Page 60 of Sporting Goods

He looked at me with cold, dark eyes. “Our father. He waited for him every night he’d be late from...work. Around midnight, we were all woken up with Travis being pulled away in an ambulance and Dad—being cuffed and having his rights read to him.” He released a heavy breath. “Travis died the next morning and dad was charged with manslaughter.”

Chills ran down my spine and my hand flew to my mouth. I was lost for anything that resembled words.

He pulled on my hand gently and gave me the softest grin. “It’s okay, you don’t have to say anything. I think I rather you not.”

I blinked away the sadness because he didn’t need that right now. I focused on our twined hands instead. “How’s Tisch?”

“Gets better every year. Hit her the hardest, the grief.”

“What about you?”

“I was the opposite. While she broke down a little each day, I spent my days, evenings and weekends at the hockey rink. Remembering everything Travis taught me, mastering it. Then Marty taught me more. So much more. Things Travis hadn’t been ready for yet. He was the older brother, the father and the mentor I was missing in my life.”

“Why? I mean why hockey?”

“It was Travis’s sport. And I loved watching him. I looked up to him. His dream was to play in the NHL. I guess I kind of lived it out for him.”

“I bet it’s making him smile every time he sees you on the ice.” I said before I could stop myself. “Oh gosh, I’m sorry. It’s not—I mean not everyone believes in that.”

“I don’t,” he confirmed simply. Then added. “But I love that you do.”

20

It didn’t makesense to her, my words. But it comforted me somehow, knowing she was soothed by the idea her parents were watching over her.

Especially when she had no one else doing so.

Rayne wasn’t just beautiful. She had a big heart and beliefs, and family was important to her. Even between the tragedy of her parents, being left to raise her son on her own, she kept her heart open.

I found myself hoping there was room for me in it.

“I should go.”

My instinct was to pull her close and ask her to stay. To have more of that horrendous cake with me. To sit with me and tell me more about…hell anything.

But there was a little boy waiting for her at home that needed her more.

I stood. “You probably should. But there’s something I want to ask you.”

Blue eyes matching the late night’s sky looked up at me. It wasn’t guilt though. It looked more like fear from where I stood.

“Earlier tonight, you said you felt guilty. Everything okay?”

I’d picked up on at least four lies earlier that day and a pair of seriously tense shoulders. I never wanted her to feel like she had to hide anything from me. If she was afraid or ashamed of anything, about who she was or where she was coming from.

And I felt the need to tell her that.

She blinked. “A friend of mine. I kind of snapped at him when he was just trying to help. Felt bad all night about it.”

I nodded and took a step closer. “Should I be worried about this friend?”

She laughed and turned her head, shying away from my forwardness. “Why would you be worried, is there something going on here that only you’re aware of?”

“I do hope you’re joking.” I smiled and yanked her against me, resting my head to hers. “Rayne. I get that it has nothing to do with me, but there’s something happening between us and it’s not just about what happened in the locker room. There’s a connection, the chemistry—it’s intense and I know you feel it too.”

The look in her eyes said she didn’t need to answer that. Her shoulders lowered and there was a spark in her eyes that told me everything I needed to hear without words.

There was more to her guilt but seeing her finally so at ease with me, I decided whatever it was didn’t matter. There was darkness in her. It came through in her sudden fear, hesitation and defense. I wanted to discover it all. Heal them in the way her and Jax were effectively doing for me.

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