All I feel is the cold air whipping at my face and the adrenaline rush pounding through my blood, making me feel alive.
All I hear is the swish of the blade against the ice and the crack of the stick as I nail the puck into the net.
I live for these small windows of reprieve.
On the ice, I’m not the guy whose mom died when he was eight or who has the drunk dad that hates his son.
I’m KnoxfuckingStone. The top-scoring and highest-paid NHL player in the league. And this year, I’m getting another one of those cups just because I can.
TWO
SAVI
“My brothers are goingto kill me if I bring another pet home.” I stroke the black fur of the newest addition to the animal shelter, and the cat purrs under my touch.
“You are the only one that she lets pet her,” Wren says, her blue eyes shining with amusement.
After college, I came back here ready to start my career as a veterinarian. I knew at a very young age I wanted to help as many animals as I could. I’ve been working full-time at the Blue Haven Veterinarian Clinic with Dr. Matthews, but on my off time, I volunteer at the local animal shelter and provide services to the animals that have been left behind.
“You even look alike,” Wren laughs, giving one of the shelter dogs a treat.
I knew when I first walked in here a few months ago that Wren and I would hit it off. She’s a year younger than me at twenty-five, with long hair so blonde it almost looks white. Withher big blue eyes and small, petite body, she reminds me of one of those pixie fairies.
She runs the shelter, and we immediately bonded over our love of animals. I swear she has the biggest heart I know. You could be having the worst day, and just being in her presence makes everything start to feel better.
The animals feel it too. She’s like a real-life Snow White, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if I happened to walk in here one day and see birds and squirrels sitting on the windowsill as she breaks out in song.
“She lets you hold her,” I point out.
Smiling, I study the cat. She does look like me. I feel my heart tug at the connection I’m feeling. It’s rare for a grown cat to be black with blue eyes.
That has to be a sign, right?
“All animals love me,” she grins. “I don’t count. I’m talking about every single person who has come in to adopt a pet. They all want her because of her looks, but she’s a spitfire and won’t have a single thing to do with people.”
“That’s because she’s a badass bitch and most people suck.” I eye the blue-eyed beauty, and I swear her eyes go straight to my soul. “Shit,” I mutter, knowing I’m going to cave with this one.
“You felt the connection,” she smiles. “Looks like Freya found her human.”
“Freya,” I murmur the name quietly. I rub behind her ears and get a loud purr in return. “I like that. Goddess of war and love.”
“Freya was a badass bitch, too. I thought it suited her,” she grins.
“It’s perfect.” I pick her up, and she immediately nudges her head into my neck. “I’m blaming you if my brothers disown me for bringing home another stray.”
“I’ll gladly let your brothers lay it on me. All four of them are gorgeous,” she winks and wags her eyebrows at me.
“Three are married with kids, and one is engaged,” I remind her.
“Yeah, I know,” she huffs. “I can’t believe we metafterthey all were taken.”
“Trust me, they are right where they should be,” I laugh. “I’ve never seen four grown men fall so hard in my life.”
“And that is why I will be forever single and be known as the crazy animal lady,” she says, reaching over and stroking Freya’s soft fur. “All the unicorns are taken.”
“You are preaching to the choir. We can be two crazy animal ladies together,” I laugh. “I’ve already started my collection,” I say, kissing the top of Freya’s head. At least my bed won’t be so empty tonight. She might be just what I need to fill the void I’ve been feeling lately.
I balancethe carrier in one hand and the pet supplies in the other as I insert my key into the front door of our family’s beach house. Gifted to us by our parents, my brothers and I own the blue two-story that has become my home recently.
