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Chapter

Thirty-Seven

JONAS

The Wolves facility is cool, and I’m thrilled for Hunter.

He’s worked his ass off to get here and came back from an injury that could have ended his career before it started.

This is his dream, and I love seeing how fulfilled he is.

But the locker room is full of strangers, and to me, it feels empty.

Do I want this? It shouldn’t be that hard to answer, but damned if I know.

Hadley and Natalie wander off in search of the restrooms, and I grab a cushy folding chair with the Wolves logo emblazoned on the back and sit, facing Hunter’s locker.

He runs a hand through his hair, his gaze far-off. “Man, sometimes I can’t believe I’m here. Like, is this really happening?”

I smile. “You’ve earned it.”

He shakes his head. “Nah, I’ve barely begun. I still have a lot to prove.” With a sigh, he snags his own chair and sprawls into it. “It’s gonna be crazy hard.”

“Yeah, but you’re Hunter Thompson. You’re not afraid of hard work.”

Hunter gives me a rueful grin. “You know, if it was just about the game, I don’t think I’d mind too much. But Natalie…”

He trails off, and I raise a brow. “Is something wrong?”

Hunter and I were roommates for two years and we get along well, but it was clear he was closer to Cooper.

That made sense—they came in as freshmen together.

When he got injured last season, it was weird to take his spot on the line.

I probably imagined the tension between us, but the crush I had (have) on his sister didn’t help.

But Cooper is a thousand miles away, and thanks to Hadley and proximity, Hunter and I have become solid friends.

I hope I’m not out of line by asking about his relationship, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

He blows out a breath, and a dreamy expression clouds his eyes.

“It’s great. So great. I’m honestly worried about being away from her so much. ”

“Oh.” That surprises me, because hockey has been his number one priority for so long. I struggle to come up with something to say. “You love her, yeah?”

He nods so hard he looks like a bobble head. “So much.”

“And you’re willing to put in the work?”

“Desperately.”

I lift my shoulders. “Then I think you’ll figure it out. Between texts and FaceTime, you can still talk when you’re away. Make time for her when you’re home, show her she’s important, and it will get you through the times when you’re gone.”

The pinched expression on his face relaxes and he exhales. “Yeah, that makes sense. I can do that.”

We sit in silence for a second before I ask, “Is it weird to play for a different team?”

Hunter’s brow furrows in thought. “Yes and no. There are some new personalities to adjust to, but that happens every year in college. Training camp has everyone all mixed together, too. And it’s hockey.” He shrugs, as if that says it all.

And in a way, it does. Hunter was born to play this game, and he’s excellent at it. Some things come naturally, and hockey is that for him.

He pins me with a stare. “How are you feeling about your upcoming season?”

“Oh, you know.” I glance around the locker room, not meeting his gaze. “It will be fine.”

I don’t tell him about the guilt that weighs on me, about the impending sense of doom I’m hit with when I think about the start of the season. I don’t tell him about my compulsive need to work out, to push myself, to not let the team down this time.

He raises a brow. “Fine, huh?”

“Yep.”

“How’s Hadley doing this summer? I worry about her.”

While thankful for the subject change, I want to walk through this minefield even less than I want to talk about hockey.

“Um, I think she’s good.”

“You guys have become pretty close friends, yeah?”

“Yeah.” I try not to squirm in my seat.

He blows out a breath. “I’m glad. She needs someone looking out for her.”

Why do I bristle at his words? “I get you want the best for her, dude, I really do. But sometimes I think you forget she’s a grown woman and capable of taking care of herself.”

He runs a hand through his hair, rueful. “You’re probably right. I just… Natalie and her family are amazing, and I’m so grateful… but Hadley is all I’ve got. You want to protect your baby sister, don’t you?”

Emma flashes in my mind. “So much.”

“Imagine if she was the only person on the planet who was related to you who cared about you. Wouldn’t that magnify it a bit?” He clears his throat. “I just want her to be safe and happy.”

The weight of his reality hits me in the gut, along with a punch of guilt for lying to him. Is Hadley safe and happy? The smile that lights her face every time we kiss would say so.

I stand and clap him on the shoulder. “I’ll do my best. But also—family is what you make it. Hadley’s not all you’ve got.”

I’d do anything for my team, including the guys who’ve graduated. Hunter, especially. While it’s not brotherly affection like he wants, I have a spot in my heart for his sister. And that means he’s family.

His throat bobs in a swallow as he stands and grips in my hand in a firm shake. “Thanks, man.”

I pull him in for a quick hug, springing away as Natalie and Hadley come rushing back. Hadley holds out her phone, face stricken.

“What’s wrong?” Hunter and I both say at the same time.

Hadley looks shell-shocked, so Natalie speaks, gripping her arm. “Hadley’s mom called. She’s having surgery, and Hadley needs to fly to Boston right away.”