Page 80 of Ruck Me Harder

He shakes his head. “You’re mixing your pop culture again.”

Drawing him closer, I wind my arms around his neck. “You love it.”

“I love you.” His smile kisses mine. “The rest is just a bonus.”

We settle in to watch the game. Since Ceci sprung for a nice suite, we have cushy leather seats instead of the unforgiving plastic stadium seats. Tony holds his own with my friends, but once the game starts, he’s laser-focused whenever his brother is on the ice.

I have mixed feelings about who to root for. As much as I want my brother to win, I’m a Boston girl now, and my friends are on the team. Can’t I just cheer whenever either side makes a good play?

Alas, it’s like Al has rocket fuel in his shakes, because he dekes and fakes out half the Colorado squad before putting a bullet past their goalie. He blows Chuck a kiss and my brother glares at him.

Tomorrow morning, there will be speculation my brother and Tony’s brother are in a scandalous relationship. I almost wish it were true. It would certainly fix both of their dating woes. Then at least we’d keep it all in the family.

It sounds like a romance novel. Good thing I know a writer. I make a note to tell Sadie later. Who knows, maybe it will be the plot line of her next book.

The game is exciting, the pace quick as the players get chippy. High in the upper bowl, I can’t hear what the players are saying on ice level, but I can see Chuck and Al jawing at each other all game long.

Fuck. I worried so much about me getting along with Tony’s siblings, and him getting along with mine, that I didn’t consider what would happen if our respective siblings didn’t jive.

As if he can sense my agitation, Tony draws his arm around me and pulls me into his side. He kisses my temple and then focuses his attention on the game again.

Rachel and Sadie are across the box. I see them watching me with knowing smirks. I roll my eyes and Rachel outright laughs at me. She’s such a little shit.

Last winter, we sat in this arena and watched her now-boyfriend play while she dithered over whether to make a move. I’m the one that convinced her to take the first steps; I claim their relationship as my success.

The score on the ice is tied even, 2-2. Jake Lewis, Rachel’s boyfriend, is doing his best to keep the Dragons out of his crease, but the Grizzlies’ defense is mediocre at best and pitiful at worst. If it weren’t for all of Colorado’s shots ending up wide or hitting the post, and if it wasn’t for Jake playing the game of his life, the score would be a lot more lopsided.

Chuck has landed four shots on goal, Jake denying him each time. Where I wasn’t sure before, now I’m certain: I want my brother to win. At the very least, I want him to score a goal and get the monkey off his back. His hard work and dedication should be rewarded.

I take a few photos of the ice, sending them to the family group chat. Perry sends back a thumbs up and Janine hearts the photo. No response from Frankie or Bradley—yet.

The Dragons score, bringing the tally to 3-2. Boston pulls their goalie to get another attacker on the ice.

And as the final seconds wane, Colorado has the puck. I watch with bated breath as Gibson passes up to Chuck, who stick handles around Al before firing a dart at the net.

4-2 Colorado. Goodnight, Boston.

Understandably, that lets the air out of the crowd’s collective sails, but I can’t stop smiling.

The sour mood continues as the final buzzer rings and we make our way to the bar. It takes the players a while to do press, shower and change, and leave the arena, so we’ll have a good head start on the night by the time they arrive.

Our gang is let into the VIP section by the bouncer and we post up at a few tables. We have a large crowd tonight, not to mention the rest of the players’ partners and families. Tony doesn’t leave my side, his arm around my waist or his hand holding mine the entire time. When the waiter comes by, he orders us sodas.

“I don’t care if you drink,” I tell him. “It doesn’t bother me.”

Just because I’m sober doesn’t mean he has to abstain. Sure, I won’t like it if he gets blackout drunk, but a few drinks on a night out are not enough to be concerned about in someone who doesn’t already have a problem.

I did. I couldn’t moderate it. I’m not ashamed of that. How long it took me to get help, maybe. But if I had gotten help earlier, then I wouldn’t have hit my rock bottom when I did, and I wouldn’t have had that first night with him. For all the bad that came with it, there was a whole lot of good too.

Tony shrugs. “I don’t need to drink tonight. Another time, maybe.”

There’s a cheer throughout the club, and heads swivel toward the noise. The pack of hockey players have descended upon the place, thundering up the stairs to the VIP section.

To my surprise, there are more than a few Colorado Dragons players mixed with the Grizzlies guys. Al has his arm around Chuck’s shoulders. And, even more shocking, Chuck isn’t pushing him away.

My brother reaches me and I stand to give him a hug.

“Good game,” I yell in his ear. “Congrats on the goal.”