Chapter 2
Theo
“Why are you smiling?It looks weird.”
I arched a brow at my teenage sister, Emily. She was seventeen and had every ounce of attitude one could at that age. I honestly loved messing with her. It brought me endless amusement. “Does my joy bother you?” I grinned wider, to the point it hurt my face. “What about now?”
“God, you’re the worst.” She rolled her eyes, but a small smirk crossed her face. I considered that a victory. Life had been tough lately, and any earned smile was a point.
“Are you coming home tonight? Can I hang at Jace’s house?”
I grunted. Jace was her super serious boyfriend who smelled weird. He also stared at her a little too long, and he had a very punchable face. Some people just did. Maybe his eyes were too close together? I wasn’t sure, but my hand itched whenever he was around. “I won’t be home until seven. Can you stay here until then?”
“Will my curfew be midnight then?”
I laughed and hit the table, causing the glass of orange juice to wiggle. “Cute. But that’s a hell no.”
“What is the point of you being my cool older brother if you don’t make the rules better?”
“Can’t help you there, Em.” I finished my bagel just as my younger brother Daniel dragged his ass into the kitchen. The kid was nine and a mess. Just complete disaster. It was strange how the three of us were so different. I was organized and studious, a clean freak. Emily was messy but particular. Daniel was a disaster.
“Hi, bud.” I ruffled his hair. “Can I get you breakfast?”
“Pop-Tarts.” He went to the pantry and pulled them out, ripping open the package and spilling crumbs everywhere. Even seeing the mess had me jumping from my chair to grab the small broom.
I swept them up as he plopped down onto the couch. A small throb started in the back of my head, but I took a few deep breaths, and it passed. I knew they were tension headaches. I’d gotten them since our mom had a stroke and moved into a rehabilitation facility a year ago. My dad used work to escape, and with her gone… no one was here anymore. My parents couldn’t handle Emily and Daniel and Penny.
Oh, did I mention Penny? She was my hellion five-year-old sister. Sass on wheels. More attitude than me on the ice. She had fire red hair and a face of freckles. I smiled just thinking about her. She was my buddy, but I was her brother, not her dad, and it was hard navigating that line.
“Okay, plan for the day, team.” I placed my hands on my hips and waited for the two older ones to look at me. “I’ll be at school this morning for class and come home to pick you all up. Then back for hockey practice. Then return for the night.”
“Sure thing, coach.” Emily went back to her phone. “Then I’m going to Jace’s house.”
“If you do schoolwork.” I pointed at her.
“Ugh, you used to be fun. I miss that Theo.”
That comment stung. Yeah. I missed him too. I was still that guy, but my family needed me. My parents were my heroes and to see them struggle? I couldn’t handle it. I asked for a transfer for senior year to be near home, and I had no regrets about it. Not one.
Yet…when my dad blitzed through the house to leave for work, not bothering to ask if I could take my siblings to school or when he wouldn’t come home until nine and assumed I’d be here… that grated on me.
I’d have my whole life for hockey, but my mom having a stroke freaked me out. She wasn’t invincible anymore, and it was hard to deal with. She was my favorite person, and guilt stabbed me in the chest when I thought about how long it’d been since I’d gone to see her. It was hard to watch her be a shell of who she was. She’d forget who I was, fall asleep mid-conversation, but all of that was improvement. For the first few months, she couldn’t even talk.
So yeah, I didn’t party. I didn’t do crazy shit. Every minute of every day was school, hockey, or family.It was exhausting, but I didn’t have a choice.
No one would believe me if I told them that. My reputation on the ice overtook any truth. They called me aggressive, fun. I’d chirp at our opponents and make them look bad.I’d push the line and laugh about it. But hockey was my escape. It was how I coped with life. The ice was the only place I felt like me anymore.
I wasn’t like that off the ice at all.
“Tee Tee!”
I spun as Penny jumped onto me after hammering down the stairs. She was loud and fast. “Hey, Pen.”
“Can we listen to Country Roads again and again and again?”
I chuckled. I played Country Roads one time for them, and Penny became obsessed. She now knew every word and shouted MOONSHINE at the top of her lungs. It wouldn’t be surprising if she got a note home from her preschool class. “Em is taking you to school today, but I’ll play it when I pick you up, deal?”
“Deal.”
Penny had handled the shift the best. She was showered with love and probably the favorite of the family. She gave me a high five as I marched out of the house. The drive to campus was only twenty minutes, and I was grateful I’d actually bought a parking pass. I didn’t want to out of pure spite, but it allowed me to park closer to the quad.
Back at my other school in Indiana, I’d leave my truck in the garage most days and walk to campus. The rink was close to my apartment with my guys—ugh. An uncomfortable lump formed in my throat. I missed my team. I missed the guys, my space, my life there. They reached out, but I didn’t have the emotional energy to respond. Texts stacked up until they eventually stopped coming. My bandwidth was at max capacity these days, and taking on anything more would make me snap.
Central State was great, but it wasn’t my home. Also didn’t help that the team hated me. The head coach, Michael Reiner, was a solid dude. I liked his style, but the guys had a chip against me for a solid reason. I stopped at the café near the quad and grabbed a cold brew for Audrey, my mind still on hockey.
Indiana had a better record last year, and there was the altercation with Hawthorne. Speaking of Hawthorne…
Wait.
I smacked my forehead as I made my way in front of the student union. There was no way Audrey Hawthorne, that beautiful, shy, and kinda grumpy woman was related to Quentin Hawthorne. What were the odds?
That explains why she looked at me like she hated me…
Fuck.
I ran a hand through my hair, pulling the ends a bit as I glanced around for her. A part of me enjoyed her attitude. I wasn’t used to it. It might sound ridiculous, but people were generally kind or over-the-top with me. Like the other girl with her, Jessica-something.
At least in Indiana, a hockey player was just short of celebrity. Audrey wanted nothing to do with me, but if it was because of the injury to her brother last year, that was harder to overcome. She was supposed to be the best nursing student to get help from. I exhaled, the initial excitement of seeing her dying down a little with nerves. Professor Aldridge said Audrey would help me get acclimated and that befriending her would be the best for my growth and success, but how could I do that when she hated my guts?
“You made it.”
Damn. I squinted against the August sun and smiled at the figure approaching me. Audrey had a unique, throaty voice that reminded me of podcasters. She spoke without emotion, and it made me want to push her buttons. Just to see her reaction. It was a wild thing to think about after meeting one time before.
She seemed annoyed to be here, and while it was refreshing, I still didn’t like knowing I was the cause of it. “Is Quentin related to you?”
“Ah, put it together, did you?” She flexed her jaw as she adjusted the straps of her bag. Her high-waisted jeans and tight tank top fit her well. I hadn’t realized she was so curvy yesterday. It did me no good to think of her that way, not with needing her help with nursing and trying to form some relationship with the hockey team. Plus, there were daggers shooting out of her eyes at me.
It didn’t matter if I was the best on the ice. If the guys and I didn’t vibe as a team, we were doomed. I clicked my tongue and studied her. She didn’t strike me as similar to Quentin. He had lighter hair, a rounder face. But the nose was the same… probably the eyes. “He your brother, cousin?”
“Brother.” Her eyes flashed. “And you ruined his NHL dreams by having him sit out a season. You had a cheap shot, and you know it. So let me make this clear: we will never be friends. I’m only doing this because I respect Professor A too much to let her down. Do not try to be funny, don’t smile or joke with me. I will answer your questions, and we can beg the Quad gods that we aren’t paired together for clinicals. Am I clear?”
“Did you practice that on the way here?” I grinned, a flicker of irritation dancing along my spine. She didn’t know that her brother was a punk ass on the ice, always playing dirty and going after others. He thought he was hot shit and went after the wrong dude. He deserved my shot at him, and everyone fucking knew it. But she made her opinion known, and it wasn’t worth the effort to show her otherwise. Hell, what time did I have to go into making her believe me? I barely had a free hour to sleep.
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “Don’t start with me, Sanders.”
“Using my last name is a little flirty,” I fired back, unable to stop myself. There was something about her. The way she held her shoulders, the way she glared at me… there was a familiar air to her I didn’t want to explore. When I saw her on the stairs yesterday, gripping the railing for support, my heart lurched for her. She was going through something, but I’d never know and didn’t care to. However, I could mess with her. That was always on the table.
“I’m not flirting. I would never flirt with you. Now ask your questions.”
“Here’s your drink.” I handed it to her. “I only spat in it twice.”
“Great.” She took it and closed her eyes at the first sip. “I hate you, but thank you.”
“Anytime.” I fought a smile again. “Now, give me your five-star tour, and I’ll give you a tip.”
She slow-blinked me before opening and closing her mouth. She seemed confused if I was joking or not, and the adrenaline rush returned. I hadn’t felt this type of rush in years. Excitement and a challenge.
“The nursing building is all the way down there, on the left side.” She pointed. “You could use your brain, if yours still works, and look that up online, but I’m so glad I was able to help point you to a large building.”
“You’re incredible. Your bedside manner must be top-notch.” I snorted. “Please, continue. I wouldn’t survive without you.”
“Our health sciences library and simulation labs are a little harder to find. There is a separate building between our UGL and Thompkins Hall.”
“UGL?”
“Underground library. We’re known for having it half in the ground, half out. But the simulation labs are in the basement of a neighboring building. And they aren’t marked well. It’s part of the superstition and legacy. Apparently, someone died in the building like fifty years ago, and the story behind why is a little shady, so there are ghosts.” Her lips curved up as she spoke, like she was enjoying herself. The sun hit her face just right, and for the second time, I thought she was pretty.
“Oh, that’s fun.” I loved a good ghost story.
“Our health services building also matters. You might have to put in volunteer hours there twice a week. It depends on if your prior school—” she cringed “—made you do that. I don’t think Indiana has a great nursing program.”
“Don’t be elitist.” I arched a brow. “You can talk shit about their hockey team but not their school.”
She pressed her lips together. “You’re right. That won’t happen again. I’ll hate you in a more respectful way.”
“Perfect. Okay, so simulation labs, health services, our main building. Aldridge said you were the go-to for success, so what should I do?” I gripped the straps of my bag and studied Audrey.
She was about a foot shorter than me and had no wrinkles or lines on her face. My mom always said wrinkles were a sign of laughter, so it made me feel bad for half a second that she didn’t laugh a lot.
That wasn’t my problem, but it made me wonder why she was so prickly.
“What’s the secret sauce?” I asked again.
She sipped her coffee and started walking down the sidewalk. I joined her, obviously, and caught a whiff of her perfume. It was damn delightful. Peachy and flowery and pleasant.
“You need a good study group. Jessica and Lily are not mine, usually. They’re great in their own way, but my regular group is different. We meet once a week. Sometimes it’s to vent or cry, but they’re the reason we’re successful. Finding a cohort makes the difference because this degree is demanding. Now, can I ask a question that’s direct?”
“You told me you hated me. Figured that kinda crossed the line already. Ask me what you want, Hawthorne.”
Her eyes flared, but I wasn’t sure if it was in annoyance or amusement. I was gonna vote amusement.
“Why are you in nursing? That’s a very hard field, and you’re on the hockey team. You probably won’t be able to keep up.”
My chest tightened at her question. She didn’t understand my life and clearly had no interest in doing so. “That answer would require some friendship, and we’re not friends, nor will be, as you pointed out. I’ll manage, and that’s my business.”
She frowned. “Most hockey guys are drafted and don’t care about degrees.”
“Stereotyping me already.” I jutted my chin toward the union, slightly annoyed and hurt at her attitude. She didn’t know how hard I worked or how much was on the line. I’d seen so much change in our life because my mom’s stroke. I couldn’t rely on a sport for my future, for my family. Plus, I promised my mom I’d finish my degree. I’d never break a promise to her. “I think I’m good for the tour. Thanks, Hawthorne. I’ll pray to the gods tonight that we aren’t paired up for clinicals.”
Her frown deepened as I walked away from her, but I didn’t care. She didn’t know, or care to know, that her brother deserved what happened to him. I had no regrets for hitting him hard.
Audrey might have sway in the nursing program, but I worked my ass off and was dependable as fuck. I’d prove my worth here, just like on the team. One day at a time.
Plus, I didn’t need friends. I was here a year, that was it. I had my family and the ice, and most days, that was all I needed. Screw Audrey Hawthorne and her judgmental attitude. I didn’t have time for it.