Page 54 of On Thin Ice

My parents accepted the marriage—what else were they supposed to do—and Ethan stayed away for years. To be fair, he was playing in New York at the time, so he had a ready excuse, but once he moved back to San Francisco to play for the Strikers and met Penny, we all were finally able to get past what Darren and Julie had done to become a relatively happy family. Dinners had gotten less strained over the years.

“There you are,” Dad said, walking over and giving me a hug. “That belly’s going to be as big as mine soon.”

“Very funny,” I said, returning his embrace.

“Now, what’s this I hear about a hockey player?” he asked.

“Ugh, guess the secret’s out,” I murmured.

“Probably didn’t help that Ethan went after him on the ice. Then your mother read a few articles about it the next day online. I mean, it’s not like hockey players are usually media fodder, like football or basketball players or anything, but your brother going after an old teammate was news.”

My parents had called me the next day to ask what the hell was going on and if I was okay and what was going to happen next. I’d filled them in over the phone, but this was the first time I’d seen them in person, so I knew it would be a topic tonight at dinner.

“I’d say I’m sorry about how I reacted, but Dom deserved it,” Ethan grumbled.

“Stop that. Ally is an adult, and you acted like a child,” Mom admonished.

“That’s what I told him,” Penny said, glaring at my brother.

“What? I’m not going to feel bad about that. Yeah, I’m sorry it turned into a story, but Ally can do better, and you don’t screw around with teammates’ family members, especially their little sisters,” Ethan said.

“That’s so freaking sexist, Ethan,” Penny said.

“Yeah. Your misogyny is showing,” I piped in.

“Whatever. I’d do the same if I had a little brother,” Ethan said.

I rolled my eyes. “Sure you would.”

“Well, what’s done is done. And now you’re going to suck it up and be a supportive big brother when Dom comes to visit,” Mom said.

“Uh, we’ll see,” Ethan said. “What’s for dinner?”

“You walked right into that, son,” Dad said, pointing to Ethan. “We just want our Ally to be happy, so no more shoving that boy into the boards.”

“It’s part of the game. But I’ll be fine as long as he does right by Ally.”

“Does right by me? What does that even mean? It’s not like he’s asking me to marry him or something,” I said.

“God, no. I just want him to follow through. To be as supportive as you and my little niece need him to be. And he can do that from Denver while you’re here.”

“Of course, she’s going to be here,” Mom said.

“He wants her to pick up everything and move to Denver to make it easier for him,” Ethan told them.

Mom gasped as I glared at my brother. “You can’t take my grandbaby away from me already.”

“Hey, are you trying to piss me off, Ethan?” I muttered. “He mentioned moving, but I haven’t agreed. We have a lot to think through, and I’m just taking it day by day, okay?”

Penny walked around Ethan and wrapped her arm over my shoulder.

“Okay, everyone, settle down. No need to stress and overwhelm her with what we want. She’s an adult and a smart-as-hell woman. She can figure it out, and we’ll be there for whatever she needs.” Then she squeezed my shoulder.

“I’m so glad my brother married you. You’re my favorite family member,” I said.

“Hey, ouch.” Ethan pretended to act affronted, but he gave me an apologetic smile. He knew he was being over the top.

I wasn’t ready to mention that I’d been thinking about Dom’s offer. Not that I was going to agree or anything. It would be crazy to move right now. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

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