Page 37 of Golden Goal

“It’s early,” Hunter rushes out.

Wes slams his mouth shut.

“What’s going on guys?” Madison asks, coming down the hallway, Hadley and Aubrey trailing behind her. “I thought you were coming right back.”

“Sorry, sweets.” Hunter says.

I peek over at Wes, but the book that was in his hands is nowhere to be seen. I’m not sure how, or what he did with it, but at this point, I don’t want to know. He slips around me and follows Hunter and the ladies down the hallway, leaving me alone with Holt.

“I was on my way to get a drink, and he told me it was important.” I bite back the chuckle that wants to escape. “I’m learning I should keep my guard up around him.”

Holt throws back his head and laughs, a deep sound I’ve never heard from him before and one I instantly like. “Yep. You learn quickly. At least he didn’t try to show you something else.”

Now it’s my turn to chuckle. “I told him I wasn’t that kind of doctor.”

He grins at me. Full-on grins, his eyes twinkling with happiness. And I swoon. I want to make him smile like that more. Laugh more. If he was anyone else, I’d be asking him if he wanted to ditch the party and go out for a drink. Or what he was up to after the party and if he wanted to. . .

The sound of Hazel crying interrupts my thoughts, jarring me from my daydream. The daydream that can never come true. Because he’s one of my patients, a coworker, plus he’s a dad. Which is the final nail in the coffin because I’m not meant to be a parent even if I really want to be. It’s a vow I made to myself when I was younger, after everything happened with my brother and my mom.

I shake myself out of my thoughts and head back into the kitchen while Holt goes to get his daughter. Before I can spend too long dwelling on everything, Hunter yells that the food is ready and that we should come and eat. It’s chaos for a few minutes as everyone gets food.

As the meal is winding down, Hunter stands, clearing his throat. I have to bite my lip to keep from smiling at the way he commands the room. Just him getting to his feet has conversations dying and everyone turning their attention to him. The more time I spend around the team, the more I realize exactly how much the guys respect him.

He glances around the room, his eyes stopping briefly on his half brother, Elias, before he focuses on the group at large.

“Thank you all for coming today to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. I know this is an event Caleb used to host every year, so it’s an honor to be the one organizing it, even if I’m not the captain.”

“Yet,” Wes yells, and everyone laughs.

Hunter shrugs, and then his gaze lands on Madison. He gives her a small nod, and she gets up and walks over to him. He wraps his arm around her.

“One more quick announcement.” He pauses, leaning down to kiss Madison’s cheek before continuing, “The Rhodes family will be welcoming a new member come summer.”

I think you could hear a pin drop for a moment as everyone absorbs the news, and then Elias says, “I’m going to be an uncle?”

At the same time, Coach Weaver says, “I’m going to be a grandpa.”

Suddenly everyone is hugging and congratulating the parents to be. I hug both of them before making my way out onto the back porch, needing to get away from the celebration.

The celebration of a couple announcing they’re going to be parents. I’m happy for them, but I’m also sad. I’m sad that I will never make an announcement like that because I will never let myself be fully responsible for someone else.

Not when I have to live with the fact it’s my fault my brother became an addict.

Chapter sixteen

Holt

The Monday after Thanksgiving, I’m holding Hazel in my arms as I peer into the fridge, debating what I want to have for dinner, when there’s a knock at the door. I’m not expecting anyone tonight, and Hadley is out with Madison and Aubrey. I hope it’s not the guys wanting to hang out. Hunter called earlier to see if I wanted to do something, but I turned him down. I’m tired and want to relax at home alone. Just Hazel and me.

My eyes widen when I open the door to find Rebecca on the other side, a pan of what appears to be spaghetti and meatballs in her hands.

“Everything alright, Doc?”

“Yeah. I hope I’m not interrupting.” She peers around the hallway and I frown, wondering what, or who she’s checking for. “I may have gotten carried away with the amount of dinner I cooked. I was distracted. Do you want to eat with me?” She holds up the casserole dish.

I stare at her for a few seconds, trying to process what she’s said.

“You want to have dinner with me?”