Page 27 of She Wolf

I spend most of my time on the ice with Callan. We were split up last year even though we work better as a pair than with anyone else on the team, but our defensive coach was the biggest asshole on the planet. I swear he tried to run the organization into the ground.

This season though, we’re together and practically unstoppable.

Even if I do say so myself.

***

Once in our locker room, we change out of our suits and into shorts and t-shirts. A few of us meander out into the hallway and toss a football around. It’s a way for us to loosen up a little. Rex stands slightly further away, batting a tennis ball against the wall in quick succession with his hands and Knox finally looks like he’s calming down. When I go back to grab my sports drink, I hear my phone chime in my bag.

Mom:We’re here, son!!

I chuckle to myself and slip my phone back into my bag. Passing Casey, I tell him I’ll be back in five minutes and quickly make my way up to the family suite. As I enter, I’m nearly knocked down by a small wolf cub.

“Gunner, look! They made me a t-shirt. Isn’t it cool?!”

I take Jack in and yep, there’s my face with hockey sticks crossed behind, enlarged on his little body. It’s ridiculous, to say the least. A lesser man would be mortified.

“Wow, kid, that’s some shirt.”

“I’m going to wear it right up until the puck drops! Crush ‘em Gunner. Win!” He hugs my side and runs off.

Spotting Mom and June by the bar, I make my way over. They are both wearing denim jackets. Very loud and very sparkly denim jackets with The Wolves emblem bedazzled on the back along with my name and number.Jesus Christ.

Over the seasons, we’ve had bedazzled ball caps, t-shirts with my face on, jerseys with added frill and glitter, you name it, they’ve thought of it.

Having been best friends since before I was born, they’re kind of a package deal. My dad bailed when Tanner and I were just babies and June and her husband, James stepped in to help. They were always people we could both rely on. They never had any children and James passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack a few years ago. But I owe my entire career to him.

I remember one icy cold day when I was about three years old, he called me from my room, made a show of measuring my height against his leg, then proceeded to hand me my first pair of skates.

He was the one who taught me how to lace them properly, got me into a club, and made sure I was at every practice—he even took me to see my first live NHL game and practiced with me whenever he could. James turned me into a diehard Maple Leaf’s fan, and to this day, whenever we play Toronto, I take a little look up to the area we always sat in and send a smile up just in case he’s watching.

I rush over to them, and they envelop me in a hug at the same time. They’re both small and super cuddly. Mom has brown, curly hair and brown eyes like mine and is a force to be reckoned with.

“You both doing, okay?” I ask their heads and they nod. They smell like hairspray

and their distinct ’90s perfume, Gucci Rush, that’s so familiar and comforting to me.

“Good luck tonight, GG, we’ll be cheering for you,” says my mom, still using the

nickname she gave me when I was little.

“I’m so glad you’re on the mend June. You look well.”

She nods and smiles. “I am, thank you, Gunner. Give ‘em hell out there, eh?”

“We will,” I say grinning. “See you both after the game.”

I scan the room looking for Coralie and catch her eye straight away. We share a secret smile and then I duck out of there and hall-ass back to the dressing room.

“What is it this time?” Adam asks as I start to shuck my clothes off.

“Denim jackets,” I answer on a sigh. He pats me on the back laughing, and then continues to get ready while I do the same.

Once we’re out on the ice for warm-ups, I look over to where Casey’s family are,

knowing Jack will have ensured they made it down to their seats just after I left the suite.

Sure enough, he’s waiting at the glass in his new jersey, this time, his grandmother has joined him. Callan and I skate in his direction colliding against the glass in front of him at the same time. Jack cheers and pumps his fists in the air and we both send him a thumbs-up.

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