Axel (Carolina Reapers 1)

“Wow. Would you sign my magazine? My brother will never believe that I saw you.”

“Sure.” I took his ESPN and signed the cover. “Now you have proof.” After handing it over, I ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Thank you!” He stared at the magazine and then grinned up at me. “When I grow up, I’m going to be just like you. I’m going to play in the NHL.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked as he started to back up into a room that obviously belonged to his mother, given the way she was looking at him. So much love.

“Yeah!”

“Sounds good. But don’t be just like me. Be better.” I gave him a wave and made my way back toward Tage’s room.

Five members of his team were waiting outside his door, and they all stood a little straighter as I approached.

“Gentlemen?” I asked.

The blondest one got a little shove from his friends, and he stumbled forward only to swallow. “Mr. Nyström?”

“Yes, William?” I folded my arms over my chest.

“You remember?” He blinked quickly.

“You’re a rookie like Tage, and his roommate with these other guys, so yes, I remember your name. I remember all of your names.” I looked at them individually.

“Right. Okay. So we’re going to take Tage home when he’s released tomorrow.” He nodded with his eyes locked on mine.

“You are?” I questioned, tilting my head as I looked him over.

“He’s our teammate. He’s our family. We know you can’t stay and doc said he can’t fly, so we’ll take care of him.”

The rest of the group all nodded and stated their own agreement.

“And when you have away games?” I questioned.

The one in the back lifted up the same pamphlet I’d been given. “We’ve already given the nurses our schedule, and they’ll be there when we can’t. At least until he’s back on his feet. Besides, you know Tage. He’ll be back on the ice before summer.”

They all murmured their assent.

A slow smile spread across my face. “Yeah, I know Tage.” This team was just as much a family as ours was back in Charleston. A tiny worm of understanding wiggled its way into my brain. Langley had chosen my family, just not the one I had by blood. These guys wouldn’t just look after him, they’d push him the way teammates did. They’d haul his ass out of bed and force him to PT just like they did for each other every day of practice.

They’d give him a reason to try for the impossible.

They were his family, too.

“Okay, boys. I’ll agree to you taking Tage home on one condition.”

“Anything,” William said quickly.

“I pay all of Tage’s expenses, no arguments.”

They grumbled but agreed.

“Also, no fucking the nurses. He needs dependable help, and you guys breaking hearts isn’t going to help Tage. Keep it in your pants, or I’ll make sure they only send the ones over sixty.”

They all glanced at each other before begrudgingly agreeing.

I let them in and watched with a smile as they made Tage laugh for a solid hour. When he showed signs of wearing out, I told them to head home, then stayed with Tage long after he fell asleep.

Before I headed out to shower and get a fresh set of clothing, I bent over my brother’s bed and pressed a kiss to his forehead like he was five again. And just like the night our parents died, I whispered, “You’re going to be all right, Tage.”

Langley didn’t love me. Langley was never going to prioritize me. Chances were she never would. I thought it would be different when it came to family. And if we had kids? Well, we weren’t having them, so it didn’t matter.

I was holding onto a woman who wasn’t just letting go...she’d never shown up in the first place. And that was on me. I’d forced her into the marriage to keep her career, so how could I be shocked when she chose that career over the marriage she never wanted?

How the hell could I be mad at her for doing what she’d always sworn she would do?

She’d told me who she was point blank, never hidden it from me, and I’d been so in love with her that I’d only seen what I wanted to. She cared about me. I loved her.

Just like the docs had told me that it was best to get both surgeries done so the healing could begin, it was time to make a cut of my own.

But I wasn’t sure I’d ever heal, and that would have to be okay because Langley would be free and happy.

And me? Well, I’d be a Reaper, at least until I waived my no movement clause and begged for a trade. The deadline wasn’t for another month, not that Silas would willingly trade me. Still, I’d have to try.

Letting her go? Yeah, I could maybe do that.