THIRTY-FIVE
SAVI
“What the hell?”I yell at the TV as I jump up from the couch. “That was clearly a high sticking!” I watch Knox have words with the ref, clearly as pissed as I am that it wasn’t called. “Unbelievable!” I throw my hands up in the air and plop back down on the sofa next to Eve.
I feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I look around.
“What?” I ask, still clearly annoyed.
“I’ve just never seen you so into a hockey game before,” Jake grins. “You’re like one of us now.”
“That’s because she’s cheering for her man,” Lyla beams.
“I think I’m still in shock,” Ryder chuckles, taking a drink of his beer.
“You and me both. At least you didn’t walk in on them and see Knox’s dick in close proximity to our sister.” Miles shudders at the thought, and I roll my eyes.
“Oh, please,” I laugh, grabbing my long-neck bottle. “You are such a drama queen. I would try knocking next time if I wereyou, though. Ten minutes later, and you would have seen a whole lot more.”
“Yeah, girl,” Olivia grins, tapping my bottle to hers.
“Can we leave the sex talk involving my sister to a girl-chats-only thing?” Jake asks, clearly uncomfortable.
“I agree one thousand percent,” Ryder mumbles.
“No way,” I shake my head. “All my girl chats involve my brothers, so you’re not getting off that easy. If I can learn to disassociate, so can you.” I take a piece of cheese off the charcuterie board and plop it in my mouth.
“You tell him, girl,” Olivia cheerleads for me.
“Whose side are you on?” Miles exclaims, looking at his fiancé.
“I’m on the side of love,” Olivia grins, pulling Miles down for a kiss. “And I love you the mostest.”
“Mmm,” he says, bringing her lips back for more. “I need another,” he growls.
“See! I’m disassociating right now and don’t mind a bit that I’m watching my brother make out with one of my best friends.” I nod at the couple on the couch, who clearly need to get a room.
“You got me there,” Miles grins, pulling away.
Turning my attention back to the game, I see the players take the ice for the third period. It’s been a brutal game with bad calls and unpredictable fights. Knox is not going to be happy if they lose, especially when it hasn’t been a fair one.
After Miles told my brothers about Knox and me, the girls and I thought it would be fun to have everyone over here for game night. The kids are watching a movie upstairs in the game room while the older ones keep watch over Levi, Ryder’s two-year-old little wild one. He’s definitely getting payback for all the hell he raised as a kid, and it’s hilarious to watch.
The only ones we’re missing are Travis and Sophia, but with it being a school night, they couldn’t make the drive with the kids.
It’s nights like these, though, that are my favorite. I love when we have everyone under the same roof. Our family has grown so much in the past five years, and I’ve adored every minute of spoiling my nieces and nephews. I can’t wait for Miles and Olivia to add more to the crew after their wedding in the spring.
Commotion against the boards catches my attention as my hand grips the couch pillow. “You have got to be kidding me! You all saw that, right?” I look at my brothers, who look just as pissed as me.
“Knox isn’t going to let that hit slide,” Miles grins. “I give it two minutes.”
He was wrong—it takes all of thirty seconds before Knox’s gloves are dropped. Gripping the charm at my chest, I stay trained on the two players circling each other on the ice.
I’ve always had my heart in my throat anytime I would watch Knox fight, but now that we are together, it’s made it ten times worse. I know he can take care of himself in a fight, but I still worry every time he steps out on the ice that he’s going to get hurt.
I see Thane holding another player back, and before I know it, those two are at each other.
“Oh, we got a line brawl going!” Jake says excitedly, sitting on the edge of his seat.
