Page 65 of Clear Shot

We all do.

Everyone is bending over backwards to do something. Anything.

Because as a team—our entire extended group of friends and colleagues—we’re all fine.

Many, many people are not.

“You thinking about a career change?” Vaughn asks as he whisks past me with a tub of dirty dishes.

I follow on his heels carrying one of my own.

“Are you?”

He laughs. “I’m going to say no. I’ve worked harder the last two days in the clean-up effort than I ever have on the ice.”

“Don’t let Coach hear you say that.”

We laugh together.

He hands the tub to the guy washing dishes and I put mine on the floor.

“How’s married life?” Vaughn asks as we head back to the dining room.

“It’s pretty great,” I say with a grin.

“There will be tough times,” he warns gently. “And I’m not trying to be a dick. Just reminding you that not everything will have the newlywed glow it has now.”

“We weathered a fucking hurricane a week into the marriage,” I respond with a grimace.

“Yeah, but that’s external. Like, you can’t control the weather. I’m talking about internal stuff. Arguments. Things will come up you never considered. Trust me—it’s going to happen.”

“So what’s your advice when it does?” I ask curiously.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. Always give her the benefit of the doubt. Always put your love for her ahead of anything else. Because in the end, it’s your love that’s going to mend everything.”

Love.

We haven’t gotten to that point yet. At least, we haven’t verbalized it.

It’s close, hovering on the edge of my psyche, but I’m not ready to pull the trigger. Everything with Hana has been a whirlwind and when she said she wants to take the time to fall in love, that resonated deeply. That’s what I want too.

But I can’t tell Vaughn that.

Can’t say that we’re falling in love but not quite there yet.

That this whole marriage was a sham that took an unexpected turn.

Nope.

No one needs to know those things.

“What?” he asks when I hesitate.

“We rushed into marriage because of her visa,” I admit, since that’s not a secret. “So we’re taking things slow, finding our footing one day at a time. The feelings are there but everything else is a little hazy.”

He nods. “And that’s okay. I fell for Juliet hard and fast. It took us a little bit to find our footing too. That’s why I’m giving you the benefit of my experience.”

“I appreciate it.” I gaze across the room where Hana is holding a baby as the mother mixes a bottle. “She’s…special.”