Page 2 of Center Ice

“I’m just happy we can go this year,” Hartman added.

“Oh yeah, you and Kendall were recovering last time, so you missed it too,” Brandon said.

I had to search through my memories to figure out what they were talking about. Kendall, Hartman’s girlfriend, needed a kidney transplant, and he’d donated his.

“It’ll be fun for everyone to be there this time,” Erik said before his eyes landed on me. “You’re coming, right?”

Plans of their trip to Mexico for Noah and Colby’s wedding had made its way to me, but I never said whether or not I’d be going. I didn’t know if I could or not. Not until recently.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted.

“What? You’ve got to.” Noah’s voice came from behind me as hands gripped my shoulders.

I glanced up to see him towering over me. “I didn’t make any arrangements. I’m sure the place is booked.”

“Hey, Chloe!” Erik called to the kitchen.

His sister stepped out of the throng of women. “What?”

“Are there any rooms left at the resort?” Erik asked.

I narrowed my eyes. How was she supposed to know that?

“We have one room left with the single guys. It’s a three-bedroom suite.”

She rattled off the details like they were memorized.

“There you go.” Erik smiled as if it was that simple.

“I haven’t looked into flights either.”

“We’re chartering the team plane. There’s plenty of room.” He watched me like he was waiting for my next attempt at an excuse.

I wasn’t used to them making such an effort. After years of me declining their invitations, I expected them to be over it.

“I’d really like for you to be there,” Noah added as if he could feel my hesitation.

Great, I couldn’t say no to that. “Okay, I’ll be there.”

Noah patted my shoulders. “Thanks, man.”

Erik grinned and turned to his sister, “Can you put his name down?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

I glanced at her. “Thanks.”

She gave me a warm smile before going back to the kitchen. Over the years, I’d heard the stories of the miracles she’d pulled off, the loops she’d jumped through, and the connections she’d kept. The guys joked that they were happy to have her on their side, that she used her forces for good and not evil.

It wasn’t until the last two weeks that I saw that power first hand. With one call, she made all the arrangements I couldn’t bring myself to do. She allowed me to grieve while she picked up the pieces. The one thing I could never thank her enough for was her quiet way of handling things. No one else knew how she’d helped me. She didn’t do things for the notoriety or praise. She truly cared about the team and the players.

It was because of her that I was able to come tonight. That I could face my teammates. She was the one that reassured me it wasn’t too late. I hadn’t burned any bridges, and they would be waiting for me when I was ready. She was right.

I shouldn’t have been surprised she lived up to her reputation, not with her track record, but now I knew for myself.

“Jones.” Lance walked into the room with Mikey at his side. “I heard you’re joining the singles’ room.”

“If that’s alright?” From the stories I’d heard about those two, I was a bit nervous about rooming with them. They were dedicated bachelors who liked partying a little too much. It never affected their game, so no one said anything about it, but it wasn’t really my scene.