Page 175 of Cheap Shot

Luke swallowed thickly at the footage of him lifting the Cup for Boston, his healing black eye partially obscured by damp hair, his face covered in sweat and a heavy beard.

There was a message from his mother, talking about how proud she was of his accomplishments. Were he and his parents close?Nah, not really. But he did love them. And he was glad they’d shared this moment.

There was a video of an old assistant coach of Luke’s from when he’d been about sixteen. “Luke, you began your career by making your name as an enforcer. It’s good to know nothing has changed.”

Luke chuckled at the clips of a much younger and smaller version of him flattening guys against the boards and wrestling them to the ground.

“But even before you believed that you had the skill to make it to The Show, I believed in you.” There were more shots, one of him being dragged to the penalty box, arguing the whole way.

“Your physical and mental toughness were evident from the beginning, and I couldn’t be prouder of all you’ve achieved.”

Then there was a video from Brie playing along with footage from Harper’s day with the team. “When I realized my daughter was obsessed with you as a player, I worried. Was this the role model I wanted for her? But when I saw how kind you were to her, I began to think that I was wrong. And when I think about all you’ve done for her in the past few months and how selflessly you’ve supported our family, IknowI was. Because under that tough exterior is someone with a kind heart and a giving nature.”

Luke shifted uncomfortably, hating the praise, but he felt the press of Sebastian’s shoulder against his arm, the reminder that even if he didn’t need it acknowledged in public like this, he’d done it because he cared about Sebastian and Harper and Brie.

When Harper appeared on the screen wearing a tiny version of his jersey, there was a noticeable “aww” from the crowd. Harper’s voice was very earnest. “Mr. Luke. You are my veryfavorite player and my friend. You taught me how to fight and kept me safe from the monsters. I hope you playforever.”

The screen transitioned to Luke taking a swing at a guy from New York, then wrestling him to the ground, before a shot of Sebastian holding theDon’t blame me, I’m just the gunclesign.

Luke laughed, nodding toward where he knew Brie and Harper sat in the crowd.

A moment later Sebastian flashed onto the screen in his usual vintage New York Rockets jersey. Beside him, the back of Sebastian’s knuckles brushed his. Luke shifted, rotating his wrist and grabbing Sebastian’s hand again as Sebastian began to speak, knowing he was probably going to get choked up at this part.

“Hey, Luke. As everyone knows, I didn’t like you much when we first met.”

Luke laughed along with the crowd at a shot of Luke in the penalty box, and Sebastian shouting some insult at him.

“You made it your mission to spend as much time in the sin bin as possible and I made it my mission to heckle you every time you stepped foot inside it.”

There was a rapid-fire sequence of game after game, Luke in the box, Sebastian always nearby.

“Maybe I should have known then how important you would be to me, but I never could’ve imagined what we’d become. But seeing you with my niece, seeing the way you’ve supported me and my whole family, seeing what kind of man you are off theice? I feel lucky that you showed up on my flower shop doorstep that night. And glad that I let you in.”

Luke squeezed Sebastian’s hand. He was glad too.

“We’re never gonna agree on which team is the best. I might never be a Harriers fan?—”

His words were nearly drowned out by the boos of the crowd, which made Luke laugh. He glanced over at Sebastian to see him grinning too.

“—but I’ll always beyournumber-one fan.”

Luke squeezed tighter, a little stunned. That wasn’t something Sebastian said lightly.

There were clips from some of his teammates, including Tanner talking about how much he’d learned from Luke. “You’re the grumpiest guy I know,” Tanner said with a grin. “The annoying big brother I never wanted. But I feel lucky to be your D-partner and your friend. I hope you feel that way too.”

Luke glanced over at the bench and made a waggling motion with his hand.

The crowd laughed.

“I know that under all that tough-guy grump, you care about this team and me. Even if you’ll never say it out loud, I know you’re glad we’re paired together.”

And Luke swallowed hard because it was true, damn it.

There was a message from Rafe, talking about what a relief it had been to play on a team with Luke instead of against him, overlayed against hits Luke had had against Rafe when they were opponents.

Luke’s eyes grew a little misty as the messages just kept coming and coming.

Guys he’d played with years ago in Philly and Dallas and Calgary. People in the Harriers organization talking about small things he’d forgotten, like a tire he’d changed for one of the women in the marketing department, and the team chef, who mentioned how Luke always shook his hand and thanked him for his work when he picked up the prepared meals he liked.