Page 71 of Crossroads

“I don’t mind being part of the problem. Who knew?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“That’s so cute,” Finnian said from the other side of the room, and I moved two steps toward him this time, before he scampered down the back deck, leaving the rest of us laughing, the sound like the warm buzz of bees from my hives.

Settling. A sense of home. And perhaps, no longer at a crossroads of decisions that met the world.

This was family. This was our new life.

And I was ready to face it. I squeezed Kiera’s hands. And never alone.

Chapter 20

ATLAS

“Are you planning on coming home anytime soon?” my younger sister asked, and I rolled my eyes, even though I wanted to come home. It was in the plans. After all, I got a couple of months at the end of each season for myself. I could travel the world, I could train—and I would—or I could go back to Ashford Creek. And considering that’s where the rest of my family lived, it sounded like a good bet.

“Yes, I’ll be there, pipsqueak.”

“You don’t need to call me that. It’s quite rude.” She fluttered her eyelashes, and I noticed how happy she looked. She had a job she loved, even though I knew she missed her boss, her old boss who had passed away recently. She was near the family again, no longer a couple of hours away, and was dating one of my friends.

I scowled at that, still a little annoyed just for the show of it. I liked Callum. He was a good guy and seemed to care about Felicity. I trusted him with my life, so I might as well trust him with my sister.

“You’re still my little sister, so I can call you what I want.”

“You know I can beat your ass, right?” a deep voice said from behind my sister.

I snorted. “Listening in on private conversations, old man?”

Felicity just rolled her eyes. “Stop calling him an old man. You’re not that much younger.”

“Ouch,” Callum said with a laugh.

I joined him in his laughter, but it took me a few moments. My body hurt.

Our season had ended, but not exactly how I’d wanted it to go. We’d made it all the way to the third round, and I hadn’t been good enough.

One too many pucks had gotten through our D-line, and then soon, to the net. I hadn’t been fast enough, flexible enough, or just good at my job. I knew we were a team effort, but I was the one who was the last line of defense. Literally.

I was still as strong as I ever was. Hell, I was stronger than I had been when I’d been drafted. But I was thirty-one now. Ancient in terms of the NHL. And the Portland Gliders still liked me, but I only had one more year on my contract. I wasn’t sure if I would be picked up and re-signed or traded. It could be time for the scary word no one mentioned.

Retirement.

My hands hurt, my neck hurt, my lower back, my hips, my knees. Everything.

I had a damn massage therapist on call and worked with PT often. It wasn’t even stupid anymore, like when I thought I could just handle it on my own. I would take everything in my power in order to play better, improve my worth. I made millions just by blocking. I fucking sucked.

And I had failed.

“I’ll be there, Felicity. I’m just dealing with a couple of extra meetings with my agent and the team, and I want to get in a good workout with the guys. Plus, it’s Benny’s birthday in two days, and we’re throwing a huge bash. Twenty-one is a big age.” I rolled my eyes at that, wondering when I felt like the granddad of the group.

“Tell Benny I said hi. He was nice the last time I was there.”

“How nice?” Callum asked as he came forward so I could see him on the screen.

My lips twitched, feeling slightly lighter than I had in a while. “Overprotective much? Don’t worry, she’d break Benny. He’s far too much of a young pup.”