Page 105 of Sweet Redemption

Serena

Hendrix . . . Your first official in-season game with the Revolution and you scored two goals! What a great game.

Hendrix

Thanks, princess. Want to celebrate with me tonight?

Serena

I could probably be convinced.

Hendrix

The code to my door is 3273. Be in my bed when I get home.

Hendrix

“Everything okay with Bodhi?” Nixon asks, looking down at the phone in my hands in the dimly lit, quiet cabin of the Revolution’s team jet. You’d think we’d be rowdy as fuck after a win, especially the first win of the season, but everyone’s tired and ready to be home. We’re also all aware that the hockey season is long and you’re only as good as your last win. We’ve got a long road ahead of us.

“Yeah, man. He’s with Grace. She just texted me to let him sleep there tonight and to grab him in the morning.” Man, do I owe my sister.

“When’s Britt’s mom coming to help?”

“She’s shooting for some time next week.” At least according to the last time we spoke. “We’ll see how that goes. She’s staying with us until she finds a place.”

“How’s that going to work?” he asks.

“What do you mean?” I grumble, too damn tired to talk in fucking circles. “The house has four bedrooms and a finished basement. There’s plenty of room, and I don’t think she’ll need to be there long. Teagan said she’d hook me up with a realtor when Mel’s ready.”

“Listen, brother, we’ve all tried to give you space, but we’re all worried about you. And I guess I’m going to be the one to go there, so don’t shoot the messenger, okay?”

I lift my hands in surrender. “I’m listening, but I honestly don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Serena Kingston.”

Well, shit. I should have known this was coming. “What about her?”

“What’s going on with her? I’m going to assume since you two were so close before college that you’re not just fucking around now, right?” The flight attendant stops by and hands us each a water. “Thank you,” he tells her, then looks back at me. “I mean, I’m going to need you to tell me you’re not dumb enough to go there with Max Kingston’s daughter if you’re just using her to get over Britt.”

I see fucking red, which isn’t fair because I’ve never talked to Nixon about any of this.

Not really something I feel like doing on a plane full of our teammates and more than one of her cousins. Not to mention two of our goddamned coaches. But hey, why not. Asshole.

“Listen, there’s a lot more to it than what you think you know, and I’m not about to get into it here. But you need to know Serena Kingston has been the love of my life since I was eighteen years old. I know it, she knows it, and Britt knew it.” I fight for the control I can feel slipping as I drop my voice. “Anything more than that is too complicated of a conversation to have on this plane.”

Fucking hell. She and I haven’t even worked through everything yet.

“Damn.” He whistles. “I didn’t know it was like that.”

“Yeah.” I grab the back of my neck and squeeze. “No one did. And no one else needs to. Not right now. When that happens is Serena’s call.”

“How’s she feel about Melissa coming to stay with you and Bodhi?” he asks, and my stomach sinks. “Dude . . . tell me she knows.”

Yeah . . . Maybe we should have had that conversation. “We haven’t talked about it yet.”

“Might want to get on that, Hen. I can’t imagine that’s going to be comfortable for either woman. And remember, I’m asking this from a good place, and I’m on your side, but seriously, do you know what you’re doing? It sounds like you’ve got some heavy history, a dead wife, a kid at home, and a soon-to-be former mother-in-law as your roommate. Do you have room for anything else?

“I’ll make room,” I grumble, annoyed as fuck by the question. “Listen when I say this, Nix. She’s my Kenzie. She always has been.”