Page 56 of Brace and Chase

My hand twitchesat the memory of how warm Charlie’s thigh felt against my palm.

Why did I do that??

Who the fuck knows. I sure as hell don’t.

I’ve never been a super introspective person. I’m more about doing what feels right and moving on to the next thing when the time comes.

And in that moment it felt right to touch Charlie, to try and comfort him.

I’m not sure if I managed it, but I tried, that has to be a good thing, right? Trying to help someone has never been a bad thing as far as I know.

“Can we go to the family room?” I ask tentatively, not sure exactly how I should act after the hand-thigh thing. I’m the one who said we have to put the team first, so I need to back it up now.

“Okay,” he says with a shrug, looking forlorn enough that I find myself wanting to explain myself. It’s not that I don’t want to continue our conversation about the game and our spots on the team, or that I don’t want to be alone with him, and I need him to understand that. Maybe if he does then he’ll lose the sullen look.

“I just want to go say hi to the munchkins.” I’m not proud of the urgency in my words, but like I said, doing what feels right and then moving on. This is me moving on.

Charlie nods, not saying anything or meeting my eyes. We walk in silence out of the suite and straight to the elevator banks. Even though the game ended more than half an hour ago, there are still people around and I catch a few snapping photos of us.

Pirates fans know my reputation. After fifteen years serving them on the ice, I’ve made it very clear by now that I don’t like to be approached as if they know me. Because they don’t.

The only people who truly know me are those who work in this building.

Butcher—my agent, who’s an ex-hockey player and still goes by his nickname—has told me millions of times over the years that I’m lucky they don’t hate me, and I know I am. The most I’ve ever given them outside the ice is a wave like we did before the game, and if I get my way, that’s all I’ll ever have to give.

Charlie doesn’t have the same reputation as me, butthankfully no one approaches him either, so we’re walking into the surprisingly full family room in no time.

“Now everyone’s here.” I hear Jamie’s voice over the crowd, though I can’t see her until some of the guys make way. They all look like they got out of the showers two seconds ago.

“What’s going on?” I hear Charlie ask in a mumble from behind me.

“We have an announcement to make,” Jake Barlow says as he reaches for Jamie’s hand. Jules and Sterling are standing next to them, with Ava in Jules’s arms and Adam in Sterling’s.

A smile stretches over my face when I look at them, I can’t believe Barlow convinced Jamie to lower her standards for him. I mean, she wouldn’t go out on a date with me way back when I met her, andI’mfucking delightful.

“We’re pregnant.”

The manic-sounding announcement doesn’t come from the happy couple but instead from Sterling. Jamie swats him on the arm, and even when he winces at it, he can’t hide the huge fucking smile on his face. Yeah, I know Sterling loves being a dad. Jules is smiling just as big, and Jake, well... he looks like he just won the fucking lottery.

He did, and I’m gonna make sure he knows it.

I don’t care if he’s my boss’s boss or whatever.

Jamie’s my girl and he’s gonna get the shovel talk for sure. I realize it’s especially urgent when Jamie raises herleft hand in front of her chest and we all get blinded by the rock on her ring finger.

Applause and cheers ring out over the room, everyone is understandably excited by the news, me included.

I rush forward, willing to fight anyone who gets in my way for the right to the first hug.

“My gorgeous girl,” I cry as I throw my arms around her and squeeze her gently. “Are you happy?” I murmur against her ear when I hear her rattling breath.

“Yeah,” she tells me, tears clear in her voice. “I’m really happy.”

“Then I’m happy for you.” I kiss her cheek noisily and turn to see Jake shaking Charlie’s hand.

“Congratulations,” Charlie says with a smile that seems just a smidge forced. Does he not like Jake?

I go over, when I feel people crowding behind me wanting to hug Jamie too, and clap Jake on the shoulder. Maybe it’s a tad harder than necessary, but it fits the mood.

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