Page 4

Chapter four

Beck

“Jake’s got a solid wrist shot for his age.”

Wes’s comment pulls me back to the present, and I glance across the booth at him. We’re at The Hawks’ Nest , a trendy bar just a few blocks from the arena where the guys like to unwind after home games. The place is buzzing tonight—fans still riding the high from our last win, music pulsing through the speakers, and laughter echoing off the walls.

“Yeah, he’s got good instincts,” I say, taking a sip of my water. “Kid’s hungry to learn.”

“And totally starstruck by you,” Griffin adds with a grin, leaning back in the booth. “Pretty sure that kid’s ready to nominate you for sainthood.”

I chuckle, but the sound feels hollow. “Nah. I’m just a guy who caught a puck before it hit him.”

“Right,” Griffin drawls, shooting me a knowing look. “And I’m just a guy who breaks hearts everywhere he goes.”

Wes snorts, almost choking on his drink. “You’re not wrong about that, Griff.”

“Hey, what can I say?” Griffin smirks, flashing his signature charming grin. “I’m a giver.”

“More like a tornado,” I mutter, but I can’t help smiling.

Griffin might be a pain sometimes, but he’s loyal. Both of them are. We’ve been through a lot together—on and off the ice. They’re the only ones who know how much I’m wrestling with what’s happening in my head right now.

“So…” Wes leans in, his sharp gaze locking onto mine. “What’s the deal with Abby?”

I tense, my fingers tightening around my glass. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Beck.” Griffin raises an eyebrow. “You’ve been quieter than usual all night. That’s not like you.”

Wes nods, his expression softer but just as probing. “We saw how you looked at her today.”

I sigh and lean back against the booth, rubbing the back of my neck. “It’s… complicated.”

“Complicated how?” Griffin asks, his curiosity piqued. “She’s gorgeous. Smart. And she’s raising a kid who clearly adores you.”

“Exactly,” I mutter, my throat tightening.

Wes’s brow furrows. “Is that what’s holding you back?”

“No.” I shake my head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “It’s… more than that.”

I hesitate, but these two know me better than most. If anyone can help me make sense of this mess, it’s them.

“Jake’s a great kid,” I say quietly. “And Abby…” My voice trails off, but her image is already crystal clear in my mind—her guarded smile, the way her eyes soften when she looks at Jake, the strength she tries so hard to hide.

“She’s different,” I admit softly.

“Different how?” Wes asks, his tone careful.

“She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.” I exhale slowly, running a hand down my face. “She’s doing everything for Jake. Every decision, every sacrifice—she’s all in for him.”

“Sounds like someone else we know.” Wes’s voice is gentle, and I glance up to see his knowing smile.

I swallow hard, memories of my mom flashing through my mind. “Yeah,” I murmur. “She reminds me of Mom.”

The silence that follows is heavy, filled with unspoken understanding. Wes and Griffin know what both my mom and dad went through to keep me in skates. The endless hours at two jobs for her and the night shift for my dad. They sacrificed so I could chase my dream.

“Abby’s had it rough,” I add, my voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know the full story yet, but I can see it in her eyes. She’s been hurt. And she’s not going to let anyone get close enough to hurt her again.”

Griffin’s smirk fades, replaced by rare seriousness. “And you’re afraid if you get too close, you’ll be the one to hurt her?”

I nod, my jaw tight. “Or worse… I’m afraid if she finds out who I really am, she’ll walk away.”

Wes frowns. “What do you mean? She knows you’re Beck Hayes, hockey superstar.”

“Yeah,” I say, but my voice feels hollow. “But she doesn’t know about… everything else.”

Griffin’s eyes narrow. “You mean the billions?”

I wince. “Don’t say it like that.”

“It’s the truth, man.” Griffin shrugs, but his expression is serious. “You’re not just a hockey player, Jake. You’re a walking Fortune 500.”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “And that’s what scares me.”

I lean forward, elbows on the table, and stare down at my hands. “I’ve seen what happens when people find out. They change. They want things. They expect things. And I can’t…” I trail off, my throat tight.

“You think Abby’s like that?” Wes asks softly.

“No,” I say immediately, shaking my head. “She’s not. But that doesn’t mean it won’t change things. I don’t want her to see me differently.”

And that’s the problem.

I’ve already let her see the real me: the guy who jokes around with Jake and trips over a rambunctious Dalmatian. The guy who loves hockey more than anything and who wants—no, needs—something real in his life.

But if Abby finds out about the rest… the money?

“I should’ve told her from the start.” My voice is barely above a whisper, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. “But now… it feels too late.”

“Too late?” Wes’s eyebrows draw together.

“Yeah.” I lift my gaze, meeting his. “The longer I wait, the harder it’s going to be. She trusts me now. If I tell her the truth… she’ll wonder why I kept it from her. And I can’t…” I pause, swallowing hard. “I can’t lose that.”

I can’t lose her.

“Beck,” Wes says gently, but I already know what he’s thinking.

“If I tell her now,” I continue, my voice rough, “she’s going to think I was lying before. That I was hiding who I really am on purpose.” I shake my head, frustration burning in my chest because that’s just what I have been doing. “She won’t trust me after that.”

“And if you don’t tell her?” Griffin asks quietly.

The weight in my chest grows heavier. “Then I’m lying by omission. And when she eventually finds out—and she will—it’ll hurt her even more.”

Griffin leans back, crossing his arms. “So… you’re darned if you do, darned if you don’t.”

“Pretty much,” I murmur.

The silence that follows feels suffocating. I know I’m running out of time. Every moment I spend with Abby and Jake, I’m falling deeper. And if I don’t figure out how to tell her the truth soon…

I’m going to lose them before I ever really have them.