Page 24 of Line Change

“Being pregnant complicates things. It was already hard juggling our farm and helping Mum at hers, but now we’re going to add a baby to the mix. When we told Mum earlier today, she said now might be a good time to think about selling.” She whispers the last part, and I rear back.

No. I can’t let that happen. It’s been in our family for generations. I can’t let my father down. I promised him I’d take care of the family, which includes his legacy, his family’s legacy—the farm.

“I talked to her two days ago. She didn’t mention anything about selling.”

Harriet sighs. “I think it’s because we told her we were pregnant. It’s not going to be feasible for us to juggle two farms. It’s already tough.”

I pace. “That settles it. I’ll come home at the end of the season and take over.” I rough a hand through my hair, tugging on the ends.

“Bash,” she says gently. “Your life is there on the ice, not here running the family farm. What about your girlfriend? Your friends? You’re just going to abandon your team and your life? I thought you wanted to play professional hockey.”

“I do, but—”

“We gotta head to the bus.” Hunter’s voice comes from behind me.

“Listen, Harriet. I have to go. I’m sorry. We’re leaving for the airport. Can we talk about this later with Mum?”

“Yeah. I probably shouldn’t have called and alarmed you. I just couldn’t …”

“It’s fine. Congrats on your pregnancy. I’m happy for you. Don’t worry about the farm. I’ll figure it out.”

“Bash …”

“Gotta go. Love you.” I hang up the phone and shove it into my pocket before following Hunter toward the exit of the arena and onto the waiting bus.

“Your sister okay?” Wes asks when I drop into the seat in front of him.

“Yeah.” I lean back against the seat as the bus starts moving.

“Want to talk about it?” Hunter asks from my left.

I stare out the window vacantly.

“My mum wants to sell the farm that’s been in our family for five generations,” I finally tell him.

“Fuck, man. That sucks,” Wes says.

I let out a strained laugh. “No shit.”

“I’m sorry. Anything we can do?” Hunter asks.

I shake my head. “No, I have to figure out how to fix this. My mum wants to retire, and I don’t blame her. My sister and her husband already have her husband’s farm. I get it. My little sister is at culinary school and has no interest.”

“It’s not up to you to fix everything,” Hunter says, and I rear back at his words, my eyes widening. Yes. It is. I’m the oldest. I promised Dad. It’s my responsibility. Which is why I’m going home after the end of the season. I just have to convince my family to wait that long. “But if you need to talk things through, I’m happy to listen. We all are.”

Wes nods.

I turn to them, grateful for this team, for these friendships that I’ll be losing at the end of the season. Maybe not losing, because I think we’ll always be friends, but it won’t be the same when I’m thousands of miles away across the Atlantic.

“Thanks.”

“So, you and Sutton, eh?” Wes asks. I blink a couple of times, processing his question. Talk about whiplash.

“Can we not?”

“I gotta say, man, I can’t get a read on her, on you two,” Wes says.

“We’re just friends. And roommates.”