Thecode. I almost laughed. We'd made it when we were ten, a set of rules we swore to live by. The first was no punches—except when it came to Sullivan, who was an eternal exception. Then, the second rule was sacred:no sisters. Ryder had beenobsessedwith my sister Stasia for years, but the real kicker was that I’d never imagined I’d need to worry about Sydney. Back then, she was just a toddler, too young to think about any of this. But now? Now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
I liked that Ryder defended Frankie, even in his usual blunt way. She was important, and the last thing I needed was someone not respecting her. I didn’t care if they had their own code. She deserved better than that.
Rowan’s phone dinged, yanking us from the moment. He pulled it out of his pocket, eyes scanning the screen before he looked up, a grin tugging at his lips. “It’s Shai. She’s near here, at some park. Anyone up for it?”
I exchanged a glance with Ryder. Neither of us said a word. We both knew Rowan’s feelings for Shai, even if he wouldn’t admit it. And if he didn’t make a move soon? She’d be gone—one day, he’d be off to the NHL, and Shai would move on to someone else, maybe even someone who’d been bold enough to go after her sooner.
I wanted to be selfish. I wanted to storm to Frankie’s house, pound on her door until she couldn’t ignore me anymore, and then press her against it like she was the only thing that mattered. But my friends… they were important too. Rowan was like a brother, and I couldn’t leave him hanging when he was this close to something real.
So, I nodded. “The park it is.”
And when we were done, I’d return to Frankie. I’d remind her, no matter how long it took, just why she wanted to answer my texts in the first place.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
FRANKIE
“You were right,” I sighed, my voice a soft murmur as I leaned back onto the blanket beside Sullivan. “This is exactly what I needed.”
It was a gorgeous February day in San Francisco, the kind where the sky seemed impossibly blue, the air just warm enough to feel like a hug, but not so hot that it demanded attention. February had a way of surprising me, reminding me that even the coldest months could hold moments of grace. I hadn’t taken enough time to appreciate this city—my city—but today, everything felt effortless. Dolores Park was alive with its usual energy: people laughing, frisbees flying, bikes weaving between groups of friends, and families clustered around picnic baskets, their voices blending into the soundtrack of a perfect day.
From where we sat, the city skyline sparkled like a promise of something grand, while to our right, the Mission Dolores stood, a silent sentinel in the sun. I couldn’t take my eyes off it—its weathered adobe walls, the soft curve of its Spanish architecture. It was my favorite place in all of San Francisco. While most tourists flocked to the obvious spots—Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge—I always found my peace here. The Mission, with its quiet strength, was a reminder that time never truly erasedthe past. That some things, some memories, lingered, tucked in the corners of old buildings and faded walls. I couldn’t help but wonder if my parents’ spirits still walked these streets, their presence lingering like the soft hum of the city itself.
Sullivan shifted beside me, but his eyes were closed, lost in the warmth of the afternoon sun. His wife, Sam, was the first to break the spell, sitting up and flashing a grin that could light up the entire park. “I fucking love this city.”
I smiled, watching her. Unlike me, Sam hadn’t grown up here. She’d followed Ryder from team to team, from city to city, before finally settling down with Sullivan. I admired her more than I could say. She’d chosen him—not because it was easy, but because she couldn’t be without him, no matter the cost. That kind of love wasn’t just rare; it was a force of nature.
He was a kid when it happened, maybe eighteen, his entire world caught in the orbit of Sam’s easy smile. It was no surprise; she had that effect on people.
When I’d first met her, I had no intention of making friends, especially not in the messy, complicated way Shai insisted. But somehow, against all odds, she’d wormed her way into my life, and now? I couldn’t imagine it without her.
“Get off your asses!” she called, her voice carrying over the park like an anthem. “It’s a perfect day, and I want you all to play with me.”
She threw the frisbee, but her new companion was too distracted by her to catch it, and it smacked him square in the forehead. The sound of it, followed by Shai’s laughter, echoed through the park, bright and carefree. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders, a riot of red that only added to her charm.
I’d worn my own hair down today, and I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t that I was avoiding Teddy, but yeah, I was avoiding his texts. It was time to get my head on straight.
I let out a heavy sigh, leaning back on my elbows as the soft afternoon sun warmed my face. “So, Travis came by the other night."
The moment the words left my mouth, Sullivan’s eyes snapped open, and he shot up off the blanket with a curse that seemed to vibrate through the air. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
Sam barely looked up from where she was sprawled out beside him. She reached for his chest and patted it gently. “No, you won’t, babe. There’s a reason you’re not still playing hockey like your brother.”
I met her gaze, and a knowing smile tugged at my lips. “Not enough aggression.”
Sullivan pouted, his lips jutting out in a way that made me almost laugh. “I have aggression.”
Sam leaned over and kissed his cheek with a smile that softened the edges of his frustration. “Of course you do, honey.” Then, her attention shifted back to me, the intensity returning to her eyes. “But this isn’t about you. That dickwad shouldn’t be anywhere near Frankie. I’ll fucking kill him.”
I glanced at Sullivan, who had already risen to his feet, fists clenched at his sides.
“So, it’s okay for you to do it, but not me?” Without waiting for an answer, he gestured toward us dramatically, his voice thick with playful irritation. “I’m going to play frisbee. But you two better figure out who gets to kill that son of a bitch.” And with that, he was off, leaving me alone with Sam—who, to be fair, I didn’t know nearly as well as I should. But she offered me a sympathetic smile anyway.
“He’s more like his twin than I’ll ever tell him.”
“Can I ask you a question?” I said.
She arched a brow at me. “Well, yes, but first, I want to know if you put Travis’s balls in a vise and squeezed until they burst.”
