Page 28 of Ruck Me Harder

“It’s not, not really. It’s more… I didn’t want you to be blindsided if they mention it,” I explain. “The wives and partners aren’t always super welcoming to me. I’m not officially associated with the team. I think they think I’m after their guys, which I would never do, but they don’t know me. We don’t sit in the team box with them, so if that’s what you were expecting…”

She shakes her head. “Anywhere is fine. I’m just glad you’re inviting me along.”

Seeing Tony at practice the other day, on top of the night at the bar, drove home the reminder that our lives are inexplicably intertwined. His brother is the teammate of all my friends’ boyfriends. His sister is my teammate. I can’t get away from him.

I don’t even know if I want to at this point.

I can’t figure out if he was asking me out the other day. I mean, I think he was, but I’m not sure the motivation behind it. He acts like he can’t stand me, but then he shows up at my practice in his fucking leather jacket with his hair all windswept… and I didn’t hate it. Not in the slightest.

Where that leaves me now, I’m not sure.

Ceci couldn’t make it tonight, so we’re not in a suite. Vanessa’s arranged for us to sit on ice level on the Grizzlies shoot twice side. Sadie and Rachel are joining us, of course, plus Hailey MacGregor, the younger sister of Aidan MacGregor. We’ve met a few times and she seems lovely.

Although Hailey’s a few years older than Cari, I thought it might be nice for her to have another sibling-of-a-player there. When I go to Chuck’s hockey games and Perry’s football games, hanging out with the other wives and partners gets awkward, fast. They view the guys in a very different lens than I see my brothers. I still see them as the annoying little chuckleheads I grew up with. It’s easy to forget they’re playboy professional athletes who fuck everything that moves.

I’m a professional athlete too, but if I were to fuck any guy who looked at me, I’d be called a slut and looked down on when they’re celebrated for it. The double standard drives me absolutely nuts.

Settling into my seat beside Cari, I take in the arena's atmosphere. There’s nothing like being immersed in the furor and frenzy of a hockey game.

“You mind if we take a photo together?” she asks, lifting her phone.

Shaking my head, I pose and smile, and she snaps the picture. I watch as she tags me in the photo before posting it online. My phone buzzes in my pocket.

“So, what’s the deal with you and my brother?” Cari asks. Somehow, I don’t think she’s talking about Al…

I squeak. “There’s no deal.”

She hums. “I don’t believe you.”

“You don’t have to believe me,” I splutter. “There’s nothing going on.”

Cari looks me up and down, her face saying enough.

“It’s nothing,” I stress.

“I thought it was weird that Al didn’t want to pursue anything, but seeing you with Tony…” She shakes her head. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just hoping. I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“I have two. Do you want them?” I joke.

But from the way her lips form a thin line, I don’t think she finds the humor.

“When your brothers are ready to settle down, they’ll find partners,” I say instead. “There’s nothing going on—with either of your brothers.”

She gives a little pout. “I know, I know. You’ve made it clear. I was just hoping.”

“Hey.” Turning in my seat, I set my hand on her arm and wait for her to meet my eyes. “You have twenty-five players on our squad who will happily be your sisters. You have teammates now. That bond can’t be broken.”

Cari gives me a tremulous smile. “Really?”

“We won’t always get along, we’ll get on each other's nerves, but with teams like ours, we’ll be there for you through thick and thin.” I grin at her. “Being in this league, it’s different from when you played in college. It’s not just for fun anymore, it’s not a hobby. It’s work. What we do matters. We have a good time, yeah, but we’re there because we want to be, because we want to grow the sport. We support one another.”

“I see that,” she says quietly. “I’m really seeing that.”

Squeezing her arm, I give her a smile. “I’m glad you’re on our team.”

“Me too,” she says, her eyes wet.

She clears her throat a few times as we focus our attention back on the game in front of us. The score is tied, 2-2, and Montreal is giving Boston a run for their money.