“Embrace it. Use it to fuel your training for next year. Don’t allow it to fuck everything up.”
“Who says I’m doing that?”
“Well, firstly, I’m your sister. I know you better than almost anyone. But also, the internet. There are threads discussing whether you’ve got a future as a Viper or if you’re going to cause more drama than you're worth.”
My teeth grind at hearing what I already knew.
Hailee has been saying it for weeks. The organization wants me performing on the ice, not in clubs and hotel rooms.
But I don’t know how else to drown out the losses and the disappointment.
My eyes pop open when realization hits me.
I haven’t felt those things tonight. Being with Bea, the loss, the failure, it was all a distant memory. My focus was on herand our future as parents. For the first time, possibly ever, I put others before me.
Shit.
“Rett, are you still there?”
“Yeah,” I rasp.
“Did you hear a word I said?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Please, think about what you’re doing. I don’t want to see you traded again any time soon. I like having you here.”
“I’m not hanging around so you and Linc can continue to play tonsil hockey in front of me,” I complain.
“Aw, you love it.”
I grunt a non-committal response.
“One day you’ll find a woman and return the favor.”
“Your best friend is already taken, and I’m not interested in the wrath of Rivers anytime soon.”
“Yeah, he’d kill you.”
“Whoa, I could take Rivers.”
Parker laughs down the line before my best friend’s rumbling voice chimes in. “You could totally take Rivers.”
“Thanks, man,” I say appreciatively.
“Don’t fucking mess with Casey, though. I prefer you alive.”
“But you just said…”
Linc’s laughter echoes down the line.
“You’re an asshole,” I mutter, finally reaching out to start my car. “So, how’s paradise?”
“Fucking insane. I could get used to this private complex shit. Your sister is sunbathing butt naked right the fuck now. She?—”
I hang up and throw my cell into the passenger seat.
“Asshole,” I hiss before pulling out into traffic and heading home.
