Page 7 of Play Your Part

Gemma pouted. “Fine. But it’s not like they won’t meet eventually.”

“I don’t want to meet anyone,” I said, interrupting the very uncomfortable conversation about me happening in front of me. “Hockey is my priority right now.”

“See?” she said to Matt. “He sounds just like her.”

“Oh, does she play hockey too?”

Gemma rolled her eyes. “No, but she’s sworn off relationships like you.”

“She sounds smart.”

Gemma nodded enthusiastically, opening her mouth to say something more when my phone interrupted.

“Sorry.” I slipped it from the inside of my jacket, relieved by the perfect escape from this conversation. Until I saw the caller ID. I stifled a groan. “My agent. I should take this…”

He wanted to “check in” and make sure I was “following the rules.” Cale and Erik made those very clear—arrive on time, work hard, don’t talk to the media if it’s not prearranged by the team, and keep my head down, avoiding unnecessary attention.No commentwas my new best friend.

I knew what was at stake. I didn’t need another reminder.

I ushered him off the phone as quickly as possible, then called my mom. It took only one ring for her warm voice to fill my phone speaker, instantly lifting my mood. It never mattered how many penalties I took or curse words I said during a press conference… or that I was released from the contract we’d celebrated only three years ago. She remained proud of me and loved me. And when things went to shit, her love was all I could rely on.

“Alyosha,” she said as soon as she answered. Even though I learned English seven years ago when I entered the league, hearing my native tongue put me at ease. “I haven’t heard from you in a couple of days, and I wanted to call, but I know you’re busy…”

“Sorry, Mama. I made it to Palmer City, and I’m all settled in now. How are you? How’s Alina?”

Switching the topic to my younger sister always worked to move the heat off me. My mom pitched her voice low. “Fine, fine. You know your sister is always go-go-go. And always with her boyfriend. It’s not healthy. But he is better than the last one.”

“She always lands on her feet.”

“So do you.”

These were the words I needed to hear.

“Don’t ever forget that.”

Mom kept talking, detailing everything she and Alina did that week. I leaned my head back against the deck, letting her words drown out the party behind me along with every single worry. Being alone worked better for me—no one to answer to, no one to let me down. Within moments, my body relaxed, loosening its near-constant tension. I was thinking I might ride out the rest of the party out here by myself when a shout came from the other side of the yard.

“Motherfucker, piece of shit!”

4

KENNEDY

AsImovedthroughthe crowd toward the backyard, I tried not to think of Justin.

Not the way we met here two years ago. Or the weekend he spent with me when I was sick and my dad was away on business. He brought me soup, watched movies with me—took care of me.

He should have been beside me when I talked to my father tonight. His hand should have been on my back as we walked through the party to get a drink. He should have been introducing me as his girlfriend. As soon as I stepped into the dimly lit backyard, I had my cell phone in my hand, calling him before I could think twice.

I needed to know how he could leave tonight, as if our relationship hadn’t meant anything. Had he always planned to break up with me? And if he had, why did he spend so much time with me the last few months? Why did he let me get attached when he knew what I had lost?

The line immediately went to voicemail. Either he’d turned his phone off, had no service, or… blocked me.

Would heblockme?

I cursed loudly, the alcohol loosening my filter. At least I was the only person out here to hear my trail of curses. The flash of anger combined with the alcohol made me light-headed all of a sudden. I took a seat at the top of the stairs, leaning my head against the banister, closing my eyes, and hoping to sleep through the rest of this party.

“Everything okay?”

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