Page 4

Bennett

I glide effortlessly across the ice, surrounded by the excited laughter and shouts of children. Their tiny feet wobble in their skates as I guide them through their first steps on the rink. This is a perk of being a Miami Kings player. We give back to the community. There's something deeply rewarding about seeing the excitement on these kids' faces as they learn to skate.

"Hey, Ben!" one of the kids calls out, tugging on my sleeve. "Watch me go!"

"Alright, buddy," I say, smiling at the determination in his eyes. "Show me what you got." He takes off, arms flailing, making me chuckle.

After a few more laps around the rink, it's time to head home. My muscles are craving a hot shower and some rest, but I'm still buzzing from the energy of the event. I toss my gear into my bag and make my way to my townhouse, just a short drive from the arena.

As soon as I step inside, shedding my jacket and kicking off my shoes, my phone buzzes on the kitchen counter, and my brother Cole's name flashes across the screen.

"Hey, man, what's up?" I ask, settling onto a barstool.

"Nothing much, little bro," Cole replies. "Just checking in. How was the charity event?"

"Good, good," I say, leaning back. "You know, teaching kids to skate, making dreams come true."

"Ha! Always the humble one." He chuckles. "But seriously, I'm proud of you. You're doing great things for those kids."

"Thanks, Cole," I say. "But enough about me. How's the football superstar doing?"

"Living the dream, as always," he quips, and I can practically hear him rolling his eyes. "But seriously, things are good. Training's been intense, but that's to be expected."

"Nice, nice," I nod.

"Hey, speaking of dreams coming true," Cole says, a teasing edge to his voice, "I heard Mom talking about some employee at her company. Gracie, I think? She mentioned you two had met."

"Gracie?" I hesitate, recalling the girl I bumped into. "I met a woman that I literally ran into on the street the other day downtown. She sounded like she was on a work call with Mom, but with the rink being so close to Holidates Headquarters, that didn’t really surprise me. Why?"

"Ah, no reason," Cole replies, the grin evident in his voice. "Just thinking she might be good for you, you know? She's not exactly your usual type, but sometimes that's a good thing."

"Nice try, Cole," I say with a laugh. "But I'd never date anyone who works with or for Mom. That's just asking for trouble. Complications, conflicts of interest... you name it."

"Alright, alright," Cole concedes. "Just thought I'd throw it out there."

"Besides," I add, trying to steer the conversation away from my love life, "you and Weston are the ones who’ve settled down already. Just because I’m younger than you, that doesn’t mean that I have to follow in your footsteps with everything I do."

"Love comes along when you're not looking for it," Cole says. "Trust me on this one."

"Ha! Not for me, bro," I reply. "Not going to commit to just one woman. Nope, not going to happen."

"Never say never, Ben," Cole advises, his tone is playful. "You might be surprised."

"Nope. That’s still a no go for me," I chuckle, knowing he's just trying to look out for me. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a shower and some sleep."

"Alright, take care," Cole responds. "Catch you later."

"Later," I say, hanging up the phone.

Gracie. So, that’s her name.

I walk towards the bathroom and think about how her nervous smile was adorable but shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Cole's words echo in my mind. However, I'm not ready to admit he might be right. Not yet, anyway.

Commitment has never been my thing. I've always enjoyed the freedom of being able to do what I want, when I want, without having to answer to anyone. With my hockey career taking up most of my time and energy, there's not much left for serious relationships anyway.

I turn on the shower, letting the water heat up as I peel off my clothes. My thoughts refuse to leave Gracie alone. It's not like I'm completely against the idea of a relationship, but the thought of being tied down to one person... it scares me. Maybe it's the fear of losing my independence, or maybe it's the pressure of upholding someone else's expectations.

I step into the shower and feel the hot water cascading over my body, so I close my eyes and try to focus on anything but her. It's no use – her green eyes, her chestnut hair, that nervous smile. Why am I so drawn to her?