Blades of Glory (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 4)

I’m not really annoyed…until he throws up his arms, grabbing the blade of his stick before thrusting it up and down as he leans back, grinning hard.

Like I do when I score.

This guy.

I glare as he skates toward me, grinning. “Tell Shelli I said thanks.”

My eyes narrow as I look up at Shelli, who is grinning from ear-to-ear before shrugging for forgiveness.

Oh. Oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong.

Chapter Four

Third Period

Lucas

“Should have played the Shelli card this period,” Karson says beside me, and I grin as I nod. “I’m sucking air.”

I try to laugh, but I can’t. I’m winded. I’m dead. Can’t feel my feet, and trying to do my son’s goal dance was a bad idea. When I brought the stick down, I hit my cup, and it pinched my balls. I may have cried a bit. This is a blast. I’m loving every second of it, but I’m pretty sure I’ve left most of my soul on this ice. Then again, it’s always belonged there. This is the only place I could call home other than the house I share with my wife, Fallon, and our girls. Both boys are getting married, and it’s wild that I’m okay with it all.

I know Fallon is suffering a bit. She loves her boys, total tit-babies, but for me, it’s the cool part of life. I lost the first six years of Aiden’s childhood, and I tried to make up for that over the years. But now that I’m with him through his adult years, I get to encourage him to be a good husband. And one day, maybe even a father, which is mind-blowing.

I honestly never saw Shelli and Aiden coming together, even with how much Shelli adored him as a kid. But now, I don’t see him with anyone else but her. They’re perfect together, and having an alumni game to celebrate their love for each other is absolutely perfect. It’s completely them, and for me, it’s an honor to play in this game. Even if walking won’t be happening tomorrow. Now, if we can kick their asses, it will be worth it.

We’ve somehow tied with the kids, and I’m pretty impressed with the grit our boys are showing. Then again, these are guys from the team that won a Cup after being in last place for most of the season. We came back after the All-Star break and brought home a Cup that took everything out of us to get. One of my favorite Cup runs, along with the one from my last season. I’ve played a lot of really great games. I had one hell of a career, but there is something about playing with my brothers, against my son and his buddies, that is just really freaking cool. It’s a memory Shea and I’ll have for a very long time. A damn good memory.

“I can’t believe we’re here for the kids getting married. I can still see Shelli, little, with a way-too-big guitar, and Aiden in the backyard with a stick, shooting the way he is today. No cares about the other one, just doing their own thing,” Karson says then, and I nod. “Now, I’ve seen him make eyes at her more times than I’ve even glanced at Lacey.”

“True story.” I scoff. “Maybe we’re not working hard enough?”

“No, we are. I can’t feel my toes or even my cock at this point,” Erik says. “I thought I’d trained enough for this.”

“We didn’t,” I decide for everyone, and we all chuckle at that. We all want to have the bodies we did at the other team’s age, but the kids aren’t the only thing getting older. So are we. “I don’t think there is enough training for this, not when I’ve sat on my ass for the last year, playing Final Fantasy.”

Benji nods in agreement as I lean on the boards, watching as Tate fights off pucks. Behind him, Phillipe’s stance matches mine. He’s in awe of his father, who is working his ass off as if he were just in goal for the last Cup run. It’s been a long time, full of a whole lot of PT and surgeries, but even I’m impressed by my brother who stands tall between the pipes. Phillipe is killing me, though. He mimes blocking the shots in unison with his dad. He’s playing for the Junior Assassins as their goalie and Tate is his coach, so I’m sure watching his dad play is like Christmas for the kid. He’s real quiet, the way that Tate was when I first met him, and like his dad, his talent is incredible. Hell if I’m not excited to see where that boy goes.

I look over at where Karson’s wife, Lacey, is sitting with Fallon and her sister-in-law, Kacey. All their kids are watching the game, excited to see their daddies play. I love watching kids adore their dads on the ice, but my gaze is locked on Lacey. Her cancer has come back. But even with the pink headwrap she wears, she’s still gorgeous as ever.