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The locker room goes completely silent as everyone freezes.

My stomach flips over, and I fight with everything I’ve got to keep my expression neutral.

Yes, I’m shocked by Beckett’s outburst, but there is nothing I can do to stop the acknowledgment—to myself—that I would be very happy to teach Sutton whatever she wants to know in that department.

But that would be a very bad thing to tell her brother.

“That’s what her journal said, okay?” Beckett says. “That she wants you to teach her about sex!”

Jesus.

Sutton wants that? With me? What does she already know? What does she want to know?

I really need to stop thinking about all of that. I need to stop asking those questions. At least right at this moment.

But…she’s been thinking about that? She wrote it down?

Not reacting is taking everything I’ve got.

And Beckett…he read that. Fuck. No wonder he looks like he’d really like to punch me in the face.

I get that. I really, really get that.

“That is none of your business,” Astrid informs Beckett firmly. “There are things brothers and sisters don’t need to know about one another.”

“Amen,” Alex agrees.

“It’s none of Lawson’s business either!” Beckett says.

Well…I’m not so sure that’s true.

“It’s kind of exactly Lawson’s business if he and Sutton are⁠—”

“We’re not.” I cut Hudson off before he finishes the sentence.

“Her journal said she wants you to!” Beckett exclaims. “So she has feelings for you! I want you to stay away from her!”

This is so bizarre, and I realize it’s not only because I haven’t done anything Beckett is accusing me of. It’s also because Beckett is the fun-loving, show-off comic of our team. Seeing him this upset is so…weird.

His always-on, take-nothing-seriously persona is a little annoying at times, but clearly he can, and does, take some things seriously.

Like his sister.

I understand this.

I respect it.

He should feel this protective of his sister.

We have this in common. This and hockey.

Dammit.

I need to keep the peace on this team. I want to keep the peace on this team. I look around the locker room. All of these people love what we’re doing with bonkers hockey. It’s important to this town we all love. It’s making so many people happy. It’s the best time I’ve ever had playing hockey. And after the experience I had on my pro team, I needed this, without realizing how much.

Rebel, Louisiana, has healed me. Not only do I love hockey again, but this ridiculous little town and all the wacky people and routines and festivals have started to feel like home. And family.

If I get involved with Sutton, I risk a huge rift with Beckett that could make the town choose sides.