Page 15 of If You Claim Me

“It’s what I want. He has a big heart. You’ve seen him with Callie.” None of it is a lie.

“He’s stepped up for us in the past.” Tristan wraps his arm around Rix’s shoulder. “In Aruba he took care of the hotel situation.”

“He took care of a lot more than that,” Nate mutters, but I think I’m the only one who catches it.

Essie hugs Nate’s arm and kisses his bicep.

I ran into Connor on the beach in Aruba after the wedding. He seemed particularly despondent, even with his bottle of expensive champagne and the pretty view. I didn’t push then, even though I wanted to.

Flip turns back to me. “If you ask me to support you, I’ll support you, no matter what. But if he fucks you over in any way, I’ll end him.”

I smile up at my best friend, grateful and sad. “I know you will.” I can’t tell him why I’ve made this choice. He’ll want to fix it, and I won’t risk it changing our friendship. Everyone in this room is too important.

I just hope Connor doesn’t give Flip another reason to hate him, for the health of his team and our friendship.

After a long look, Flip hugs me. “If you let me, I will always have your back, Dred.”

“I know,” I say, muffled by his chest. “Thank you. I promise this is the right decision for me.”

“I need a drink,” Flip announces. The guys follow him into the kitchen.

The girls converge on me.

“Are you pregnant?” Rix asks.

“No. I’m not pregnant.” And I don’t have plans to consummate the relationship even though I find Connor wildlyattractive.

“Are you going to tell us what’s going on?” Hemi, who is usually the boss of us, asks gently.

“Eventually, yes.”

“But not right now?” Hammer clarifies.

“Not right now, no.”

“Have you secretly been in love?” Tally asks hopefully.

With Connor? No. But his grandmother is another story. “It’s a complicated situation. I promise all of you I want this, and that eventually, I will explain it all, but for now, I just really need you to be on my side.”

“Okay. We can do that,” Lexi pipes in.

The rest of the girls nod their agreement. This group has been through it over the past few years, from Hemi’s on-ice engagement to Lexi marrying the team goalie last season. We always have each other’s backs.

“He really is a good person,” Essie whispers.

I smile, even as that makes me wonder what she knows that other people don’t.

“Whatever you need, we’re in this with you,” Rix promises.

I nod. I want to believe I won’t end up with a broken heart, but I don’t know if that’s possible—not because I’ll fall for Connor, but because I already love Meems.

The guys return with drinks and stare expectantly at us.

I need to diffuse the tension and take the attention off me, otherwise I might crack under the pressure. “How are we feeling about this year’s prospects?”

“Pretty sure Brody will be a top pick when they call him up,” Roman says, bless his heart. He’s on my side because I was on his when he and Lexi planned a shotgun wedding last season to save her career.

Brody Stiles is Tristan’s younger brother. He’s currently in college, but destined for the pros.