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And that’s how I find myself waiting for a bunch of little girls fully dressed in equipment out on the ice.

The sight of them makes me think of my brothers, and my chest tightens as I wonder how Ryker is this morning.

I should have messaged him before leaving the house.

Rovvy and I watch as they run through their drills.

They’re all incredible, but there’s one who stands out above the others.

I understand why when she turns around and across her shoulders I find Rivers.

A chuckle erupts.

“What is it?” Rovvy asks.

“You see that one?”

“Hell yeah. She’s the best player on the ice by a mile.”

“You seen her name and number?”

“Uh…Is that…?”

“Yep. That’s little Rivers.”

“Damn, she’s good. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree there, huh?”

“Nope. Rivers was like that when he was little. He’d skate rings around most of the kids on our team.”

“I bet you were right there behind them, though.”

“Oh hell, yeah,” I say as my stomach knots.

Always right behind Kodie Rivers. That just about sums up my life.

Kodie scored a hat trick today.

Kodie got MVP.

There were scouts at your game today. They were watching Kodie.

“I bet you two were a force to be reckoned with.”

I mumble a response as the coaches bring the girls’ drills to an end.

“You know who their coach is, right?”

“Uh…”

“Casey Watson.”

“Oh shit, for real?”

“Yep. Hockey runs in the blood around here.”

“I hope when I have a kid one day that they want to play. It’ll fucking suck if they don’t.”

“Whoa. Don’t get carried away with yourself there. You gotta find a woman who’s willing to put up with you for long enough to make a baby first.”