Page 36 of My Pucked Up Enemy

I take a sip and sigh. "She sees too much. Makes me think about stuff I don’t want to think about."

Darren’s face softens. "Dad."

One word. A landmine.

I nod. Just barely.

He shakes his head. "You stayed. I bailed. We both did what we had to."

"You ran. I absorbed."

"And now you're letting it out. With her. That’s good, Alex."

I look out the window. The sky is gray, like it always is here. "It scares the hell out of me."

He slaps my hand. "Good. Means it's real. Now can we eat before you order another emotional breakthrough?"

I laugh, shaking my head. "You’re the worst."

"You love me. And I love food. So let’s eat."

We talk over the rest of the meal, and I promise him tickets for the next home game—him, his wife, their twins. "Third row. Tell the kids they might catch a puck or a fight."

"Or both," Darren grins. "They’ll love it."

***

Nina’s office is warm. So is the lighting. She’s sitting cross-legged on the mat again, waiting. Her hair’s down today, and I hate how much I notice that.

"Hey," she says softly.

I sit beside her, legs out, arms resting on my knees. "So, more mind games today?"

She grins. "Only if you behave."

We start slow. She asks about the game. My breathing. My control. I tell her the truth, how I remembered to focus in the crease, how I didn’t spiral after a goal.

"That’s progress," she says.

I shrug. "You keep saying that."

"Because it’s true. So tell me, how was your day today so far?"

I lean back slightly, stretching my legs out in front of me. "It was... decent. Had a session in the gym with the guys. Connor was still chirping James for faceplanting at the youth clinic. Parker swore off the protein bars in the lounge after nearly choking on one. Same circus, different day."

She smiles, eyes soft. "Sounds lively."

"Yeah, and after that, I met up with my brother for lunch."

Her brow lifts. "Your brother?"

"Darren. Older. Former military. Now runs a martial arts studio, teaching both kids and adults. He's a black belt and the kind of guy who commands a room without saying a word."

"Sounds... intense."

"He is. But in a good way. Keeps me grounded."

I pause for a second, thumb brushing the seam on my sweatpants. Then I glance up and meet her gaze.

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