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His lips tip up into a grin. “After you all bet on Holt falling in love last season, I think it was inevitable we’d bet on your relationship.”

“I had three months,” Hunter says.

“You were in on this, cap?” I grumble.

He shrugs. “What can I say? I love a good love story.”

I groan, putting my hands over my face and shaking my head, but inside, I’m laughing along with them. Of course they bet on this. Can’t say I blame them. I’d have gotten in on it if I could.

“You know we’re happy for you,” Wes says, clapping me on the back.

“Thanks.”

“Then there was one …” Wes sings as all of us turn toward Elias.

“Nope.” He shakes his head. “I’m going to be an old cat man.”

“Old cat man? Dude, what the hell?” Holt asks.

Elias scoffs. “If women can say they’re going to be old cat ladies, why can’t I be an old cat man?”

“Do you even like cats?” Hunter asks.

“I like Peaches,” Elias says.

“Everyone loves Peaches,” Holt says.

Very true. Becca’s cat is lovable.

“Are you serious?” Wes asks, leaning closer to Elias. “There’s no one you’d want to end up with?”

“Nope,” Elias says, a little too quickly.

Wes must catch it too because the corner of his lips tip up into a smirk. “Not buying it. Try again.”

“It’s the truth,” Elias says, crossing his arms.

Wes opens his mouth, to say something in protest I’m sure, but Hunter jumps in. “Alright. Let’s leave it alone. If Eli wants to be in denial, that’s fine.

“I’m not in denial. I told you, old cat man.” He jabs himself in the chest with his finger.

I scoff. Right. Sure, E. You keep telling yourself that.

Maybe one day, you’ll believe it.

Maybe.

The conversation shifts, and eventually the bus pulls up to the hotel. It’s only been a few hours, and I already miss Sutton, a lot. I scrub a hand down my face. I can’t imagine how hard this is going to be once she has the baby and I have to travel for games. Maybe I don’t want to sign another contract. Maybe I should retire. Be a stay-at-home father. That way I won’t miss out on a single thing.

I sneak a peek over at my teammates who have kids—how do they do it? How do they miss out on parts of their kids’ lives? I know hockey won’t last forever, and I should enjoy it. But at what cost?

As I’m stepping out of the shower a few hours later, my phone rings. I snag it, answering it when I see it’s the mechanic shop that’s working on Sutton’s car.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Mr. Henderson. This is Jenny over at Ace’s.”

“Hi, Jenny. Tell me you have good news?”