She snorted, but the corners of her mouth twitched. “I like the drama here with the Hawks. I know you wanted to keep me out of it, but...I feel alive butting my head against some hockeyidiot every day and reminding Leon to be human. It’s fun. It reminds me...of the good times with you.”
“Oh man,” Jack groaned. “You’re as messed up as we are, aren’t you?”
She laughed. “Yeah. But in the best way.”
“God, okay.” Dax sighed. “Then stay on. Honestly... I like having you around all the time. But not because I can keep an eye on you!” he said quickly when she looked at him, her brows furrowed. “But because you’re funny. And...I’m... sorry. About Saturday. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Moreau said I was being an asshole and I guess he’s right.”
Her heart clenched. Lucas had said that?
“I was just angry that you didn’t tell me about Dad and that you... had to go see him alone because you knew how I would react and, understandably, didn’t tell me.”
“I wasn’t alone. Lucas was there,” she said quietly.
“He was, was he?” Dax replied sharply.
“Dax...” Jack said warningly.
“What? He obviously doesn’t want to be with her — and that makes him an idiot!”
“It’s more complicated than that,” she murmured with a sigh. “I’m not angry at him. He hasn’t done anything wrong. So...you shouldn’t be angry with him either.” She glanced back and forth between them earnestly.
“You’re asking a lot,” Dax said. “But fine! He can keep his teeth. Either way...” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m coming with you.”
“What?”
“Next time you see Dad, I’m coming with you.”
Perplexed, she blinked at him. “But you hate him.”
“Yes. But I love you. And some of the things you just said...” He groaned softly and rubbed his forehead. “You were right. I never asked what you wanted. And when I knew, I ignored it.Like when you wanted to make up with Jack. That wasn’t fair of me. So, if you want to forgive Dad, that’s okay. But I know how fucking hard it must be for you to see him and talk to him. I don’t want you to have to do that alone or... Lucas fucking Moreau to play the hero.”
She fought a smile. That really wasn’t what had happened. But the thought seemed to bother Dax a lot...and he deserved it a little. So she remained silent.
“So, everything’s...okay again? Between all of us?” Jack asked cautiously. Anna practically felt his uncertainty radiating against her skin.
Her oldest brother was constantly afraid that the people he loved would leave him again. But that was nonsense.
“Don’t worry, you’ll never get rid of us, Jack,” she said apologetically. “Dax will annoy you forever and I’ll forever share embarrassing stories from your youth with your teammates.”
Jack grinned. “I can handle that.”
She laughed while Dax asked, “I’m annoying? When?”
Jack’s laugh was even louder than Anna’s when the door opened again.
“What’s so funny?” Matthew Payne asked, poking his head in.
“Dax wanted to know when he was annoying,” Anna remarked with a grin.
Matt snorted. “That’s a trick question, right? Because there’snevera specific time.”
Dax rolled his eyes. “What do you want, Matt?”
“Coach wants everyone in Meeting Room B in two hours.”
“Why?” Jack frowned.
“I have no idea.”
