Dean (Face-Off 6)

Travis makes a fist and holds it up. Since Theo is closer he punches me in the arm, leaving a sting behind.

I rub the spot where Theo hit me. “I guess I deserve that.”

“You’re lucky we don’t kick your ass,” Travis says, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring at me from the doorway. “No one touches Kat. You know the rules.”

“C’mon, Trav, you’re acting like I went to the party with the intention of hooking up with Kat. It wasn’t like that. We were dared. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is to us,” Theo says.

“Fine. Whatever.” I sigh. “Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

I wish it would.

Growing up with no siblings and a single mother who worked three jobs to keep me in skates, I never knew what it was like to have a big family. My mom did her best, and she still busts her ass to make my pro hockey dreams become a reality. But I always wanted brothers. I can’t fuck up my relationship with all of the Baldwins over a kiss.

“Nah, it’s cool,” Theo says. “We’re just fucking with you. We know you wouldn’t do Kat dirty.”

A beat passes between us before Travis’ phone dings with a new message. “Kat wants us to meet her at the SAC to play air hockey. You guys down?”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m hungry,” Theo says. “Tell Kat to meet us in the cafeteria first. And make sure she brings some cash with her. I’m out.”

“If dad finds out that you’re placing bets, he’ll kick your ass,” Travis yells. “You’re such a dumb ass. Don’t go gambling away your trust fund on sports betting. Remember what happened to Uncle Steve?”

Theo nods. “Yes, Dad. I won’t do it again.”

Travis snorts. “You know I’m right. Stop jerking off and focus on the team.”

Theo rolls his eyes at his brother. “My game is fine, thank you very much.”

“What do you think happens to players that take bets on their team? Think with your head for once. If you get kicked off the team, there goes your shot at the NHL, and Dad will kill you if you blow it over a stupid bet.”

“Okay, enough fighting, boys.”

Sometimes, the Baldwin twins go at each other like this for hours. I’m usually stuck in the middle and have to break up their arguments. The Baldwins all seem to have one thing in common—their tempers. Must be what makes them such good hockey players.

I slide my legs off the edge of the bed. “Let me take a shower first.”

At least for now, my relationship with Theo and Travis is secure. My heart is still racing from the twins bursting into my bedroom, waking me from a sound sleep. I can’t handle the stress of keeping my feelings for Kat from her brothers.

I have to forget about last night. Maybe it’s best if we both pretend it never happened. We can’t kiss like that ever again, not if we want to remain friends.

Chapter Five

Dean

We have this game in the bag. When my team stepped onto the ice today, there was never a doubt in my mind. Maintaining possession of the puck for the last few seconds of the game, I move left and past my opponent, switching to my weak side. My teammates bang their sticks against the player’s bench, the sounds echoing from a distance. A beat passes where I freeze-frame my surroundings, taking a mental picture so that I can relive this victory forever.

Ten, nine, eight seconds…

I dodge the man to my right and pass the puck to Theo to take the shot. He makes it in time, the goal horn blaring as the game ends. Once again, the Strickland Senators are the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey champions. All year, my team prepares for the Frozen Four, and for the last three years, we have earned the bragging rights that come with sweeping everyone in the league.

I skate over to my teammates to celebrate another title. Slapping them on the back, I pull each player into a hug and take in this moment. This is my last year as their captain.

While I was confident we would win, there were a few plays made by the other team that had me doubting a three-peat. But only for a split second. It’s hard enough to win a championship once, let alone three years in a row. The last time the Senators strung this many victories together Nick Baldwin was the captain.

“We did it, bro. Another championship.” Theo flashes a smile at me and wipes the sweat dripping off his forehead with the back of his hand.

“That shot off the post will go down in the record books for one of the sickest in NCAA history,” Travis adds.