Page 80 of Hockey Boy

Brooks: Gav, you pick up the older kids. I’ll bring the big kid with me.

Me: Haha, you’re all so funny.

“Aiden,”Lennox shouts from the closet. “Did you color coordinate my clothes? It looks like Barbie and Ken’s Dreamhouse closet in here.”

Ah, shit. I knew I forgot to undo something last night.

Me: Gotta go. See ya in a few hours.

“Shotgun!” Sara screeches as soon as we approach Brooks’s truck.

When she and I reach for the back door in unison, I pull back, confused.

“I meant bestie shotgun. You live with her, so I get her to myself for the next forty-five minutes.”

Lex flips her pretty pink hair over her shoulder and winks at me. “Sorry, Hockey Boy. Chicks before bedazzled dicks.”

Sara throws her head back and cackles. “You hear that, Brookie? She’s finally seen it.”

“Crazy girl,” Brooks huffs. “No talking about my brother’s dick.”

Lex doubles over, clutching her stomach, and laughs.

Today’s already shaping up to be perfect.

Forty-five minutes later, we’re pulling up to an oversized house on a wooded lot.

“This is so not what I pictured,” I admit, surveying the sprawling lakeside home.

Brooks shrugs as he shifts the truck into park. “I can see it. He hasn’t had a place to call home since his mother died.”

Instantly, the mood turns somber. As always, I shift to keep everyone upbeat. “Well, then let’s make sure we make it a good day for him.”

Brooks appraises me, his expression softening. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

I’m out of the car quickly and opening Lennox’s door.

Her blue eyes light with surprise when I hold out my hand to help her down from my brother’s monster of a truck. “Such a gentleman,” she teases.

“Just following your rules, Princess,” I murmur, tugging her close. “Ready to be worshipped?”

Her cheeks go pink as she peeks over at Sara, as if she’s checking to see if she overheard.

Of course, Sara isn’t paying us any attention. She’s too busy flinging herself straight from her seat into Brooks’s arms. He catches her easily and spins, his mouth pressed to her ear, probably whispering words neither of us wants to hear.

Gravel crunches under the weight of a car slowly rolling down the long driveway. It’s followed by incessant honking that cuts through the peacefulness of the neighborhood.

“Party’s here!” Daniel hollers out the window.

Fitz is driving, and Camden and Jorgenson, a new addition to the Bolts, are in the back.

I love rookies. While McGreevey is an incredible captain, I take it upon myself to bring the new guys under my wing. Especially during the offseason, when McGreevey goes home to Canada. I love witnessing the joy and terror that war inside them during their first game. The high of it all. It reminds me of why I love it all so much. Keeps me grounded.

Gavin’s oversized SUV rolls up behind Fitz. He’s barely come to a stop before Finn is leaping out and running in our direction.

The front door swings open, and War appears. “Wow, when I said noon, I didn’t expect you’d all be so punctual.”

With a huff, Finn puts his hands on his hips and looks back at Gavin. “You didn’t tell me we were coming to this clown’s house.”

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