“Riley is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with,” I say firmly. “I’m not confused about that.”
Chris’s shoulders relax. “So you’re doing it? You’re settling down…with Riley?” His voice has a tinge of disbelief.
“Yes, if she’ll have me.” I still remember Riley’s words about wanting to focus on her career for the time being. I’m willing to adjust to her timeline, as long as I get her in the end.
“So you respect her job? You don’t expect her to drop everything and follow you around when your career starts picking up?”
I shake my head. “I support her and I’ll protect her dreams, even if it costs me everything.”
“Including hockey?”
I swallow hard because, if my pain continues, that choice might be taken away from me. “Including hockey.”
Chris bobs his head and I can tell I’ve been approved. “I joke with Riley to keep things lighthearted, but she’s my sister. I don’t want to see her hurt and I won’t forgive anyone who hurts her.” His eyes drill into me. “Even you.”
I offer a tight-lipped smile as the pain strikes me again. “What about you?” I turn the spotlight on him. “You and Nicole getting serious?”
The diversion works and Chris dives into a speech about his girlfriend that lasts until we get to my place.
Renea is waiting for us in the living room.
I’m pretty confident I can hide my pain well enough from my agent since I did it so successfully with Riley and Chris.
“I heard the Lucky Strikers final roster conference is tomorrow,” Renea says, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Huh. That was fast.” I reach into the fridge and grab a water bottle.
“They’re rushing to enter a tournament that’s next week. It’s last minute. It’s disorganized. That Max guy who owns the team, he’s got his foot on the gas. It’s making him reckless. I don’t think it’s a good fit.”
“Max held a training camp to find the best players for the league qualifiers. Now that he has an idea who his team will be, he’s aiming for the league. I don’t see a problem with the timeline.” I search my cabinet for the pain pills that I keep for headaches. It will tide me over until I can get to the pharmacy.
Renea’s heels click on the tiles as she follows me around the counter. “You’re not in the same position that you were whenyou first came to Lucky Falls, Nat. You have options. A European team reached out?—”
“I’m not going to Europe, Renea.” My voice whips through the quiet kitchen.
Renea’s lips get so thin that it looks like she erased them from her face.
I gentle my tone. “I appreciate the way you’re looking out for me. I owe you a lot and I’m willing to work with you as long as our interests align, but I won’t leave Lucky Falls and if Max calls my name tomorrow, I’m taking the spot. The Lucky Strikers is the team I want to play with.”
Renea inhales shakily. “Fine. If that’s what you want, then I won’t argue.”
“Thanks, Renea.”
“Don’t thank me. I think this is the wrong decision for your career but…” She stares at the ground. “I still remember how weak you were after the surgery, and how you came out fighting at PT. You fell hundreds of times trying to walk again. Your arms were filled with bruises from falling, Nat.”
Renea stops and takes in a shaky breath. “You fought your way back to your feet. You deserve to choose where you want to play. I won’t stand in the way of that.”
Seeing that she’s getting emotional, I give Renea a warm hug.
“I won’t let you down, Renea.” I promise her. “The Lucky Strikers and I are going all the way to the top. You’ll see.”
Renea nods and pulls away from me to dot at her runny makeup.
After that, Chris emerges with his suitcases.
“Are you going to the airport already?” I ask, stunned.
“Renea offered me a seat on a private jet.” Chris hoists his suitcases high. “And my answer was ‘yes please’.”
