could always just stay.” He kisses me again, sliding one hand up to my face, where his thumb grazes across my cheek until it reaches the side of my bottom lip. “I like you in my house when I wake up.”
Anything that’s going to make your life easier makes me happy.”
But now, with Alec to compare him to, the contrast is too massive to ignore. Devon was never a man willing to put me first. With Alec, it’s second nature.
As if sensing the shift in my mood, Alec leans back and moves his hands to my face. He kisses me again, this time with a fervency that takes my breath away. The kiss feels like a promise, and it goes a long way to loosening the ache I’ve been carrying around in my chest for months.
He lets out a low sound, something between a growl and a moan, making my blood heat and my skin tingle. It’s barely seven o’clock in the morning, and I’m kissing my best friend’s older brother like I’m the main character in a freaking romcom.
Alec looks down at me and smiles. “It’s less annoying when Juno interrupts us,” he says softly.
“You’re my teammate,” he says. “We have each other’s backs. But my intervention wasn’t without conditions.” Theo finally looks up, and Alec takes a step forward, pressing his palms flat against the island in front of him. “There’s a counselor who works with the Appies, and you’re going to start meeting with him twice a week.”
He’s saying the exact right words, his tone warm and sincere, and he’s giving off strong dad vibes. Any kid would be lucky to have a father this patient, this gentle. Juno would be lucky. The thought sends warmth blooming through my body, and I try to remind myself that we’re supposed to take this relationship slow. That means I probably shouldn’t fast-forward to imagining a life where Alec is parenting a teenaged Juno.
But Alec keeps talking, his tone even and steady. “Maybe you aren’t ready to do it for yourself,” he says. “And maybe you aren’t ready to do it for the team, even though, with my knee crapping out, the Appies really need you. But do it for Carter, man. He’s carrying a lot. And he’s not really getting to grieve the loss of his dad because he’s too busy taking care of you. Cleaning up your messes. Give him a break. Take this on for him.” This, finally, seems to get through to Theo. His eyes are damp when he looks up, giving Alec the tiniest nod. “I’ll do it. Just tell me where to be and when.”
“You earned his trust and got him into therapy. Both of those things are pretty big deals.”
I still can’t believe that Alec Sheridan wants to kiss me hello.
But from one Appies girlfriend to another, stay off the internet. Alec has a big following. People will probably have opinions about you, but they’re only opinions, and they will usually be based on stuff that isn’t true. You just have to ignore it.”
“What happened with Nathan last season?” I ask before the conversation can move on. “Just a few adoring fans who got a little too adoring,” Parker says. “Summer had to pretend to be Nathan’s girlfriend to create a buffer.” “Shut up,” I say. “Is that how you ended up getting together?” “What can I say?” Summer says, pulling her dark hair over her shoulder. “We’re a walking romance trope.”
He spins me so my back is flat against the wall, his eyes flashing with hunger before he leans down and delivers a bone-melting kiss. He moves with intention and confidence and barely banked passion, and he completely steals my breath. I lift my hands, hooking them around his suspenders and pull him even closer.
“You okay?” he asks, his tone a little too cocky. Like he knows he just unraveled me and he’s proud of himself for doing it. Well. Two can play at this game. I grab his elbows and spin him around so now he’s against the wall, then I push up on my toes and brush my nose along the curve of his neck. I breathe in his woodsy, delicious scent as I press a slow line of kisses up the side of his jaw. When I finally reach his mouth, I kiss him again, except this time, I’m in control. He yields willingly, letting me set the pace, the position, the pressure. His hands grip my waist, his fingers pressing
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But it still feels like we’re progressing, learning about what we like and don’t like, growing more comfortable, more familiar with each other.
He grins, looking boyish and totally adorable. “Are you going to tell Megan, or should I?” I reach up and pat him on the chest. “Honey, I’ve talked to your sister every night this week.” He nods. “So you’re saying she knows?” “She knows.”
The results are a little shadowy, since we’re standing in a mostly dark corridor, but it’s clear enough to see that it’s me and Alec, and we’re definitely kissing. He sends the photo to his sister, reading out loud as he types, “Meet my girlfriend…”
We look to see Nathan standing near the opposite wall, Juno fast asleep in his arms. “He looks like a pro,” Alec says, admiration in his tone. “Want me to take her back?” I ask Nathan as soon as we approach, and the grumpy glare he gives me is answer enough. I raise my hands in an exaggerated gesture. “Fine! You can keep her.”
The stands are by no means full, but scattered groups of parents and onlookers sit all over. Behind us, a group of dads are talking loudly enough that when they mention Alec’s name, I immediately perk up. “He oughta just quit,” one guy says. “He’s older than half the guys out here anyway, and he’s not half as fast as he used to be. What’s he trying to prove?” “You’re claiming you’re faster?” another guy answers, and they all chuckle. “Nah, but I’m not getting paid to play,” the original guy says. “I’m just saying. The Williamson twins are better. Mark my words. They’ll drop him down to third
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“Cuter than my boyfriend snuggling your baby to sleep?” Summer says. “Because that definitely wins for me.”
Alec watches him for a second, then he looks into the stands, finding my gaze in the crowd. He smiles, and I know exactly what he’s thinking. It’s not like one conversation fixed everything for Theo. I know Alec isn’t naive enough to think it did. But this still feels like progress. Right now, at least for this moment, it feels like Theo is going to be okay.
It’s clear the team is rallying around them as much as they can. There are still no guarantees. Theo has to keep putting in the work. But it’s at least easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Evie’s ex-husband, Devon, will also be at my house for Thanksgiving, but I’m choosing to ignore how uncomfortable this makes me.
She just needs my support. My steadiness. My trust that Devon’s presence doesn’t have anything to do with my relationship with Evie.
“You guys weren’t really vibing at your last game, though. Jamison let some shots through, but you didn’t have his back like you should have,” the little girl says. It’s weird to hear criticism coming from someone so small, but she’s not exactly wrong.
Coach nods, then breathes out a sigh. “Alec, there’s no easy way to say this.” He pulls off his hat, then rubs a hand over his hair before putting it back on again. “I’m pulling you from our special teams. Power plays and penalty kills.” I lean forward. “What?” “And I’m starting Carter with Nathan tonight.”
I probably should have seen this coming. Except, I did see it coming. I’ve been watching my stats. I’ve just been choosing not to do anything about it. Choosing to focus on Evie and Juno instead.
“It’s the right call though,” I say, meeting Nathan’s eye. “You’ve noticed too?” He’s quiet for too long, eyes on his stick, so I lean forward, elbows propped on my knees. “Just be straight with me, man.” “You’ve been off,” he says. “But I’m not sure it’s just your knee.” “What does that mean?” He taps the side of his head. “It seems like it’s more up here.”
I want Evie to be proud of me as much as I want to be what my team needs. And I’ve been trying. But what if I just can’t do it anymore?
What matters is that the time I’ve been dreading is finally here.
She’s right. At least, when it comes to her family. But there’s still one storm cloud looming over my holiday plans. Devon is still coming to dinner.
But something about the set of his shoulders has me worried. I could be wrong, but he looks like something is bothering him.
The entire time, something niggles in the back of my brain. A quiet discomfort telling me that all is not right with the world. Is it Alec? Was there really something bothering him during warmups?
But sure enough, the text on my phone is definitely bad news. It even came with its own warning label. Hey, Evie. Bad news.
“Break down the feelings for me. Sad? Angry? Annoyed? What do you have going on?” I take a deep breath and wrap my arms a little tighter around Juno, grateful that she’s too little to know the disappointment of her father not coming. “Is it terrible that I mostly just feel relieved?” I look over at Megan. “I was trying to rally and be optimistic for Juno’s sake, but I don’t want her to have a father who makes empty promises. He’ll just keep breaking her heart, Megan. Even if he came this time. Would there be a next? Would he ever decide to prioritize her over his own selfish desires?” “I don’t
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The national anthem plays, the teams are introduced, and then it’s game on. Only, Alec isn’t on the ice. I scoot forward in my seat, anxious to find him, and Megan does the same. “Did he not start? I don’t remember the last time he didn’t start.” A few more minutes pass before a line change finally brings Alec onto the ice. I practically hold my breath as I watch him play. He’s playing well, but something feels different.
He uses his speed and his ability to read the game more than he uses his body. But he’s using his body tonight. A lot. He looks like a tightly coiled spring ready to explode if someone touches him the wrong way. If I didn’t know him so well, I might not notice anything. But there’s definitely something off.
“What is it? What happened?” “He was hit,” she says. “I think Alec was hit with the puck.” At first, I can’t find Alec on the ice for all the players surrounding him, but then they move out of the way, and I finally see his face. His bleeding face.
Megan laughs, but I only shake my head. “What is he doing? Is he for real going to keep playing? With stitches?” Parker shrugs. “Hockey players are a different breed. He wouldn’t be the first one to do it.”
With less than a minute left, Alec sprints after the puck, pulling up in front of the boards before sending it over to Theo, but then his body twists and contorts, and he’s down, flat on his back. He drops his stick and lifts his gloved hands to his knee.
“You’re here,” he says, giving my hand a quick squeeze. “Of course I’m here.” I lift his fingers to my lips and press a kiss against his knuckles. “You’re brave,” he says. “I smell terrible.” “Like you just played a hockey game,” I say, because he really does smell pungent. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
I squeeze his fingers. “What happened?” He tilts his head to look at me, lifting one arm and tucking it behind his head. “I heard a pop,” he says. “The doctor’s checking the x-ray now, but I’ll need an MRI to really see what’s going on.”
“Thank you for trying to make me feel better. But you have to leave this alone. Words can’t fix it. Nothing can.”
“What?” Alec says. For the first time tonight, his eyes are locked on mine and he’s fully present, concern etched in his expression. “He’s not coming,” I repeat. “He’s going to California instead.”
“You’ll have to be patient with him,” Eric says, as if sensing my disquietude. “He’s in a lot of pain, but an injury like that is a pretty significant mental blow too.”
“Eric, will he ever play again?” Eric frowns, glancing at the med suite door like he’s considering how much he should say out loud. “We won’t know anything for sure until after the MRI,” he says, “but I doubt he’ll be back on the ice anytime soon. With everything that knee has already been through…” “Maybe not at all?” I finish for him. He holds my gaze. “Either way, if he’s rehabbing to come back or…dealing with early retirement, he’s going to need a lot of support.”
