“Sex, drugs and rock and roll,” I deadpan.
“You’re so funny, you know that?” She matches my monotone delivery.
“I know.” I smile.
She leans closer to me, “Don’t think your dad hasn’t noticed your jersey choice.”
“Am I grounded?” I joke.
“No, I think your punishment will be bed without dinner or something equally barbaric for this great betrayal of your family name.”
Maya snorts a laugh. “You guys are weird.”
My mom leans around me. “How would any of your dads react to you wearing a jersey with a name that isn’t theirs?”
“I don’t want to find out, which is why I’ve never worn any.”
“Smart.” My mom nods, then looks at me again.
“What?” I sink down in the seat like it will cover what’s on my back.
“Nothing, I’m just joking around with you.” Her voice drops lower. “But that boy has always been head over heels for you.”
Nash appears, plopping down in a seat next to Maya. “There’s my favorite Hart sibling.” He gives her a rough half hug while cackling as she tries to squirm away from him. Both Maya and Evie have their mom’s last name because I’m pretty sure their dads would have actually killed each other trying to fight over whose last name they would get.
Just another thing to think about with the situation I’m finding myself in.
“You’re lucky you’re my favorite Colver sibling.” Maya chuckles, after getting away from his grasp.
“Hey,” I admonish.
“You’re a Sparks,” Maya jokes.
“Not legally.”
“Fine, Nash you’re my favorite Colver man,” Maya corrects. I laugh, especially because I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
Luckily, the arena darkens as the pregame intro starts and everyone gets distracted by what’s going on the ice. And I’m distracted by Grayson’s face when it flashes up on the screen. I love that short video they play. His hair is styled and pushedback, he’s not wearing his glasses. He’s dressed in his gear, leaning against his stick with a small smile on his face.
No one would know he’s uncomfortable, but I can see it. He doesn’t like attention on him, and photoshoots are a nightmare. I remember him complaining about that one in particular, which is why I like it because it makes me chuckle.
The guys skate out onto the ice, and I zone in on number twenty-three, watching him skate around the home side of the ice along with the rest of his team. I turn to look at everyone else because I’m curious how others watch this moment. Audrey and Charlie are sitting off to the side; Audrey is talking and Charlie is looking at her like she’s his entire world.
My eyes find Chandler who’s standing at one of the tables in the suite talking to Vince while Brent, Matt, and my dad stand near each other watching the ice. I never thought about having a relationship like theirs. Never understood how you could fall in love with more than one person like that. But my entire world has shifted and maybe I’m starting to see how that could be possible.
That’s when I see Brynn and Colton standing on the opposite side of the suite. Colton is focused on the ice like he always is, but Brynn looks at me and winks. I turn around, wondering if she knows what’s been going on.
For the first time since this all started, I feel like I may be starting to figure it out for myself. Step one is to tell them both what I’m thinking and see what happens. Either they’ll be okay with…whatever this is. Or I’ll lose them.
I guess that’s a risk I’m going to have to take, and that’s a part of figuring out who I am. I’ve already pushed my own boundaries in so many ways, what’s one more.
After the game,that unfortunately the Dragons lose, I still go down to the tunnel to see Grayson. Everyone else opts to gohome; it’s a lot more fun when they win, but all the hockey players in our family know on a loss they usually aren’t very social afterward. But I want to see Grayson before he leaves for a few days.
Plus, he grounds me and I think I do the same for him. With everything going on, the storm in my head, I just need him.
Guys leave the locker room, passing by me; some give a small smile just because they know who I am. Some don’t even look at me. I fiddle with the bottom of the jersey I’m wearing and act like there’s something there distracting me.
“Hope you can make your boy feel better.” I look up to see who just spoke, and it’s Collins, one of Grayson’s teammates. He’s smirking and I never really liked this guy.
