I hated knowing I’d made her cry, but he didn’t seem to mind rubbing it in.
“So, you’re here to kill me?” It made sense. Why else would he be searching for me? Holding a thirty-pound object he could easily aim at my head.
He chuckled, did two more reps, and set down the weight. “Why do you guys think I’m going to hurt you?”
I stared at him. Really? He hadn’t exactly made my life easy since I got here.
“Alright. I get it. But she’s my sister. I want her to be happy, even if that means being with you.”
“Really?” I was still ready to spring to my feet and run at any moment.
“Yes, Murray.”
“You don’t want to duel or something?”
“Seriously?”
I shrugged.
“I know I haven’t been the most inviting person, but I wanted to see what you could do. I wanted you to work for it. I wanted to see if you could step up and be a part of the team.”
“Did I?”
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if you hadn’t.”
“Why are you sitting here?”
“Because my sister is hurting, and I can’t fix it.”
Did he think I could? I doubted she wanted to see me.
“I love my sister more than life itself. She’s the most important person in the world to me. And for some reason, she cares about you.”
“She does?” I knew I sounded like an idiot, but I was shocked I was having this discussion. Never in my wildest imagination would I have ever pictured Erik Schultz and I having a deep conversation.
“Yes. I think you two need to have a long talk.”
“I doubt she wants to speak to me.”
“She will. She needs to know you’re there.”
He resumed his workout like we hadn’t just had a moment.
By the time I finished, the rest of the team had arrived, so I changed and put my gear on for practice.
I tried to push Chloe out of my mind. I needed to focus on the drills and make sure we were ready for our next game tomorrow. I needed to, but I couldn’t. Erik’s words were on loop in my mind. She told him about us. He didn’t want to kill me. Did that mean if we were together it would be out in the open? Was she ready for that? Or had she just had a bad night and told her brother?
There was only one way to find out.
During a water break, I scanned the seats looking for her. I found the Pride, but didn’t see her. Emma shook her head when I met her eyes. Chloe wasn’t there. It was the first time she wasn’t watching practice. I looked to Erik and saw him doing the same thing.
She was never here for me. She was supporting her brother.
Knowing I was the reason she wasn’t here now made me sick. I was selfish to push her. She wasn’t ready, and I should have respected that. I hated that now I was keeping her from cheering for Erik. I knew how much it meant to him. Olli had told me that she’d never missed a game or practice since Erik signed. Even if she had class back at the beginning. She was always there for him, until today.
Coach finally blew the whistle and let us go. I showered and changed in record time. Hartman yelled at me on my way out the locker room door, but I ignored him. I was on a mission.
I entered the elevator and closed my eyes until I got to the front office. I blew out a breath and ignored everyone around me. I would not be deterred.
I was almost to her office when Kristen popped up from her cubical. She narrowed her eyes and slowly shook her head. Great. Erik was fine, but now I had to get through a hundred-pound ball of anger.
“Is she in?”
“Nope.” She popped the p like she was smacking gum.
I looked at the office. The door was closed but the light was on.
“Liar.”
I grabbed the knob and turned it as Kristen leaped to block me. I dodged her and slipped in the room.
“I tried to stop him!” I shut the door before she could get in and maul me.
Chloe was sitting at her desk with a folder covering her face.
“Hey.”
She lowered it until just her eyes were showing. Her red, swollen eyes.
My heart fell to my feet. I’d done that.
“What?”
“I didn’t see you at practice.”
“I was there.”
“Emma said you weren’t.”
“I didn’t sit with them.”
That didn’t make sense. She always sat with her friends.
“Were you hiding?”
Her eyes narrowed. “No. I had work to do and I didn’t want them to distract me, so I sat in the upper bowl.”
She was avoiding me.
“I’m sorry, Chloe.”
The folder lowed an inch.
“For what?”
I let out a breath. “That’s a long list.”
“I’ve got time.”
I almost laughed. Her sass was still there. “I’m sorry I pressured you to tell. I’m sorry I didn’t respect your decision to keep it to ourselves. I’m sorry I didn’t come back last night. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you about it. I’m sorry I hurt you. It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.”
The folder lowered again.
“Then why didn’t you come back?”
I rubbed my face, giving myself time to think. I wanted to. Why didn’t I? I was scared. “I didn’t want you to tell me it was all over.”
She finally set the folder down. “I thought it was.”
“What? No.”
“It seemed like you were done.”
“I just needed time to think.”
“You left me, Reese.” Her voice broke and I was up out of my seat. I hurried around her desk and pulled her into my arms. I kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair while she fell apart.
It was the most painful thing in the world. I’d take a thousand hits against the boards to take away her tears. Each one destroyed me.
“Chloe, please.”
She sobbed, and I scooped her into my arms and sat so she was in my lap. I tightened my arms around her and waited. I didn’t know what else to do.
Erik’s words ran through my mind. She needed to know I’m here.
“Chloe, I’m never going to leave again. I promise.”
She sniffed and looked up at me with watery eyes. “You won’t?”
I kissed her wet cheeks and nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She sighed and leaned into me. It was the best feeling in the world.
“You can try to get rid of me, but I won’t go.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Good.” I kissed her forehead.
I wanted a few moments for her to calm down. “Erik didn’t kill me.”
She giggled. “I can see that.”
“I don’t think the other guys will either.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think they will.”
“Do you want to tell them?”
She nodded against my chest. “I want everyone to know.”
I kissed her again. I wanted everyone to know she was mine.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chloe
It was Reese’s idea. If things went bad, I was blaming him.
Under no circumstance had I ever thought I’d be standing in front of the entire team plus the coaches. Even the equipment manager was waiting.
“Thanks for giving us a moment of your time. We won’t be long. I know we need to warm up.”
“Out with it, Murray,” Coach Rust yelled from near the door.
Reese looked down at me for a second before facing the group.
“Seriously, Murray. Stop dragging this out.” Erik stood. “He’s dating my sister.” He turned toward us. “Can we go now?”
I nodded as he walked past me muttering something about drama queens.
Hartman stood and hugged me before patting Reese’s back. “Treat her right.”
He didn’t need to elaborate on the warning that filled th
ose words. The team would be watching out for me, even if it meant turning on one of their own.
“I will.”
Hartman nodded and waved to the rest of the guys. “Stop sitting around, you lazy piles of garbage. We have a game to win.”
The rest of the players passed us, offering their congratulations to me and threatening Reese with their words or looks.
Not a single one of them was mad. No one said anything to me about breaking my rules or asking why I made an exception for him.
Erik was right. I needed to give them all more credit. At the end of the day, we’re family. We want each other to be happy, no matter what that means.
I fought the tears from emerging. I’d told myself since my parents died that it was just me and Erik. That’s all I had.
What a lie.
I had twenty-two brothers, not including the coaches and my coworkers in the front office. They were my family.
Not by blood, but by everything that mattered.
Reese turned to me after the room emptied and wrapped his arms around me. “Thanks for doing this, Chloe.”
I pressed against him. “I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner.”
“It worked out exactly how it was supposed to.” He kissed the top of my head before stepping back. “I’ve got to go warm up.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
I stood up on my toes and kissed him before leaving.
When I got to my seat, Emma was waiting. “How did it go?”
“They were all happy for us.”
She laughed. “I told you so.”
She did. She’d been right. Reese had been right. I just needed to learn a lesson.
The sea of black and red around me began yelling as the guys skated on to the ice. I watched them as they passed me, grateful for each of them.
They looked good. I could tell they were eager to start. The energy in the building was tangible. The countdown to the start of the game was nearly over and the guys returned to their bench.
Emma looped her arm around my waist and pulled me over. “You’re looking pretty happy.”
“I am.” It was a relief to get everything out in the open, and I couldn’t wait for the game to end. I wanted to run into his arms without worrying who saw us. I wanted to go out with the team and be able to sit next to him without raising questions.
“Good.” She winked and stepped back to clap as Olli was announced. She was a woman in love, and she didn’t hide it.
I wanted to be like her.
The crowd was unbelievable. I could barely hear the women around me. It was exactly what the guys needed to get in the right mindset. They loved when the fans took over the arena. They were used to it, but it could overwhelm the other team.
Hopefully Reese was used to it after the first game.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off him through the national anthem. He looked calm, ready.
When the first line took their positions, Erik passed him, and they exchanged a nod and Erik patted him on the back.
If anyone asked, I would have told them I was smiling because I was excited for the game. The truth was embarrassing. I was the happiest I’d been in years. All because my boyfriend and my brother were getting along.
At this rate, I’d be crying the first time Erik invited Reese over to the house.
Hartman faced off for the first puck drop and won it for the Fury. The game was a fast one. The Minnesota Ice were known for playing quick. The guys looked good though. I knew they loved a challenge, and this team wanted to push them.
Neither team scored for the first ten minutes. It was heated, but no one was getting too physical yet. I stood when Erik and Reese traded back onto the ice. They’d been working together seamlessly this game.
“Come on, boys!”
Emma stood with me and cheered.
Malkin, one of our defensemen, stole the pick from an Ice player before he had a chance to shoot and passed it to Erik.
Erik skated into the Ice’s zone. Reese was behind him, on the far side, ready. Erik passed the puck to Reese, who swung and sent the puck flying toward the goalie. I held my breath as it soared. The goalie went high, and the puck flew under his glove.
I grabbed Emma and began jumping around while everyone in our area screamed around us.
It was an incredible shot. One that would live in the team’s highlights for years.
Reese and Erik were bombarded by the rest of the guys on the ice. They skated over to their bench, bumped fists with their teammates, then Reese broke away. He skated directly to me, took off his helmet and said, “I love you.” He pointed to me and smiled.
My jaw must have been on the floor. Emma nudged me. “Smile or say it back. Don’t just stand there.”
I snapped out of my daze. “I love you, too!” I screamed as loud as I could. The people around us turned to see who he was talking to. I waved to him and they turned their cheers to me.
I knew my face was bright red, and I prayed the cameras weren’t on me. They would be on him. They always followed the person who scored.
Wonderful. The first time we say I love you to each other is on national television.
This was what it meant to be with a player.
And it was completely worth it.
Chapter Thirty
Chloe
Two months later
“Show me your hand!” Emma jumped from her seat and reached for me. I offered my right hand, but she swatted it away. “Your left hand!”
I held it up and immediately her smile disappeared. “Seriously?”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” I sat next to her and greeted the ladies around me.
“I thought he was going to ask for sure.”
She was so upset I couldn’t help but laugh. “We’ve known each other for less than six months, Emma. That would be way too fast.”
“Oh stop. You two are meant to be together. It’s going to happen eventually, so why put it off?”
I sighed. “Because things are still new. We’re enjoying this time.”
She shook her head, but Sophia sat next to me and smiled. “Good. Take your time. Marriage is forever.”
I nodded. “See, Emma.”
She waved her hand and kept her eyes on the guys. This was the first practice after the three-day break for Christmas. We’d been lucky enough to have time to go to Michigan to visit Reese’s family. Erik even came with us. He’d been so supportive of us and wanted to get to know Reese’s parents. It wasn’t a secret that Reese and I were planning on getting married, eventually, and Erik wanted to make sure his family was worthy of me. His words.
It was nice of him. I’d never say it to him, but I was pretty sure he craved having a family for the holiday. The Murrays opened their home and heart to both of us, and now Erik kept in touch with Carl and Karen. He’d become a surrogate son to them, and he reveled in their attention.
“How was your Christmas?” I nudged her elbow. Time to move onto a safer topic.
“It was really good.” Her eyes glinted with something.
“What happened?” I studied her face for any hints.
“Oh, nothing. We just got some good news.”
So that’s how she was going to play it. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”
She laughed. “We will soon.”
Sophia leaned across me. “You better not be moving.”
Emma shook her head. “No! I wouldn’t be happy about that at all.”
“Good.” Sophia settled back. “I wish they guys had more time off. I would have loved to visit my family.”
“Did you stay here?” I felt bad that I couldn’t remember her plans.
“We were supposed to go to Vail, but at the last minute his parents showed up. As a surprise.”
She bit out the last part, obviously unhappy about her in-law’s appearance.
“Oh sorry.” I cringed. I wouldn’t have minded, but I’d learned Sophia wasn’t big on surprises.
“It’s fine. We’ll go
another time.” She shrugged. “It looks like a few of the guys had a bit too much pie over the break.”
She pointed out a few who were falling behind in the suicide drill. It was cruel of the coaches to make them do that on their first day back from a break.
“How many do you think will puke?” Emma asked, looking a little too excited at the possibility.
“Four.” Sophia sounded confident.
I watched the players closely. Three of them had already failed to get to the other end of the rink before the beep. They had twenty minutes left.
“Six.” I felt bad betting against them. I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes…well, skates.
“I’ll go for five.” Emma held out her hand and we all shook on it.
“Go faster, Carlisle!” Emma screamed at the poor guy in dead last.
“Don’t be mean.” I couldn’t help but laugh when he flipped her the bird as he passed.
She shrugged. “It’ll toughen him up.”
We continued cheering them on until I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and one of the wives was leaning down to talk to me.
“There’s a girl who just walked in. None of us have seen her before.”
Oh perfect. Way to ruin our game.
“Let me know if anyone barfs.” I stood and walked toward the blonde sitting in the front row a few sections away.
She didn’t look like the typical girl that showed up uninvited. Her hair fell behind her in waves and she was wearing a simple white shirt with jeans. Not a bimbo at all. I almost felt bad I was going to have to kick her out.
“Hi there.” I walked to the end of her row and waited for her to turn.
“Hi.” She was pretty. Her big blue eyes looked at me skeptically. Almost as if she was judging whether or not I should be there.
“Can I help you?”
She was throwing me off. They normally panic by now.
“No, I’m fine.”
Huh. “Well, this is a closed practice. We don’t allow the public to watch, but you can come back on Wednesday for the open one.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”
“Look, I’m sure you’re a fan and we appreciate it, but I have to ask you to leave.”
She laughed and turned back to the ice. “Go for it.”
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