“Big body, huge presence on the ice. I feel good about him. He and his little brother Jace are the two you’ll have to watch out for.”

More than you realize, I think as I nod. “So he’s my biggest competition.”

Looking up at me from his computer, he says, “Yeah. For sure. He should have gone into the draft last year, but his agent wants one more year on him. I’ve been in talks with him, and he’ll go quick next year. His brother went second or third.”

“First,” I say, and his brows shoot up.

“Know about them, then?”

I shrug. “I know the name, and he’s doing great right now for the Kings.”

“Oh! Yeah! Jude Sinclair! That’s right. How did I miss that? Hmm,” he says, making some notes on the pad in front of him. I know I’m supposed to look through the file, but I can’t turn the page.

Running my finger along the picture in the file, I will myself to stop but I can’t. Tracing his lips, I groan internally. Oh, the feel of those lips and that face. I remember every single detail of it. He looks younger in this picture, not as big as he did in person. He had more scruff than he does in the picture when I saw him in Florida. In this picture, he looks carefree and fun, but he was so much more than that. He had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and I wanted nothing more than to knock all the problems away just to see his smile.

But not only are his looks impressive. Everything about Jayden’s career is right here in my hands. He was really modest when he spoke of his career. On paper, he’s amazing. Played for the US Male Junior Olympic team for just as many seasons as I did on the girls’ team. Traveled everywhere. He has a lot of goals for a defenseman, and like Dad said, he should have gone into the draft. He’s undoubtedly a first round pick.

“Why didn’t he go in?”

Dad looks up and shrugs. “I think his wrister is shit. Not sure. Gonna have to dissect him once I get my hands on him.”

I called that.

Nodding my head, I go to look back down as he says, “You know that Kyle kid is a hottie.”

Looking up, I make a face. “Ew, Dad.”

He grins. “I’m just saying, you haven’t really gotten out since we’ve been here.”

“I hang with you all the time.”

“Yeah, but not with people. Guys. Girls. Nothing. Just me.”

I laugh as I lean back in my chair. “What, Dad, don’t want to hang with me?”

He shakes his head. “No, that’s not it. I just want you to have fun. Meet people.”

“I’m good, Dad, promise. Hockey is what is important right now. Everything else will fall into place,” I say, before looking back down, moving my hair behind my ear.

“Yeah, but you have the weekend to live before hockey does take over. Go out, mingle, and have fun before you are hurting all the time because I’m gonna be pushing you. I’m going to make you a billion times better.”

I nod, knowing this already. “I’m good, Dad, I promise. I’ll have time for friends and guys when I’m older.”

He eyes me and then shakes his head. “You’re not still caught up on that Joe kid are you?”

I look up, confused, and then remember who that is.

Jayden.

Shaking my head, I say, “No, Dad, just ready to play.”

And I’m not lying, but I’m also not telling the truth.

“Oh my God! Look, Jayden! Oh my! I’m so happy!”

As my mother shakes me, Jude grins proudly as Claire giggles uncontrollably, nuzzled in close beside him on the other side of the computer. It’s easy to say that she is happy and beside herself with love for my older brother. She’s been crying, her eyes are puffy as she gazes down at the huge diamond my brother bought, and I’m pretty sure Jude has been crying too. It’s cute and sweet. Like me, Jace and Lucy both knew that Jude was going to propose tonight, but Mom obviously didn’t.

“Tell me how it happened. Lucy, look!”

My older sister rolls her eyes as Angie jumps up and down in her lap, clapping her hands for Jude and Claire. “Yes, Mom, I see it. It’s great. Congratulations, guys.”

Her congratulations sounds more like “I hope you both die,” but thankfully, I don’t think they are really listening to us. They are too busy gazing into each other’s eyes in a sickeningly sweet way that normal girls, not my sister, would gush over. Ever since Rick the douche broke her heart and left her for some other chick, my sister’s view on love and marriage is very jaded. Then add in what my dad did to my mom, and it’s easy to say that I don’t see my sister ever getting married or even trying to date a guy. Lord knows I haven’t seen her with anyone in two years. Never know though, she could find her one true love and blah, blah, blah.

“Isn’t it insane? I can’t believe it,” Claire gushes and I scoff.

“Please, of course you two were gonna get married,” I say, and she grins at me before looking back at Jude.

Skype has become a huge part of all of our lives since Jude left. We Skype with him and even with Claire a lot. It’s tough with them being all the way in Vegas and California, but on the computer they don’t seem that far away. I do miss the asshole, though. It’s been two months since we saw him. Jace and I started back to school, and hockey is about to start. It’s weird because, for the first time, Jude won’t be on the ice with me. But watching him play in the NHL and win is something I can’t even describe. He’s killing it, already tied with some other rookie for first in the league for goals. I know he’ll do great; now I just gotta work my ass off to get up there with him.

“Are Phillip and Reese excited?”

Claire grins as she shrugs sheepishly. Everyone knows that her uncle would rather gouge his eyeballs out than accept that Claire and Jude are together. “Well, Phillip is Phillip, but Reese is really excited for me. They both think we are young.”

Mom smiles as she nods. “You two are, but who cares? You’re in love!”

I hear Lucy let out a breath of annoyance, and I lean into her to show her I love her. She was young when she married Rick, only twenty-three, but I truly believe the douche wasn’t made for her. She needs someone who’s gonna be there for her and be appreciative of her. Not someone who’s going to knock her up and smack her around when she doesn’t have dinner on the table.