Page 54 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

“At least he didn’t have a heart attack.” Wincing, I give him a sheepish shrug. “Sorry. Bad joke.”

Peter laughs anyway. “Fair enough. You two took me by surprise, and I guess that’s all it took.” He snaps his fingers.

I clutch my mittened hands, studying the pearl design. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too.” He smiles at the boys out on the ice. “I love my boys, and I hope to have many more years with them. Now that they’re starting to marry off, I hope to have some grandkids to love too someday.”

I press my lips together and swallow back the sigh that tries to escape me. Daire needs to fess up, and soon.

“I’m sure you’ll get some eventually.”

Just not from me.

“Are you two going to move off campus?”

I wiggle my fingers inside my mittens. “We bought a house. It’s beautiful. If you ever need to be near Nashville, you should come visit. Or just come for fun if you want.”

Dammit. I’m rambling. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I bite my bottom lip to shut myself up.

“I’d like that.” He shifts his legs slightly.

On the ice, Roman scores. He and Daire celebrate with Veda and taunt the others.

Shaking his head at their antics, Peter says, “These kids of mine never grow up.”

“They’re all pretty awesome.”

My chest aches at the nostalgia of all of this. This family was an integral part of my life for years, but after Daire and I fell out, I missed all of this. These little things I loved so much. While I remained in touch with the others, mostly Cash and Roman, I no longer hung out with them. It would’ve been too awkward.

“Do you happen to know why Cash and Daire have been giving each other the silent treatment?”

On the ice, as if to demonstrate their father’s point, they glower at each other but say nothing. Then Veda drops the puck, and they’re off once more.

“I might,” I admit, lowering my head.

Peter sighs, crossing his arms over his chest. “Growing up, Cash always had heart eyes for you. You were oblivious because?—”

“Because I was always looking at Daire.” More and more since I married Daire, that old heartache returns, but I swallow it down.

He flashes a smile. “Exactly. I thought things would change when Cash moved away, but apparently not.”

I fiddle with my ring, spinning it on my finger. “He’ll have to accept it eventually.”

I might not have feelings for Cash, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sympathize with him. I know exactly what it’s like to have feelings for someone and not have them reciprocated. Without my permission, my eyes find Daire. He streaks across the ice, working the puck back and forth with his stick.

Neither of us speaks for a few minutes.

“I really am sorry for ruining your break. I know it’s a short one.”

“Peter,” I sigh, resting my head on his shoulder. “You did no such thing.”

“It’s hard to get all my boys together at the same time now that they’re all grown. I finally made it work and…” He trails off, frowning sadly out at his kids.

“Things happen, but it’s been nice to be together like this. Thanks for letting me stay with you.”

Rubbing his jaw, he chuckles. “You’re married to my son. You don’t think I’d kick you out, do you?”

Right.

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