Page 57 of Tripped Up

“Got it, got it,” he says, lifting his hands in innocence. “Just asking.”

“Yeah, well, you ask a lot.” I glower at him.

Riley laughs. “Dude, I’m nineteen and all you posers are, like, twice my age. There aren’t any chicks my age hanging around.”

“Maybe because you call them chicks,” Henry points out. “Just hit up a hookup app like everyone else.”

“Don’t do that,” Viggy and I say in unison.

“Go to the bar, find a puck bunny, and take her home,” Viggy adds. “It’s not that complicated.”

Riley makes a face. “That feels so… impersonal.”

“Are you trying to find a girlfriend, or do you want to get laid?” I ask. “You’re at the early start of your career. You don’t have to settle down unless you want to. There’s plenty of time to play the field.”

He hums, clearly not agreeing with me.

“Look, I’m thirty-two,” I point out. “I’ve dated throughout my career, but at the end of the day, hockey came first, and if they couldn’t get on board with that, it didn’t work out. Focus on yourself, on your career. Go out on the town, take a woman home, and move on. And for fuck’s sake, don’t get attached. Your career comes first. Always.”

Henry raises his brows. “Always?”

“Until the conversation changes to forever and all that shit, yeah. Sooner than most of us would like, we have to say goodbye to hockey.” I shrug. “I’m at the end of my career. I probably won’t get another contract after this. I’ve got three more years left. Who knows what will happen?”

“And how does Elsy factor into that?” Viggy asks pointedly.

“We’re not together, so right now, she doesn’t,” I tell him honestly. “If something were to change with us, if she wanted something serious and not casual, then it’s something I’d address with her. Between the two of us, we’d figure it out.”

Things have shifted so rapidly. I don’t know what she wants. Hell, I don’t really know what I want.

Other than her. I want her in my life, in my bed. The rest of it? No clue.

Guess I should probably figure that out before I ask her.

When she agreed to a do-over, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I can finally breathe again. Now’s my chance to prove to her I’m different, that I’ve changed.

Although putting my foot in my mouth this afternoon probably didn’t help…

Elsy and Bex are waiting in the friends and family hallway with the other wives and partners. When I reach them, Bex darts forward and hugs me. I can’t deny it’s nice to be able to do this with my sister by my side. She’s always supported me unconditionally, even though our parents are less than thrilled with the way my life has turned out.

Why can’t they be happy for me? My life is fucking awesome. I love hockey; I love getting to travel. I hated school. Even though Bex has enough degrees for the both of us, she’s never looked down on me for my lack of education or my career choices. She’s proud of me.

“Good game,” my sister says in my ear. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“I won’t,” I whisper to her.

She smiles before she backhands me in the gut, a love tap for old time’s sake. “Good.”

I cough as she knocks the wind out of me. Even though she’s been done with lacrosse for eight years, she still packs a punch. Turning my attention to Elsy, I take in the nervousness in her eyes, the worry on her face.

“Glad you could make it.” Feeling like an awkward pre-teen talking to the prettiest girl in school, I try to project warmth into my voice. The last thing I want is to spook my skittish kitten.

She darts forward, wrapping her arms around me in a quick hug.

But I don’t let her go, even when she tries to pull away. Breathing her in, I hold her close, memorizing the soft press of her curves against my body, the light jasmine scent of her hair.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I whisper in her ear.

She tenses in my arms.