Page 36 of Rowdy Hearts

I returned my dad’s stare for a few long seconds. “What does that mean?”

“It means your attention isn’t here, on the team.”

Well, shit. I’d thought I was keeping my secret pretty well. But that phone call I’d gotten three weeks ago had been weighing on my mind. Not that I was seriously considering the offer. It’d been a pity toss from an old friend. I was doing what I loved right here. And when I didn’t love it anymore…

I’d figure that out later. When my dad retired. Which was something I could never imagine happening.

“What’s going on here, Pop?”

My dad shook his head. “We’re just having a conversation.”

“Yeah, but why are we havingthisconversation?”

“You ever think about doing something else?”

My eyes rounded, and my brain blipped. My dad usually left the deep conversations to his wife, because the Colonel was a bull in a china shop.

“Like…something other than hockey?”

My dad rolled his eyes, which just left me more confused.

“Well, yeah. What the hell else would I be talking about?”

I threw my hands in the air. “Jesus, Pop, I don’t have a clue. Why would I want to do anything other than play hockey?”

“Maybe because you want more than to live here all your life.”

“Why would I want to live anywhere else?”

My dad shook his head, his exasperation growing. “Rowdy. I love you, son, but you’re the most damn stubborn kid.”

“Well, at least you know I’m definitely yours.”

My dad’s laughter filled the room, making me breathe a little easier. Now my dad sounded more like himself and less like he wanted to dig into things I didn’t want to discuss.

“You’re a chip off the damn block, kid. Which is how I know you got something on your mind.”

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a pain in the ass, old man?”

My dad’s grin grew. “All the damn time. But that doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

“Well, if there’s something on my mind, it’s gonna stay there.” I gave my dad my best determined glare, which justmade my dad’s grin widen. “Honestly, there’s nothing wrong, Now, doyouwanna talk about whatever’s got you in this mood?”

“Well, I guess you do have some of your mom in you. She’d good at turning the tables on me.” My dad huffed. “I’ll tell you what’s on my mind. You are. You seem lost lately, and I’m worried.”

Well, damn. This wasn’t good. My mom was usually the one who worried after me and my brothers and sister. She called for no reason other than to reassure herself we were still alive and had clean underwear, although I was pretty sure she didn’t ask my sister that. Growing up in a house full of boys, Rain had learned to carve out her own space and make her own way. Independent was an understatement with that one.

But I must have done something pretty damn blatant for my dad to realize I had something on my mind. Didn’t mean I had to spill my guts, though. Especially not on the first day of the season.

“Always a few nerves before the start of the season. Maybe I’m getting smarter with age.”

“You’ve always been smarter than you give yourself credit for.”

“Okay, Pop, now I know there’s something wrong. Did you hit your head recently?”

I hid a grin when my dad scowled. “Goddammit, Rowdy, I’m trying to be serious here.”

“You’ve got nothing to be worried about, Pop. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. We’re all fine.”

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