Yup, number one all-around draft pick of his class, who went on to win the Vezina andCalder Memorial Trophy his rookie year. He won it again last season, and after a blockbuster trade, Shelli Adler-Brooks brought him home from the Sharks. The amount of money she paid for him, and the draft picks she gave up, was frowned upon, but there hasn’t been a goalie like him since his dad, Tate Odder, and she knew she had to get him home.
We’ve been friends since we were kids, and scoring on him means I can score on anyone, which is why he does this for me.
Ashlyn exhales but rebounds quickly, plastering a huge smile on her face. “I’ve contacted your agent, and he won’t ever get back to me.”
Phillipe runs his tongue along his teeth, and yeah, I’ll need to warn him of how uptight she is. He’s too easygoing for someone like her. “Should have just slid into my DMs.”
He has a bit of a Swedish accent since his dad is from Sweden and they spent lots of summers there. Usually, women swoon at the lilt in his voice, but my crazy-ass cousin just glares. “Do I look like someone who slides into someone’s DMs? I am a professional.”
Phillipe grins, but it isn’t an easy grin like I’m used to. Instead, it’s a hungry one that has me gagging. “Dude, stop looking at my cousin like that.”
He pays me no mind while my brother cackles. Ashlyn glares at me but returns her gaze to Phillipe. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Would you like my personal number?”
I know she wants it; I can see it all over her face, but she’s going to die on the professional hill she’s standing on. “No. Tell your agent to reply to my emails.”
With that, she jumps off the bench and struts away, but I don’t miss the redness on her face or the tension in her shoulders. She wants Phillipe for her camp. He would bring in so much money and more kids, but her pride is a bigger bitch than she is.
I set my buddy with a look. “Enjoy yourself there?”
Back is the easygoing grin. “Oh yeah. I forgot how hot your cousin is.”
My face scrunches as Louis pipes up, “She’s great when you get past all her crazy.”
“I think she’s incredible,” he says, and then he pulls his mask down. “Remind me to call my agent.”
Louis laughs as he gathers a puck on his blade then sends it to me. His pass is fast, hard, and I’m ready for it. I swing my stick, connect with the frozen rubber as the crack of my stick against it echoes around the rink. When it goes over Odder’s shoulder, a shot he should have had, I raise a brow. “Shit, if I’d known my cousin would be that big of a distraction, I would have brought her in years ago.”
Odder laughs at that before we get back to business.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Dawson
We take turns shooting on Odder, going through two buckets before we break to gather pucks. Once they’re back in the buckets, we head to the bench to rehydrate. I’m breathing heavily as I guzzle my Gatorade. Odder isn’t the least bit winded, leaning on the boards as Louis sits beside me, checking his phone. I push my shoulder into his. “Texting Jen?”
He gives me a sheepish smile and nods. “Yeah. He has a meeting with some executives today. I want to wish him luck.”
I return the smile, proud of him and Jennings. No matter how much shit they got for being together because of the sport Louis plays, their love is strong. I would have fought for Louis, no matter what, but knowing how in love and how dedicated the two of them are to each other only pushed me to fight harder. It’s kind of crazy how much I love seeing my brother in love, but I don’t have the same thing. I don’t want it. I don’t have time for it, nor has anyone ever made me want to have what Jennings and Louis have.
I know what the student body thinks of me.
Hell, I know what my family thinks.
While I’m nowhere near as bad as I was my freshman year, I don’t have the best reputation. I don’t date, nor do I come back a second time. To some, it’s weird and only furthers my mom’s point about my commitment issues, but for me, I’m committed to hockey and football. My life has always been surrounded by ice and turf. I’m sure someone will come along who catches my eye and keeps it for longer than it takes for her to get me off, but I’m not holding my breath.
Or looking for her.
But when it comes to Louis and Jennings, I’m a supporter.
“He’s got this,” I say, because I know he does. Jennings is going places in the songwriting world. He learned from my aunt, and she’s written with some really big names.
Louis beams up at me, and I smile back. I’ve always been really close to Louis, but after he came out, I feel like we got closer. Like he exposed himself to me, and it’s my job to protect who he is. I love the dude, and by extension, I love Jennings. “I told him you said that.”
Just then, Odder pulls my attention. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
I bring in my brows, more than likely developing the same divot my dad has between his eyes. “No, I won’t give you Ash’s number. That’s for you to get.”
