The look on Rooker’s face slices me. We grew up in the same community and started skating around the same time. His parents took me to all our road games since mine couldn’t be bothered.
“I’m not asking Oakley to come back to Steele Valley. She made it clear years ago that we didn’t have the same wants for the future. She wanted to do her own thing, not be a pro athlete’s wife.”
I’ve never been more thankful than right now that my friend is a vault when it comes to sharing his mind, because Aubrey chooses that moment to bound down the stairs in a—what the hell?
I look from her to Rooks and back again before scratching the back of my neck.
Rooks’s expression lights up as Aubrey squeals and launches herself at him. “Twinsies!” he yells before grabbing her under the arms and spinning in circles. The giggles it elicits are worth the ass-chewing we’ll get for being late.
They really are dressed the same. Where I picked fun at Rooks’s navy rain suit, Aubrey is clad in a bright-purple and lime-green one, complete with mermaid rain boots.
“When did you get that? Better yet, where?”
“Isn’t it the most awesomest, Bubba?” The use of her nickname for me and the way she’s cradled against Rooks’s chest makes me long for the days when she would curl up with us to nap or watch television. She’s still tiny, and Rooks is massive.
“Need any help getting your hockey bag in the truck, Shortstack?”
“Not short, Rookie,” she says as she sticks out her tongue at him, her legs kicking the air, effectively thwarting her argument.
As he sets her feet on solid ground and takes her bag before she can protest, he tugs on her messy braid. “You barely come up to my chest, kiddo,” he says before heading out the door. “Let’s go, slowpokes!” he hollers over his shoulder.
That usually quiet place in my chest thumps at the sight, and I can’t help but think, what if? What if I could give Aubrey that stability she pretends not to crave? What if I’d made different choices, better choices, all those years ago?
But it’s pointless.
There’s more to my fiancée—ex-fiancée—not sticking around. One of her biggest fears—hell, maybe the biggest fear—was becoming a mother. It’s why we split. She wasn’t willing to give me kids. Guess she never realized the only way I wanted kids was with her.
Since we’re both stubborn, we’ve kept our friendship intact, much to her brother Noah’s delight. Let’s be honest: I can’t do life without my Katie Girl in my life, even if that means occasional video calls and minimal social media stalking.
“Bubba, do I have to go to Ms. Shona’s? I can just stay in Uncle Thorn’s office. He likes when I sort his paperwork.”
“I promise to get you to the rink after lunch, but there’s too much happening today. I’ll let you hit the ice for a bit. Maybe one of the younger guys will be dumb enough to accept your challenges.”
“I could use some extra book money,” she muses, already trailing after Rooks.
As we climb into the truck, I run through the usual morning questions and get eye rolls and sighs in return.
“Do you have your phone?”
“Yep.”
“Is it charged?”
“Duh.”
“Don’t duh me.”
“Don’t ask stupid questions.”
That earns her a sharp look while Rooks shakes with silent laughter behind the wheel.
“You are skating on very thin ice this morning, Aubrey Lynn. Don’t test me. I better not find out from Ms. Shona that you’re pulling this mess with her.”
She crosses her arms and huffs, so I drop my chin to catch her eyes.
“Got me?” I ask softly.
She only nods once, but I’ll take it.
