Page 5 of Buzzer Beater

“Brassard here wants to plan a trip but needs us to help convince the guys.”

Colby beamed and looked to Kendall. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”

Kendall shook her head. “I can’t even get Wyatt to skip a single training session and you want me to talk him into taking multiple days off? There’s no way.”

“Peer pressure.” I winked at Kendall. “He’ll go with everyone else.”

She shook her head and shrugged. “I want to go, but it’s going to be tough to convince him.”

“What if we tell them that the gym will be reserved for us for two hours every morning?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Can you do that?”

I leaned back. “You’re new here, so I’ll forgive that question. I can do anything. I’m Colin Brassard.” I almost added best defensive player in the league, but I knew that would start a fight.

All three shook their heads.

Madeline folded her arms over her chest. “We’ll support you, but don’t expect this to be easy.”

I didn’t appreciate Madeline’s skepticism.

“Where do you want to go?” Colby asked, and I turned to her.

“Mexico.”

“Mexico?” Kendall sounded panicked.

I nodded, and she sighed and fell back into the sofa. “What’s wrong?”

She tried to smile but it fell short. “Nothing.”

I looked around the circle and they were all looking at her with varying degrees of worry. “Are you banned from traveling there? Arrested on spring break?”

She laughed once and shook her head. “No, I just don’t know how I’ll afford it.”

Huh.

I hadn’t even thought about that. Money wasn’t much of an issue for me and the guys. We weren’t out buying yachts or islands, but a vacation to Mexico was a non-issue. “I’m inviting you. I’ll cover you.” I looked around. “I can cover the whole thing. All you guys need to do is come.”

Madeline shook her head and Colby smirked and nodded toward the kitchen. “That’s not going to go over well with them.”

I waved her off. “The point is, I don’t want anyone to worry about anything. This is supposed to be fun, not stressful.”

“I appreciate the offer, Colin, but I can’t let you do that.” Kendall paused. “I’ll figure it out.”

Guilt washed over me. I should have thought this through. I was sure Malkin and Hartman would pay for their girlfriends, but I didn’t know how Colby and Kendall would react to that.

I hadn’t had to think about a partner in years. Erik had held the title of team bachelor, but now that he was a married man it would probably fall on me.

It had been years, five actually, since I’d had a girlfriend. Learned my lesson from that one. No need for women in my life. They were too much drama.

No.

They were too much pain.

They made me crazy. They made me feel guilty for pursuing my dreams.

I’d made that mistake and didn’t intend on making it again.