Before he could say, “I love you,” he said, “Bye, baby,” then quickly hung up. He didn’t want to say something that would scare her off, but he was pretty sure she knew he was still completely in love with her. So really, he should have just said it and hoped that she said it back. Rolling his eyes as he thought he was acting like a lovesick fool, he finished getting ready before heading to the media room with a little more pep to his step than normal. It was to be expected though; he was on the road to having his love back.

He was almost to the room when he heard, “Hey, King.”

He stopped and turned back to see the captain of the Assassins coming toward him. Shea Adler took up most of the room wherever he stood, being bigger than Karson. Most of the guys feared him, but thankfully, Karson had gotten in good with the captain and stayed on his good side. There wasn’t a Sunday during the off-season when he wasn’t at the Adler home, enjoying a home-cooked meal by Mrs. Adler and playing with the many Adler kiddos.

“Adler, what’s up?”

“Hey, I don’t know if Elli told you, but they are asking all of us about the new jerseys and shit. Make sure you say you like them.”

Karson was a little confused. The jerseys had come out during the summer and were a hit with the fans. He was partial to the new one, thought the logo of the Assassin with the Nashville Skyline surrounding him instead of coming out of his arms was a little more believable and way more badass. More like the Assassin was protecting the city from the other hockey teams that came to steal their chances at the Cup. At least, that’s the way he thought. They were still the signature purple and black, so he really didn’t see a problem.

Nodding his head to reassure his captain, he said, “I do like them.”

Shea paused. “Oh, good, then say that.”

Karson laughed. “Will do.”

“Good, and you’re not flying to St. Louis with us?”

He shook his head. “Nope, I have some business to take care of here.”

“Cool,” he said with a nod. “Can I ask what? It’s not your sister, right?”

Karson nodded with a grin growing on his face. Shea was that kind of guy, always making sure his people were good. Karson liked that. “Yeah, my sister isn’t here right now. She is back in Wisconsin, training for the Olympics.”

“Oh, cool, so why are you flying on your own?”

“I met up with an old friend. Wanted to spend some time with her.”

Shea smiled. “Good enough reason, I’d say.”

“The best, I think.”

“Awesome, you did good this morning. Way better than yesterday.”

No clue why, he thought with a grin.

“Thanks. Got my head on straight last night.”

And he hoped it stayed that way.

“Old friend?”

Karson laughed. “Yup.”

“Well, God bless her and keep her around. I want to win tonight,” he said before clapping him on the shoulder.

“That’s the plan.”

With a nod, he asked, “Are you coming to lunch with us?”

Karson shrugged. He hadn’t planned to, but he was always hungry. “Sure.”

“Good, I’ll text you the address.”

“Thanks, see you in a bit,” Karson said as Shea walked away.

Walking the rest of the way to the media room, he thought about calling Lacey and seeing if she wanted to go to lunch, but she probably had to work or something, and it was tradition to eat with the guys. Reaching the door, he went to open it, but before he could, it opened and before him stood over two hundred pounds of anger.

“Grady,” he said, meeting the gaze of his ex-best friend and Lacey’s big brother.

Grady was his right-hand man when they were younger. Karson could sail the puck up the ice, and Grady would be there to get it before scoring perfectly. They were the dynamic duo, as Coach had called them, but that ended quickly when he started dating Grady’s baby sister. Grady didn’t want anything to do with Karson as soon as that happened, and since Karson decided that Lacey was more important than his friendship with her brother, he didn’t mourn the loss. He figured if Grady really was his friend, he would have supported them, but he did the opposite and that was fine. What wasn’t fine was the fact that he’d kept Lacey from him, and because of that, there was no love lost between the two.

“Fuck off, King.”

Karson nodded as he stepped out of the way for him. “Nice to see you too.”

He glared back at him before heading down the hall. If Lacey and he did get back together, it wasn’t going to be easy, not with him being the center of her brother’s and father’s hatred. He knew how much her family meant to her. That’s why he’d never told her the real reason he left her all those years ago. But tonight he would have to; he had promised her he would.

And he would be lying if he said he wasn’t scared out of his mind.

“You’re a dick, dude.”

Karson laughed as he looked over at JT. “Why is that?” he asked as they headed toward the restaurant that Shea had texted him. He’d had a great interview and felt good about his response about the jersey. He hoped Mrs. Adler was happy with him. Always wanted to stay in her good graces.

Happy owner, not a goner, was his motto.

But Elli was pretty great to work for, if you called playing hockey work. She was very supportive and everyone loved her; it was hard not to. Burrowing tighter in his jacket, he took in a deep breath before letting it out, a little cloud forming around his mouth. The air was frigid, but it was expected since it was the beginning of winter in Chicago.