Page 23 of Hat Trick Daddies

Even from this distance, I can tell he’s laying into them, his scowl deepening with each word.

Tyler rubs the back of his neck, looking like a scolded teenager, while Nick just shrugs, clearly less bothered.

A small smile tugs at my lips despite myself. As frustrating as tonight was, there’s something endearing about the way Brooks takes on the role of the reluctant big brother to the twins.

I sigh as I turn onto the main road, the city lights stretching out before me. I wish I didn’t like them so much. Tyler’s charm, Nick’s dry humor, even Brooks’ gruff protectiveness, they’re all dangerous in their own ways.

But it doesn’t matter.

I didn’t come home to get tangled up in messy feelings or risky decisions. I came home to start my professional life, to be close to my dad, and to prove to myself that I can succeed.

Dating hockey players, especially ones on my team, is not part of the plan.

The drive back to my apartment is quiet, the city skyline a constant presence in the distance. The towering buildings glow against the dark sky, their lights reflecting off the Mississippi River as I cross the bridge. It’s a view I’ve missed, one that reminds me why I came back.

But tonight, the city feels different.

My nerves buzz as I think about walking into the rink tomorrow.

What will it be like? Will Tyler act like nothing happened? Will Nick say something that makes it worse?

And then there’s Brooks. His reaction tonight was…unexpected.

I know he was just looking out for me, but there was something about the way he insisted on making sure I was okay that stuck with me.

I can’t afford to let tonight define my time here. Tomorrow is a new day, and I need to focus on what’s important: my job.

Still, a tiny part of me wonders what would have happened if Tyler had decided to push things further.

Would I have had the strength to stop him? Or would I have let myself fall even deeper into something I knew I shouldn’t allow to happen?

The sound of my turn signal clicks rhythmically as I pull onto my street, the familiar sight of my apartment building coming into view.

I text to the number that Brooks entered into my phone as soon as I park my car.

>> Home

My phone dings right away.

>> Good.

I look at the screen for a moment, hoping he might say something else, although I don’t know what.

When the little typing bubbles don’t show up again, I sigh and climb out of my car.

Taking a deep breath, I remind myself: one day at a time.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Brooks

I standin the cold parking lot, the neon glow ofSurf’s Uplighting up the twins’ faces as I let them have it.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I growl, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.

Tyler shrugs, his smirk replaced with something more sheepish. “I apologized,” he mutters, avoiding my eyes.

“Yeah, well, you can’t apologize your way out of stupidity,” I snap back. “You kissed the team doctor. Do you even realize how bad this could look? For her? For you? For all of us?”

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