Page 10 of Hockey Boy

In the booth across from Brooks, War chokes on his beer, the bottle he’s holding to his mouth shaking. He sputters for a minute, then drags the back of his hand over his mouth. “Holy shit, I forgot how much fun your brothers?—”

“Duck!” Beckett and Gavin growl in unison.

It’s too late. Finn’s spidey senses are activated, and he’s in our space, having abandoned Beckett’s phone on the table across the room. “Do you prefer Venmo, or do you want me to have my uncle take it out of your salary cap?”

Bottle dangling from his fingers, War blinks at my nephew.

Summer in Boston has proved to be too warm for the denim-on-denim getup Finn has favored for most of the last year. Now he’s sporting a pair of Under Armour shorts and a Boston Revs T-shirt. Naturally, he’s become a fan of Beckett’s team. But he still has a gold chain around his neck and about a dozen friendship bracelets on his wrists.

“What’s he talking about?” War asks, scanning the group.

Shaking his head, Brooks chuckles. “How have you never fallen victim to the swear jar?”

War sets his bottle on the table. Leaning back, he digs his wallet out of his pocket. “Oh yeah. Sorry, little man.”

Finn scowls. “The name’s Huck.” He looks him up and down, his eyes narrowed, unimpressed. “Though only my friends call me that, and I’m not sure you’re my friend.”

Gavin chuckles, and Beckett breaks out in a proud grin.

“You realize you’re turning him into a mini you, right?”

Beckett simply lifts his chin like he couldn’t be prouder of the kid. They may not be blood, but my brother loves Finn just like he is.

“A mini Bossman?” Finn muses, his glare still on War. “Excellent. Now pay up. The fine is a thousand bucks, but I’m willing to offer you a deal since you look like the type who’ll need it.”

Brows jumping into his hairline, War gapes at him, his expression screamingis this kid for real?

I merely nod. Yeah, he is. Kid is awesome, but he’s about to take War for his yearly bonus.

War and Finn negotiate, Finn signaling for my teammate’s phone, probably to get things set up on Venmo.

Thankful for the levity Finn’s antics have brought, I clear my throat. “I appreciate you all showing up.”

Beckett frowns. “You call, we come.”

“Well, he called.” I wave at Daniel, plastering a smirk to my face out of habit. Deflecting with humor is my MO. “But thanks.”

Gavin turns his stool so he’s facing me. “What’s going on?”

Heart in my throat, I spin my glass of club soda on the bar top, unable to look at the guys. “I ended my engagement.”

“Thank fuck,” War shouts, startling me.

With a shake of his head, Finn holds War’s phone out to him.

“Fine. Let’s call it an even five, and you go over there and put on earmuffs, kid.”

Beside me, Gavin drags his hand over his mouth, stifling a laugh.

Beckett has tuned out the chaos. Frowning, he stepscloser. “You okay?”

My chest tightens at the edge of concern in his voice. “Yeah, I will be.”

“Is it because of Lennox?” Brooks gets up from the booth and wanders closer, keeping his words soft.

I shrug. “Yes? No? I don’t know. Did I know the moment she stepped into that office that I couldn’t go through with it? Yes. Did I ever really want to marry Jill? No.”

“So why’d you propose?” Daniel asks, elbows on the bar as he studies me.

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