“You okay?”
“Yeah. I just don’t love the attention.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, angel. Maybe I should have made these idiots stay home.” His gray eyes hold mine with such tender intensity that everything else loses its gravity and all of me reorients around the tall, blond man holding me like I’m precious.
“No, no, it’s okay. I’ll get used to it, eventually.” I just hope none of these photos make it onto fan sites.
A few bold moms and dads ask the guys for selfies and autographs, which they graciously give, but once the boys take to the field, everyone turns their attention to their kids. Hockey players are great and all, but nothing beats watching your kid—or kid brother—play their heart out.
Though, watching said hockey players cheer and scream for your kid brother is a close second.
“Your brother is really good,” Maddox shouts over the roar of the crowd as Reed catches a perfectly thrown pass and makes a break for it down the field. “With the right training, he could really have a future in this if he wants.”
“He does,” I shout back. “There’s a summer camp he wants to do with some of his teammates. It would be a really great opportunity. I’ve been thinking of picking up a second job or delivering food or something to pay for it.”
Logan’s grip on my hip tightens. I glance at him, but he’s watching the field.
Shrugging, I turn back to Maddox. “I want Reed to have every opportunity he would have had with our parents, you know?”
“You’re a really good sister,” Maddox says seriously. “Reed’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
“I think my sister is on board with Eddie going to camp,” Adrienne pipes up. “But yeah, that shit’s expensive. When she told me how much it would be, I nearly peed myself. I love kids, but man, are they money pits.”
Sebastian leans forward and catches my eye. “Are there any scholarships or anything you can apply for?”
“I’ve checked, but not for this camp. I’m sure I could find one that does offer scholarships, but this is the one most of his teammates are going to, and I guess they’ll have a couple players from the Warriors running clinics. I don’t think any of the others have actual NFL players involved.”
Bash nods. “That makes sense. It’s a shame that so many athletic opportunities are financially out of reach for most families. I always wonder how many rare talents the sports world misses out on because everything’s become pay-to-play.”
He’s right. And hockey is one of the worst offenders, so he’d know all about that.
“You know we’d all be happy to help, right?”
“Oh, that’s really sweet, but I’d never ask you guys to do that. I’ll figure it out.”
Bash glances behind me, seemingly sharing a look with Logan, but by the time I turn to look at my boyfriend, he’s back to watching the field.
“Something wrong?” I ask him quietly.
“No, angel. Not at all. Just cold. Come here.” And then he pulls me onto his lap, wraps both arms tightly around me, and leans his cheek against the side of my head. “You smell good.”
I squirm, trying to get comfortable, and his grip tightens.
“Fuck, baby, please don’t do that. Getting a boner surrounded by a bunch of kids and parents is probably frowned upon.”
Giggling, I lean back against him, letting my head rest against the crook of his neck. “Probably.”
“I miss you. Date night soon? Just you and me. We’re always surrounded by these morons.”
Themoronsin question pass popcorn around, cheering for my brother and his teammates like it’s the most fun they’ve had in ages. My eyes flutter closed, and I allow myself to soak it all in.
Maybe this thing between Logan and me has an expiration date. Maybe he’ll never be ready for theforeverI’m so desperate for. But maybe that’s okay. He may never be able to give me what I want, but he’s given me so much already. Friends. A sense of belonging. A support system.
Family.
I just hope that, when this inevitably ends, I don’t lose all of that too.
