“And what does she say about you considering moving out?”
I sighed. “I didn’t tell her I was thinking about it.”
Sure, I was going to talk to Brooke about it, but I didn’t know how just yet. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her because we didn’t see each other daily anymore. Frankly, I wasn’t sure I was going to survivenotseeing her for a whole day or more.
“What’s going on between the two of you?” His voice was laced with sympathy and concern.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie, Reece.”
My eyes teared away from Brooke so I could look at my brother instead. He looked almost disappointed, but I was sure he had tried his best to appear indifferent. “I’m not sure I can tell you.”
“Why not?” Colin’s eyebrows drew together, head cocking sideways.
“Because you’ll have a million ideas and know exactly how to help, and I want to do this on my own. I spent my whole life proving to everyone that you didn’t make me, and if I allow my superstar older brother to save my ass, what does that say about me?”
“That you’re anineteen-year-old kid who is smart enough to know when to ask for help?” he said, making it sound like that was so obvious. “Reece, I really don’t know what this is about, but if you’re risking your relationship to prove to whoever that you’re your own person, then maybe you shouldn’t be in a relationship.”
“What?”
Something about what Colin said struck a nerve inside ofme. Was I really willing to jeopardize my relationship just to prove a point?
No, that couldn’t have been right. That wasn’t something I was doing, was it?
Sure, I refused to let Colin help me with Brooke because… well, because I didn’t want everyone to think I needed his help to live my life. I didn’t want people to think I was depending on my brother, even though I knew he would’ve been able to help.
“And honestly, I get it. I had, and still have, to deal with everyone saying I’m only good at hockey because of Dad; that I got to where I am because of him,” Colin added. “That won’t change unless you start not giving a fuck what they say. And putting Brooke on the line just because you feel inferior to me is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard you say, and you saida lotof stupid things in your life.”
Perhaps he was right… in a sense anyway.
Okay, maybe telling him what was going on was better after all. “Pike said my chances of getting drafted are low if I’m in a relationship. Brooke’s ballet teacher thinks I’m distracting her from focusing on what’s important, which Erik apparently agrees with. Only that he took it up a notch and told her that if she doesn’t break up with me, he’ll leave her.”
Colin remained silent for what felt like an eternity, looking into the distance with no reaction whatsoever. When he did find his voice, it wasn’t anything like I expected.
“Pike Anderson, right?” I nodded in response. “He’s a manipulator who just wants to ruin your life, Reece. Yes, he gets a lot of guys into the NHL, butonlyif they play by his rules. The NHL doesn’t care if you’re dating someone or not. As long as you’re good on the ice, go after other important duties, and don’t let your relationship affect your job, it’s none of their business. Aaron and I were both in a relationshipwhen we got drafted. Miles wasmarriedwhen he got an offer, so it really doesn’t matter. Brooke’s ballet teacher can kindly fuck off, and Erik… I never liked that guy anyway.”
I always wondered why the NHL would care, but I also never questioned Pike because I feared that if I did, he’d drop me.
“Me neither, but she needs him.” My elbows set down on the table, my hands holding up my head so I wouldn’t hit it against the wood. “And I need Pike.”
“The fuck you do.” I could swear he was about to slap the alleged stupidity out of me, but he kept his hands to himself. “I can give Anthony a call and?—”
“No,” I interrupted. Anthony was Colin’s agent and I could already tell where he was going with this. “See, that’s what I don’t want: you meddling with my career. I know that if I just asked you or Dad, you’d hook me up with someone, but I need to do this on my own. You did it on your own. Why can’t I?”
“I didn’t,” Colin said, now looking at me as if I was even stupider than before. “Dad pulled some strings because I wasn’t going to let anyone take away my chances of playing for the Rangers. Do you really think Aaron, Miles, Grey, and I all got drafted by the same team because we got lucky or fought for it?” He laughed. “The likelihood of that happening is basically nonexistent. We had help.”
Really? Now I felt stupid. “Don’t you feel bad about that?”
He shook his head. “Sometimes, having connections is a good thing and it doesn’t make you any less amazing on the ice for using them. Just think about it. Almost theentirefilm industry is based on connections, only a small percentage got to where they are because of hard work. The NHL isn’t much different. Besides, they’re already having an eye on youbecause you’re part of the Carter family. Our family has been in the NHL for decades. You’re genetically prone to be good at hockey, to make it big, of course they’re going to watch you. They’ve been watching you since you were a kid, Reece.Anyagent you have will get you a spot in the NHL, and the teams will fight for you. They’re just waiting for you to enter the draft so they can throw contracts your way and bid you millions of dollars.”
“You really think so?”
“I know so.”
I raked a hand through my hair as I thought about what he said for a little while. It made sense in theory. There were tons of brothers in the NHL, some who joined way later than the first one. They had expectations either way, and if the brother who joined later played only half as good as the older one, even that was considered a win.
8
