Axel (Carolina Reapers 1)

“Open it and find out,” Langley urged, her gaze curious as she looked up at me. “What did you get him?” she whispered.

“You have to wait too.” I kissed her forehead and looked back to my brother as he ripped through the paper. The packaging was discreet but a moment later, he had the flaps to the box open, and his mouth dropped.

“Is this what I think it is?” He lifted the helmet and took it in with wide eyes, rotating it so he could examine it from every angle.

“It is,” I assured him. “Silas swore me to secrecy,” I told my wife with another forehead kiss.

She arched an eyebrow.

“How the hell did you get one?” His eyes flew to mine, wide with shock.

“I happen to know the designer and the owner of the Reapers,” I teased. “It’s in your team colors, and you have it before anyone on the market. Except the Reapers, of course.” We’d been wearing the new helmets all season long. “They’re incredible when it comes to concussion protection, and Harper said she’d answer any questions you have.”

Tage put the helmet in the box and stumbled to his feet. He was tall and lean, cut with muscle, but still a skinny kid in my eyes.

I stood and barely caught him as he lunged for me, clasping me in a hug. If I’d done one thing right in raising him, it had been this. He might be a surly, opinionated teenager, but he never shied away from affection.

“Thank you.” He switched to Swedish, and I knew it wasn’t to leave Langley out, but simple habit and emotion.

“You’re welcome.” I squeezed him tight, emotion clogging my throat. Leaving Sweden had been easy, considering I had Langley at my side. Leaving my brother? That had been the hardest thing I’d ever done. “Now wear it. Protect that tiny brain of yours.”

He laughed and held me for another second before letting go. “I guess I’d better get everything packed up, huh?”

I nodded. “We have to leave in a couple of hours.”

He sighed, glancing at the tree we’d all decorated together the first day he’d flown in, when jet lag had him bleary-eyed. “Thank you,” he said to Langley.

She stood, pulling her oversized Reapers sweatshirt down as she came to my side. “You don’t have to thank me again. I’m just glad you like the tickets.” She’d bought him a set of plane tickets for mid-May, when his season would be over, and we’d be—crossing our fingers—still in the playoffs.

His eyebrows rose. “Right, those are great, and I can’t wait to see Axel on that ice, but that wasn’t what I meant.” He shook his head, and at her furrowed brows, he smiled and continued. “Thank you for making him so happy.” He nodded at me. “I can’t ever remember seeing him smile as much as I have the last week.”

“Oh,” she said quietly. “Well, you’re welcome, but it’s really my pleasure.”

His eyes darted between us, and he grinned with straight white teeth. “Mom and Dad would be happy for you,” he said in Swedish. Then he took an armful of presents up to the guest room to pack them in his suitcase.

“What did he say?” Langley asked, looking strangely pale as she looked up at me.

I cupped her cheeks in my hands and bent to brush a kiss across her lips. “He told me our parents would be happy. He was only five when we lost them, so I’m not sure how much he remembers about them, but I’d like to think he’s right.”

She swallowed, a shadow passing through her eyes that had me pulling her in tighter against my frame.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She smiled, and the light caught the new diamond earrings I’d given her this morning. “I just like seeing you happy.”

“Thank you for letting him stay with us.” I fell back into the couch, taking her with me and lifting her in my arms so she landed on my lap.

Her fingers ran along my face. “Of course. He’s your brother, and I know how badly you’ve missed him. It was nice to get to spend this time with him.”

“He’s pretty incredible. So much...lighter than I was at his age. Happier.” He was quicker to smile and laugh, and when he did, those emotions ran true. He never faked it, never forced a grin.

“He also isn’t responsible for raising his little brother right now,” Langley said softly. “At his age, you had an SHL contract and a seven-year-old brother at home to take care of.”

“I never regretted it,” I said quietly, making sure Tage couldn’t hear. “Never saw him as a burden. Sure, I had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibility, especially when Mormor passed away right after I graduated, but Tage is…” I shook my head, unable to find the words.