Skater (Seattle Sharks 6)

“So, do you think it was right for the Sharks to levy fines?” One of the journalists called out, not waiting to be called upon.

“That’s not for me to have an opinion on. And if Porter is willing to pay the fine, then what’s the matter? I just wish my salary could afford me the same downtime after the game,” I added with a grin and was awarded with a murmur of laughter from the press.

“Last question,” Langley ordered, carefully choosing the last reporter.

“If you had to say there was one thing the Sharks needed heading into the next two games at home, what would it be?”

“That’s easy,” I said, leaning into the microphone. “Focus. We just need focus.”

Langley got me out of there, and an hour later, we headed for the airport to catch the plane that would carry me home. I wasn’t a fan of flying overnight, but it would get the team home for two full days before game three.

“I heard you defended me in there,” Porter said, stretching his legs out in the seat next to me.

The commercial-sized jet had been configured to fly in comfort—no one wanted to lose a Stanley Cup because a defenseman had a crick in his neck. The large armchairs were set in groupings of four with a table between them and plenty of room to recline to a full bed. Definitely ruined a guy for flying commercially, but worth it on stretches like this.

“You have my back on the ice, and I have yours in there. Besides, I think it’s bullshit that media responsibilities even exist. I just want to play hockey.”

“Amen,” he said, popping on his headphones and settling back into the headrest.

We had about ten minutes until take off, and if I was quick, I might catch Ivy before bed. I slipped my cell phone from my pocket and dialed Ivy, loving that she was my most recent call.

“Hey baby,” she said in greeting.

“Hey yourself,” I answered. Just the sound of her voice lowered my blood pressure and my pulse. “How was your day?”

Pepper and Eric took the seats on the other side of the aisle, with Lukas and Noble rounding out their four, and I gave them a nod.

“Better now that I’m hearing from you again.” I could practically hear the smile in her voice.

“Yeah, me too. I’m grateful for the win, but it feels so much better with you and Hannah in the stands.” Growing up, it never mattered to me who was watching because usually no one was, but Ivy changed all that, consistently bringing Hannah to every home game.

“We missed you, too,” she told me with a little sigh. “You guys are headed home tonight though, right?”

“On the plane as we speak. We should land about 6 AM Seattle time, so I’m guessing I’ll make it home around seven.” God, I couldn’t wait. I missed my girls.

“Good, you’ll be a great wake-up surprise for Hannah. But heads up, we’re at my place. The alarm company was at the house all day installing the new system, and Hannah said the incessant beeping was giving her headache, so we came here.”

“Damn,” I said, dropping my voice lower. “Guess that means I can’t fantasize about you in my bed.”

Her laugh was low and seductive. “Hey, you can fantasize all you want. Isn’t that the fun?”

“I miss you,” I said, just because I could. Dropping those three little words had freed something inside me, I’d finally given myself permission to be open about all my feelings when it came to Ivy.

“I miss you,” she echoed. “That was some hat trick tonight.”

I waved off the flight attendant, who gestured at me to put the phone.

“So, you were watching,” I assumed.

“Like we would be doing anything else,” she teased.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to hang that up,” the flight attendant said with a firm I-will-kick-you-off-this-plane tone.

When I saw the tense lines on Langley’s face a few seats ahead, staring me down, I nodded at the flight attendant.

“Okay babe, I gotta go. Time to get this bird in the air so I can get home to you.”

“Now that is the best thing I’ve heard all day,” she replied. “I love you, Connor.”

“Not as much as I love you,” I responded before hanging up. I knew that was true and was okay with that. After all, Ivy was surrounded with people to love—Pepper, her dad, Hannah, and me, of course. Hell, I loved her even more because of how much she loved Hannah. But Ivy had grown up loved, in a family that might have been a little broken after the death of her mother, but still showed up for each other. She’d always had Pepper, even when their dad was distant.

I’d grown up knowing I was responsible for my older sister, and love was a myth, or worse, a noose around your neck.

Loving Ivy was different. It wasn’t toxic, or tainted, or strained, or even conditional. It simply was. And though I loved Hannah, I knew she would choose Jess if she could, just like any other five-year old girl would. And I would never blame her for that.

But Ivy always chose me. For that fact alone, I knew that my love for her eclipsed everything else. And maybe it was scary to open myself up like I had, but I learned early in my life that without the risk, there was no reward.

And Ivy’s heart was the prize of all prizes. One I couldn’t wait to unwrap once I got home.

I startled awake at a touch on my shoulder.

Langley hovered, clearly concerned about something.

I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and tried to clear the brain-fog that came from being woken up mid-dream. It had been a good one, too, full of Ivy and none of Ivy’s clothes. I gave my lap a quick glance to make sure my dream wasn’t...obvious and almost sighed in relief.

“Langley?” I asked, my voice scratchy.

“I need you to wake up,” she told me, her voice kind, but all business. “What do you need to be fully awake?”

That comment was it. Adrenaline shot through my veins and my heart pounded. “My family?” I croaked. God, had something happened? Had Jessica left rehab? Was she hurt? Had someone broken into Ivy’s house?

“No, no,” She reassured me, dropping to my eye level as I brought my chair into a sitting position. “They’re fine. It’s nothing like that.”

Everyone around me still slept on, and my heart slowed the tiniest fraction.

“Okay. What time is it?” And why in the fuck was she waking me up?

“About four a.m. Seattle time. We’ve got about two hours before we land. Do you want

to go somewhere more private? There’s something I need to tell you, well, show you.” Her dark eyes had a level of concern in them I’d never seen, at least not sent in my direction.

“Here is ok,” I said. If there was going to be bad news, I’d rather hear it with Eric and Lukas nearby.

“Everything ok?” Pepper asked, leaning over Eric.

“I’m not sure,” I answered truthfully.

Langley’s lips pursed as she glanced at Pepper. “Are you sure you don’t want to do this...somewhere else?”

“Since I don’t even know what this is, I’m fine with right here,” I answered.

Eric stirred, and both he and Pepper came to a sitting position as Langley took the seat across from me. Porter slept on in his noise-cancelling-bliss.

“There’s no easy way to describe this, so I’m just going to show you,” she said, pulling an iPad from her bag. “The morning edition of the Chronicle hit about half an hour ago.”

“Let me see it,” I demanded, worry flooding my gut.

“And you need to know that I’ve already been on the phone with the executive editor of the Chronicle and threatened legal action because I know none of this could be true—”

“Let. Me. See. It.” I held out my hand, but she still clutched the iPad to her chest.

“And our lawyers say as soon as we can refute it, we can have it pulled offline, but the print is already out for delivery, and it’s not like they can run around Seattle blacking out every paper.”

“Let me see it!” I snapped, my temper flaring.

She locked eyes with me, letting me know she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by my outburst. Then again, she worked for an NHL team. I didn’t think much intimidated her.

“Please,” I added softly.

She handed the iPad over.

I recognized Ivy’s picture on the byline immediately, but the title...Was this a joke?

Connor Bridgerton, Seattle Shark Leads Double Life

“What the hell?” I muttered.

“What?” Eric asked.