Page 103 of Breakaway Hearts

“Noah’s sister? He was our captain last year, and he’s come to a few team events this season.” He shakes his head. “She’s ten and came to a lot of games up until he graduated, so a lot of us older players see her as our little sister too. A bunch of us will be at her figure skating finals next weekend. If you’re into that.”

“She’s ten?” he verifies.

“Acts thirty sometimes, but yeah.”

“And that’s where you’ll be next Saturday instead of the block party?” We were all invited, and I am only realizing now that when half the team turned down the invite saying we had another commitment, it might have sounded like we were throwing our own party the other half of the team – the guys who think we’re rich assholes who don’t deserve our spots on the team—weren’t invited to.

“We might check it out if it’s still going when we get back, but yeah, Iz is priority, especially when Noah has an away game and can’t be there.” I shrug.

“I don’t not come on purpose. It’s not like a statement,” Danny says after a minute.

“Come where?”

“Team dinner. Or parties and whatever else you put in the stupid team chat every weekend.”

“It’s not everyone’s cup of tea. The events, or the chat,” I assure him. “But I’ve been told the teams that do best on ice are the ones who get along off the ice as well.”

I don’t tell him it was NHL legends who told me this while consulting for the hockey movie my dad did.

“They’re fine. Way more active than a chat should be. But I have my sister.”

“Full time?” I don’t know if it’s okay to ask that, but honestly, I didn’t even know he had a sister.

“No, she’s at boarding school during the week, but I usually pick her up on Fridays and we spend the weekend together.”

“That’s really nice. You should bring her sometime.”

“I’ve been in our locker room. I know Becca isn’t really a kid anymore, but⁠—”

“No, I mean, yeah, locker rooms are not for kids, but we can all behave when needed. Iz comes with Savannah sometimes, and Coach brings Liv whenever he makes an appearance.”

“Maybe.”

He looks like he wants to let me know this doesn’t change anything and he still hates me, but I think maybe a little less?

Hopefully.

I end up next to Jason on the bus home. We won 3-1, and Danny actually passed the puck to Mike, which I consider excellent progress.

Jason hasn’t been openly rude to anyone on the team, he actually gets along pretty well with everyone. But as friendly as he is with us, I still get the feeling, not that he doesn’t like us, but that this is all surface. He’s there when we need him, he’s got our backs on and off the ice, but I don’t think he expects the same from us. I’m working on changing that on the ice, because no goalie should have to deal with so little defense helping him out, but I don’t think he’d ever come to us off the ice either. Which is fine, but combined with Maddie’s hatred of athletes…I have questions.

“Is this about my team performance or the fact you’re sleeping with my roommate?” Jason asks, his voice low, with a slightly reluctant yet knowing smile.

I look around to make sure no one heard, because Mad definitely wouldn’t like that.

“You’re literally the only player Coach told me not to mess with,” I assure him.

“It’s working though,” he points out. “I don’t think everyone is best friends, but Danny isn’t looking like he wants to destroy you today.”

“I somehow managed to convince him I’m not the worst human being on the planet.”

“Yet you’re sleeping with the best friend of the one player your coach asked you not to fuck with.” He shrugs like that’s a choice.

“I’m not messing with her,” I promise. “The last thing I want to do is hurt her.”

“Doesn’t mean you won’t.”

He’s got me there.