Page 123 of Never Your Girl

Garret’s jaw tightens, his expression unreadable as he looks away, his hands flexing against his thighs. Tension vibrates from every line of his body.

“Yes, I’m serious,” I continue, cutting through the noise. “And no, I didn’t know until recently. But this isn’t about me or him. It’s about us as a team. We’ve all been through enough this season. We need to stick together now more than ever.”

The guys quiet down again, my confession settling over them.

Ryder is the first to speak, his voice carefully measured. “Is this true?” he asks, looking at Garret.

Garret lifts his head, his jaw tightening. For a long moment, he doesn’t answer, and I think he might shut down completely. But then he nods, his voice clipped when he finally speaks. “Yeah, it is.”

Another ripple of murmurs spreads through the room, but this time, it’s softer.

Less judgmental.

More understanding.

“I know this is a lot,” I say, my gaze sweeping over my teammates. “But Garret’s one of us. He’s family, in more ways than one. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned this season, it’s that family fights for each other. No matter what.”

Silence stretches out, thick with unspoken words and emotions. Then Steele stands, stepping closer to me and clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s win this thing,” he says simply.

The atmosphere in the room eases, the focus shifting back to the game. The guys nod in agreement, the chatter resuming as they finish gearing up.

Garret doesn’t say anything as I move back to my locker, but as I sit down, I catch his gaze.

Coach Philips pokes his head into the locker room. “It’s time, gentlemen. Are we ready to play some hockey tonight?”

The place ignites with energy as Ryder steps forward, his voice booming. “Wildcats on three!”

The team surges into action, gathering in a tight circle. Fists slam together with a resounding force, our voices blending into a unified roar that echoes off the walls. “One, two, three—Wildcats!”

The guys file out of the locker room as they head toward the ice. The air buzzes with anticipation and determination.

I linger behind, my attention locked on Garret as he stays rooted in place, his helmet cradled under his arm. His expression is difficult to read. It’s a blend of tension, relief, and something that looks like gratitude.

When he finally looks at me, his voice comes out rough and low. “Thank you for saying all that and standing up for me.”

I step closer, shaking my head. “You don’t have to thank me,” I say firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument. “You’re my brother. That’s all there is to it.”

His throat bobs as he swallows, and he nods, his grip tightening on his helmet. “Still, it meant a lot. More than you know.”

I reach out, clapping him on the shoulder with enough force to jolt him out of whatever spiral of emotions he’s in. “Now, let’s get out there and kick some Northwood ass.”

His lips twitch into a small, hesitant smile before spreading into something genuine. He lets out a quiet laugh, and for the first time, it feels like we’ve finally broken through the wall that’s stood between us.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice steadier. “Let’s do that.”

Without another word, I pull him in for a quick hug before we head toward the door together, ready to take on the game as brothers.

As Garret and I step into the hallway, the sight of Dick leaning against the wall stops us both in our tracks.

“Bridger,” he snaps. “I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

I exhale slowly as my jaw tightens. Without looking at Garret, I reach out and place a hand on his arm, silently signaling him to stay put. His muscles tense under my palm, but he doesn’t move.

“There’s nothing for us to talk about right now,” I say evenly, meeting Dick’s icy glare head-on. My tone is calm, but there’s no mistaking the steel behind it. “When I’m ready, I’ll reach out. Until then, I’d appreciate some space.”

His face reddens as his composure cracks. “You listen to me?—”

“Not today,” I cut him off.

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