Page 122 of Never Your Girl

One shot at making the Frozen Four.

And yet, despite the stakes, my focus is split.

My gaze drifts to the far corner of the room where Garret sits alone, head bent as he tightens his laces. His movements are methodical, but there’s a stiffness to his posture that gives him away. The guys have been giving him the cold shoulder for days. A silent punishment for the way he’s acted. Most of them have had issues with him at one point or another, but none know the full story.

I think it’s time to change that.

My stomach churns as I glance around the room. The thought of putting this out there feels heavy, almost suffocating, but it’s a weight I can’t keep carrying.

Not alone.

Taking a steadying breath, I push to my feet and step toward the center of the room. The hum of conversation doesn’t immediately stop, so I clear my throat, loud enough to cut through the noise.

The guys pause as their attention shifts to me. Ryder leans against his locker, one brow arched in curiosity. “What’s up, Sanderson? You got some pre-game pep talk locked and loaded?”

A few chuckles ripple through the room. My palms feel clammy, and I wipe them against my pants. “Not exactly.” I glance at Garret, whose head jerks up at my words, his eyes narrowing in confusion.

The heaviness of the moment presses down harder.

Maybe I should’ve talked to him first.

Maybe I’m about to step over a line I have no business crossing.

But the truth matters, and it’s time to let it out.

“Before we hit the ice, there’s something I need to say. Something you all need to know.”

The room falls completely silent, the buzz of energy replaced by a tense anticipation. All eyes are on me now. My heart pounds as I force myself to meet Garret’s gaze, silently apologizing for not warning him beforehand.

Steele’s expression never changes. He knows what I’m about to do. He’s the only other person I told. After all, that makes Steele and Garret family.

It took a moment for my cousin to wrap his brain around that one.

I take another deep breath. “This isn’t easy for me to talk about, but it’s important.”

Garret stiffens, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “What are you doing, Sanderson?” His voice is quiet, but there’s an edge to it.

I hold his gaze, willing him to trust me for just a second. “It’s time they knew the truth.”

A ripple of confusion spreads through the room, the guys exchanging glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

“About what?” Ryder asks, his brow furrowing.

I square my shoulders, the words pressing against the back of my teeth, ready to spill out. “About Garret.” My voice remains steady even though my pulse hammers in my ears. “He’s not just a teammate.” I pause, meeting Garret’s surprised gaze. “He’s my brother.”

The room erupts in a chorus of shock.

Voices overlap as questions fly from every direction.

“You’re hilarious, Sanderson!” Colby calls out with a roll of his eyes. “Now, stop screwing around. In case you weren’t aware of it, we’ve got a game to win.”

“It’s official, he’s lost it.” Madden picks up his helmet before placing it on his head and fastening the chinstrap. “Is it too late to hold another intervention?”

“I’m not fucking around with you guys.” My lips twitch despite the tension that rushes through my veins. “I just found out that Garret’s my half-brother.”

Hayes shakes his head. “You know what? I think he’s being serious.”

“Talk about a real plot twist,” Ford adds.

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