Page 28

Chapter 28

Jacob

A s we burst through the doors of the locker room, the laughter and cheers of my teammates echo against the stark white walls.

As the energy of the game still buzzes in the air, Halstead knocks his glove against a row of lockers, a grin spreading across his face. "Hell yeah, boys! That's how we do it!"

The sound of pucks clattering and sticks being tossed fills the room. The smile on my face is enough to make my damn cheeks hurt.

I may not have been on the ice for the entirety of the game, but it's clear that my absence made a difference. My team stepped up and took control.

"You know, I’m starting to think Parker here might actually break the goal record if he keeps this up," Halstead teases, nudging Parker playfully with his elbow.

Parker raises an eyebrow, feigning seriousness. "Only if your ridiculous ass stops hogging the puck like it's your personal treasure," he shoots back.

Manning, not to be outdone, lifts an eyebrow and calls out. "Guys! Let's not pretend it’s anything but good looks and charm that won us this game. You know they couldn’t take their eyes off me on the ice!" he quips, striking a mock pose that sends into fits of laughter.

From the corner of my eye, our backup right-winger Trent Billing approaches. He played tonight's game in my stead. He flashes me a sheepish grin as he lifts his helmet off his sweaty head. "Hey, man. How you hanging in there?"

I open my locker, lifting a brow. "Doing great. How about you after that killer game?"

He shrugs modestly. "Team effort, you know that."

"Still, you played like a beast out there."

"Thanks. I just wanted to say...thanks for allowing me to do my thing tonight." He extends a hand for me to shake. "I got the distinct impression you didn't really want to sit this one out."

I grasp his hand firmly, then clap him on the shoulder. "Hey, we all have our off days. But when it comes down to it, we're a team and we support each other no matter what."

Trent's smile widens at my words, and I know that he understands.

Trent had been struggling this season, and I knew how much it meant to him to finally get some time on the ice.

"Thanks, man." He beams in response before changing the subject. "Anyway, we headed to the bar for some post-game drinks?"

Shoving my gloves inside the locker, I glance around at the rest of the team. The smiles. The cheers. The laughs.

After all the hard work and dedication we've put into this season, seeing us come together like this is an incredible feeling.

But as much as I love the camaraderie of being part of a team, there’s only one person I want to celebrate with right now.

And a celebration without her just wouldn't feel complete.

I turn to Trent, ready to turn down his offer and head straight to her.

But before I can say anything, the locker room grows eerily quiet, the atmosphere shifting like a heavy fog rolling in.

All eyes are on the door, as Gio steps in.

That familiar swagger of my lifelong best friend feels less like a warm greeting and more like a warning bell.

That last fight had left bruises on both of us—bruises I’m not sure we've fully recovered from.

I lock eyes with Gio, silently communicating everything I want to say. And as always, he understands.

Because that's what best friends do. They understand without a single word being spoken.

He takes a few more steps before calling out.

"Jake." His raspy voice slices through the hushed murmurs. “Can we talk?" He glances around. "Just you and me?”

The room is practically holding its breath, waiting for my response. I nod slowly, the weight of what’s about to unfold settling heavily on my shoulders.

This could be the beginning of us putting this shit behind us. Or the final nail in the coffin of a friendship that has spanned decades.

As we step outside, I brace myself for whatever might come. Good or bad.

The night sky stretches out above us.

We sit on the bench near the arena where we’ve shared so many memories. The humid summer night air settles around us like a second skin.

There’s a moment of silence before Gio as he shifts his weight, his green eyes glowing as he leans in ever so slightly.

“So..."

I cough. "So."

"All right. I'll start."

"That would probably be best."

He exhales, the sound steady in the half-dark. "First things first...care to tell me how your fake engagement with Gabi turned into the real thing...or do I have to pry it out of you?”

I freeze, the guilt of keeping my secret from him weighing like a shit-ton of bricks. But I can’t just come out and say it. Not yet.

“I…I don’t know, man,” I start. “It…it just kind of happened.”

Gio's face falls slightly before he blinks. "What? The act of pretending to be in a relationship got too real?"

"No. Not exactly."

"Then what? You were caught up in the moment?"

"Hell no. Not at all. It's just...the act of pretending it wasn't real was the problem." I can feel his piercing gaze on me as I turn to face him, and I wonder if my still-healing lip can take another punch. "Feelings aren’t exactly easy to stuff back in once they’ve started to bubble to the surface.”

Gio sighs, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck. "You could've said something, man. We always tell each other everything."

"I know, I know," I say, feeling guilty as hell now that it's all out in the open. "But it wasn't just about me anymore. It was about Gabi too. And..." I swallow. "The baby."

His eyebrows shoot up in recognition. "You never did answer my question about who the father of Gabi's baby is."

"I know. I was thinking of a million different ways to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"That Gabi's baby, your niece or nephew…it's...it's mine."

Gio's hands flies to his forehead as he leans forward. "Jesus fucking Christ, man." He gets to his feet, pacing back and forth on the half-lit sidewalk. "You knocked up my sister...while pretending to be engaged to her."

Still sitting, I grimace. "Technically, I knocked her up way before the fake engagement shit even started. That being said...if you're ready to punch me in the face again, I understand. Just...give me a second to brace myself.”

But instead of punching me, Gio stops pacing and turns to me, his expression unreadable. "You know this is a mess, don't you?"

"Honestly? I've been aspiring to get this to 'mess' status. Because whatever the hell status it is right now is a hundred times worse."

Gio lets out a laugh, continuing to pace. "You always did have a way with words, Jackhammer."

"Words were always easy for me. It's the actions I struggle with."

He stops again and looks at me, his eyes softening. "Is that why you kept this from me? Because you thought you wouldn't step up for Gabi and the baby?"

"No...actually. Never that. Because I knew I would." I inhale deeply before continuing. "I kept it from you because nothing could keep me from being there for Gabi. Not my career. Not hockey. Not even you. I knew I would sacrifice it all. Burn every bridge to the ground if it meant being there for her.

"You love her that much?" Gio asks, the question a demand more than anything else.

I don't hesitate. "More. She's my everything. And so is our family."

I wait for Gio's reaction, bracing myself for anger or judgment. But it doesn't come. Instead, he lets out a sigh and sits back down next to me on the bench.

His shoulders slump, his dark hair falling over his brow, hiding his eyes. "Fuck me. I can't believe this."

"Neither can I."

He shakes his head. "You always have to go and make things complicated, don't you? Couldn't just be happy with your fame and fortune, huh?"

I let out a small laugh, knowing he's right. "Apparently not. But I wouldn't trade Gabi or this baby for all the fame and fortune in the world."

We sit in silence for a few moments before Gio speaks again.

"So, what now?"

"I don't know. But whatever happens, I'll be there for her. For both of them. To keep it real, I'm just waiting for Gabi to recognize that she's ready for us to be a family, too. I'm still figuring out how to handle this whole father thing, but I want to be there for her. And I hope she'll let me."

Gio nods, a small smile on his face. "I have no doubt she will. My sister is stubborn as shit. But she ain't stupid."

"Hey now, watch it. That's my girl you're talking about. But yes. Yes, she is."

"Of course, she gets it from the family. Well, most things. I won't hold it against her that she's going to wind up forever linked to the most selfless asshole I know."

"I'm guessing that asshole in question would be me?"

"Gotta keep you in check, man." Gio winks at me. " But that doesn't mean I'm not going to kick your ass for keeping this from me."

I grin at him, emotion working its way into my throat. "Wouldn't expect anything less from you."

My best friend, the brother that I've known all my life, claps me on the back, and I breathe out a sigh that practically makes my lungs sag.

I'm almost ready to rise to my feet and peel whatever's left of this uniform off me. Until Gio's phone starts to ring.

He holds up a hand with a smug grin. "Hold on. That must be God calling to congratulate me on my restraint when it comes to not kicking your teeth in."

He answers the call. The grin on his face slides off as he listens. I feel a cold sweat break out over my skin, and I watch as Gio's expression turns to one of disbelief.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he says into the phone. "Slow down, Lex. I can barely understand you when you talk that fast."

My heart hammers in my chest as I watch Gio's go slack.

"Got it. We'll be right there," he says before hanging up and turning to me.

I can see the panic in his eyes, and I don't even need to ask what's going on. We've been best friends for so long that we can practically read each other's minds.

"Gabi's having the baby, isn't she?" I ask, already on my feet.

"Yep," Gio says with a nod, looking like he's about to pass out from shock.

I clap him on the back. "We can save the ass-whooping for after you become a proud uncle."

"Sure will." Gio rises to his feet, too. "But first, we need to get to the hospital."

I nod and follow Gio as we head back into the building to grab our keys and hurry to the car, both of us grinning like a couple of idiots.