Page 5 of Blue Line

“Same, brother, same.”

“Thanks again for inviting me to come with you to visit your folks.”

“Of course. We’re always happy to have you tag along. My parents love having a full house.” He frowns. “I think they always wanted more kids, a bigger family.” He shakes his head. “Mom sees you like another son. Honestly, I think she sees the entire team that way.”

I love Momma Abbott. She gives the best hugs and makes a mean cheesecake. “Thanks. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

I don’t know if anyone does; even I hadn’t realized how much it meant to me until recently.

He glances over at me before focusing back on the road. “You sure you only want to stay two weeks and not longer?”

“Yeah. I wanna be home when Mads and Aubs have their babies.” Madison, who’s married to our best friend and team captain, Hunter, is pregnant with their first child. And a few weeks before she’s due, Aubrey, who’s married to our other best friend and now assistant coach, Brody, is due with their first baby. I’m so excited for two more Storm babies to love on and spoil the way I spoil Hazel.

He chuckles. “It’s the end of May. Aubrey’s due in mid-June and Madison in late July. I highly doubt either one of them will be this early. You could stay an extra week or so and still be home in time.”

“I know, but I figured Hunt or Brod might want an extra person around. Someone to hang with their wives while they run errands or work out.”

“I’m sure they’ll both appreciate it.”

We lapse into silence, and I try to quiet the voice in my head that tells me my time with my friends is limited. That as Hazel gets older, Holt will be around less and less, spending more time with his daughter and girlfriend. How the other guys will be busy with their children. And, yes, there are still a few single guys on the team, and we’re friends, but it’s not the same. I don’t have the same type of friendship with them that I do with my three best friends. Holt, Brody, Hunter, and I have played together for many seasons now; we’re close. Although Brody resisted my friendship for years, preferring to be the broody loner, he’s come around.

“We’re here,” Holt announces as he pulls into his parents’ driveway and parks the car.

As we’re walking into the house, Hadley snags my arm, and I have to force myself not to react. My skin feels as if it’s on fire where she’s touching me. It feels like electricity is coursing through my body.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Oh, that’s right. I’ve been in love with my best friend’s sister since the day I met her at the beach three years ago.

“Can we talk?” Hadley asks, and her tone has me concerned, her usual sass gone. This is serious Hadley, and I don’t like it.

“Of course. Did I do something wrong?” I scan her face for any hint of what’s going on.

I thought the bantering was all in good fun, but maybe I went too far. I think back to the conversation in the car, replaying it all and trying to figure out what might have crossed a line.

“I need a favor.”

Chapter three

Hadley

“A favor?” Weston asks, glancing at my hand still resting on his arm.

Shit.

I snatch it away so fast you would have thought it was on fire. And in some ways, it was. But we’re not going there.

“Yes, Weston, Whatever the Fuck Your Middle Name is, Reynolds.” I wave a hand around. “A favor.”

He raises an eyebrow. “It’s going to cost you, Hadley Jane.”

I huff out a breath. “You haven’t even heard what it is. For all you know, I need you to kill a bug in my bedroom or untie a knot.”

“I know that’s not what you’re going to ask me to do. You could easily ask your brother or your father.”

I put my hands on my hips, glaring at him. “Weston.”

“Fine. After I help your brother put these away.” He holds up the grocery bags in his hands. “And see if your mom and Becca need help with dinner.”