Page 69

“Well, look at it this way—it’s one day a year.” Ashton smirks at me. “You have to decide if the other 364 days are worth it.”

That makes Reid chuckle. “Come on, don’t put him on the spot in front of his girlfriend’s brother.”

I almost say she’s not my girlfriend but catch myself in time.

What is she?

Not a hookup. We’re beyond that.

We’ve been having sex without condoms, which makes us exclusive.

So…my girlfriend.

It’s been a long time since anyone held that title.

I don’t feel any different, though. I don’t feel trapped or tied down or uncomfortable. She’s not pushy or clingy. In fact, she’s probably the opposite of clingy, and I think that might be what’s giving me pause.

When I started dating Shandy, I thought I’d hit the jackpot.

Not only was she beautiful, she was independently wealthy and successful in her field. She had a job, so to speak. She wasn’t after my money or trying to get herself pregnant to trap me—I was sure she loved me.

In the end, I don’t know if it was her career or Jake—or some combination of both—that took her from me.

The question now is whether or not I want to go through this again with another woman who doesn’t need me. I never articulated it, but my general thought has been that if I ever get married again, it will be to a woman who wants to stay home and run the house. Raise our kids. Be waiting for me when I get back from a long road trip and be there for me after a tough loss.

Instead, I seem to have a type—successful, independent women who don’t need me.

“You look like a deer in the headlights,” Reid says quietly, as the guys around us chatter about costumes and Halloween.

“Sorry about that.” I shake my head. “I’m not used to talking about my personal life in the locker room.”

“This group does seem to be more in your business than other teams I’ve played on,” he acknowledges. “But it’s a refreshing change from the usual talk about hookups and bunnies.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “There’s that.”

“Maya’s happy,” he says, cocking his head. “Are you?”

Oh, shit.

A direct question about feelings.

From the brother of the woman I’m dating.

My teammate.

“I’m happy,” I say cautiously. “Just, you know, worried.”

He nods as if he understands exactly what I’m saying. “She’s super independent, almost to a fault. A lot of guys are intimidated by that.”

“I’m not intimidated but the last independent woman I was with divorced me for not being supportive enough. Meanwhile, I was pissed about her lack of support for me. I don’t want to end up in the same boat.”

He closes his locker and turns to me thoughtfully. “Look, she’s my sister. I think she’s amazing, but she’s twenty-six and a rising star in her industry. If you’re looking for a woman who’s going to stay home and pop out babies while you follow the hockey dream, she may not be for you. Or you for her. Because I’ll be damned if I let a guy—any guy—try to tame her.”

“No,” I say immediately. “I would never want to douse the bright light that makes Maya who she is. She’s…incredible.”

“She is.” He meets my gaze. “Think about that before you make decisions about the future of your relationship.” He pauses. “And also, don’t go back and tell her that I interfered in your relationship. Because that’s not what this is. If she’s happy, I’m happy. But I know hockey players, and this life is hard. Divorce rate is high. You know that firsthand.”

“I do.”