Aiden snorts. “You mean, when we win, you’ll let us use the plane for the honeymoon. You’re so kind. Best father-in-law in the world.”
Shea glares. “You’re going down, Brooks.”
“Bring it, Adler.”
Shelli looks between her future husband and her father with such worry in her blue eyes.
Me? I’m grinning from ear-to-ear.
This is going to be so much fun.
I’m just hoping my husband and future son-in-law are able to walk down the aisle in a month.
Chapter Two
First Period
Shea
I lean on the boards where my forever brothers sit before me. Lucas is leaning against the boards beside me, and Alex is on the other side of him. Damn if it isn’t awesome to have him here. Tate sits in all his gear, and fuck, it’s such a welcome sight. Jensen Monroe is in the goal, stretching as we talk. Even now, he still has to get his mental game going. Benji Paxton is standing beside me where Jakob Titov usually would stand, but with his injuries, he’s unable to play. Instead, he’s coaching us. Our bench is full of the greats—Erik Titov, Phillip Anderson, Karson King, Vaughn Johansson, and to my surprise, Jordie Thomas. We weren’t sure if he’d be able to come since his wife Kacey is days from delivering their second baby boy.
These men are my brothers. Our lives are so intertwined and full of such great blessings. Not only did we play together and win Cups together, we’ve been raising our kids together. I may have grown up with only my twin sister, Grace, but I have over twenty men I now consider my brothers. Don’t get me wrong. I love my sister. Love her. She’s my twin, and when she is happy, I’m happy. When she’s sad, I am too, but there is something about a brotherhood that I don’t think I could live without. Especially these guys.
“Here is the deal, boys. We have to beat that kid’s ass.”
Lucas, that kid’s dad, nods eagerly. “He’s cocky as fuck.”
“He is. All bets are off. I’m not taking it easy once I hit that ice,” Tate promises, and I smack my glove to his pad.
“That’s right!” I look at everyone, nodding my head. “We are fighting for our pride. These whippersnappers think—”
“Saying whippersnappers really doesn’t support our argument that we aren’t old,” Benji says, and my eyes meet his.
“You’re not wrong. So, those assholes—”
Jordie claps obnoxiously. “Perfect, Cap.”
I grin as I nod. “Those assholes think this is an easy win, that we’re old and unable to skate. What they don’t know is we’re ready to kick some ass.”
“Totally getting some Braveheart vibes right now,” Vaughn jokes, and Benji’s dorky ears perk.
“Best movie ever,” Benji proclaims, and then he stands, holding up his stick. “They may take away our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”
The guys all chortle as I shoot him a dry look. “Are you done?”
Benji shakes his head. “I could quote that movie all day.”
“Can you do that and score?”
Benji thinks that over. “For you, I can, William Wallace.”
I blink, confused.
“He’s the main Scottish dude. Blue face?”
“Ah,” I say, nodding. “Sorry, I watch hockey in my free time,” I say, jabbing him with my blade, and he laughs.
Vaughn raises his hand. “Is there a trainer here, though? My hip has been a bitch lately.”
Phillip points to Vaughn in agreement. “What he said. I was throwing my grandson up and down the other day, and I think I threw out my back. Have y’all seen Harrison? He’s a little fat thing—I don’t know what Claire is feeding him.”
Erik scoffs. “It’s probably Jude. That dude doesn’t stop eating.”
“A-fucking-men. I can’t stand when he, Jace, and Jayden come to the house. They’re just so hungry all the time, and then add in their kids, and Lucy and I are broke,” Benji laments, and I raise an eyebrow.
“I highly doubt that, with her successful home design company,” I say, and he smiles proudly.
“True. But remember, our daughter just got into a pretty awesome program in Carolina, and we’re paying room and board.”
I forgot Angie had just left for bigger and better things, but as I go to answer him, Aiden calls, “Hey, seasoned legends. You guys ready, or do you want to cancel and head on up to the YMCA for y’all to sit around, eat bagels, and drink coffee?”
I glare over my shoulder at Aiden. “I’m going to lay your kid out.”
Lucas shakes his head. “Not if I get to him first.”
When I notice that Boon is laughing a little too hard, I set him with a look. “Hoenes, Posey isn’t here to protect you, buddy!”
He presses his lips together, but his eyes are full of wicked playfulness. “Bring it, Adler.”
Ha. This is going to be fun. “Let’s go.”
We hired a couple refs, mostly guys that like me and not Aiden, but he doesn’t know that. Aiden is a good hockey player, but he’s chippy, and he talks a lot of shit when the puck doesn’t go his way or he thinks a call is shit. Figured the current team might be faster than some of us, so I needed to get refs who can ignore my dirty play.