2. Wes
Chapter two
Wes
The entire time we stand in line and then while we check out, I wonder what Hadley’s going to ask me—what I missed while I was picking out desserts.
Whatever it is, Holt doesn’t like it. Knowing him, it could be something as simple as her wanting to change the laundry detergent their parents buy.
He may be my best friend, but goalies are fucking weird, and he’s no exception.
Although I highly doubt it’s that simple—if it were, she wouldn’t need a favor from me. No, this is something else entirely.
Hadley is an enigma I can’t figure out. She’s my best friend’s little sister. She was his rock when he first found out he had a daughter, coming to stay with him in Florida to be his nanny for the remainder of the season. Taking care of Hazel, his daughter, and him, no questions asked.
But there’s something else hidden beneath the surface that I don’t think anyone else sees. Hell, I don’t even know if she realizes it. But I see it because I feel it too. Like I’m gradually becoming an outsider with the people closest to me. Like I don’t really fit in anymore.
I don’t blame my friends—they’re all getting married or at least partnered off. After this summer, three of my closest friends will be fathers. They’ll all have their own families to go home to at the end of a long road trip or a grueling day of practice.
And I’ll have no one.
I should be used to it by now.
I’ve never had anyone to go home to since I live alone. But now the guys are over less. The quietness of my apartment is even worse. Not that I blame them. But it’s still hard.
Maybe that’s why I jumped at the chance to come to Ontario with Holt and his family for a few weeks this summer.
And maybe it’s why I’m so intrigued by whatever Hadley needs to talk to me about.
Or maybe I’m secretly hoping to spend more time with her, just the two of us?
Nope. Stop. Hadley is my best friend’s sister. I can’t go there.
“Weston Arthur,” Hadley says as if she knows I’m thinking about her.
I glance at her in the backseat of Holt’s dad’s SUV. “Not my middle name, Hadley Jane.”
“So tell me what it is,” she sasses.
“Nope.” As much as I pretend to be annoyed, I enjoy her game of trying to rile me up and figure out my middle name. More fun than telling her the truth—that I don’t have a middle name, at least not really.
“That’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair,” I fire back.
“Fuck you, Weston.”
I snort. “I’m sure you'd like to.”
“Children,” Holt barks. “Enough.”
“Yes, Dad,” I say.
“Sorry, Daddy. Won’t happen again,” Hadley mumbles.
I swear my dick twitched hearing her say Daddy, even if it was in jest and directed at her older brother.
Nope.
Nope.
I am not turned on by that. Not at all turned on by thinking about Hadley calling me that as she obediently slides down onto her knees and stares up at me, probably wishing she hadn’t sassed me.
Because now she’s going to be sucking my cock, gagging on it, until I say otherwise.
Taking it in her naughty little mouth that doesn’t know when to stop talking.
It’s the only way I know I’d be able to get her to shut up.
Now my dick really is getting hard.
Defense plays.
Smelly hockey gear.
Slamming guys into the boards.
Fights.
I blow out a breath as my dick finally calms the fuck down.
“You okay?” Holt asks.
Thank goodness he’s staring straight ahead and not at me, and didn’t notice the half boner I was sporting a few seconds ago while thinking about gagging his sister with my dick.
Nope.
Not that again.
“Fine,” I manage to say, clearing my throat. “Still tired from the end of the season.”
It’s the truth. Even though the last game was a few weeks ago, my body still hasn’t fully recovered. Nothing new. That’s what happens when you play as many games as we do over the course of a season.
“Same, brother, same.”
“Thanks again for inviting me to come with you to visit your folks.”
“Of course. We’re always happy to have you tag along. My parents love having a full house.” He frowns. “I think they always wanted more kids, a bigger family.” He shakes his head. “Mom sees you like another son. Honestly, I think she sees the entire team that way.”
I love Momma Abbott. She gives the best hugs and makes a mean cheesecake. “Thanks. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
I don’t know if anyone does; even I hadn’t realized how much it meant to me until recently.
He glances over at me before focusing back on the road. “You sure you only want to stay two weeks and not longer?”
“Yeah. I wanna be home when Mads and Aubs have their babies.” Madison, who’s married to our best friend and team captain, Hunter, is pregnant with their first child.
And a few weeks before she’s due, Aubrey, who’s married to our other best friend and now assistant coach, Brody, is due with their first baby.
I’m so excited for two more Storm babies to love on and spoil the way I spoil Hazel.
He chuckles. “It’s the end of May. Aubrey’s due in mid-June and Madison in late July. I highly doubt either one of them will be this early. You could stay an extra week or so and still be home in time.”
“I know, but I figured Hunt or Brod might want an extra person around. Someone to hang with their wives while they run errands or work out.”
“I’m sure they’ll both appreciate it.”
We lapse into silence, and I try to quiet the voice in my head that tells me my time with my friends is limited.
That as Hazel gets older, Holt will be around less and less, spending more time with his daughter and girlfriend.
How the other guys will be busy with their children.
And, yes, there are still a few single guys on the team, and we’re friends, but it’s not the same.
I don’t have the same type of friendship with them that I do with my three best friends.
Holt, Brody, Hunter, and I have played together for many seasons now; we’re close.
Although Brody resisted my friendship for years, preferring to be the broody loner, he’s come around.
“We’re here,” Holt announces as he pulls into his parents’ driveway and parks the car.
As we’re walking into the house, Hadley snags my arm, and I have to force myself not to react. My skin feels as if it’s on fire where she’s touching me. It feels like electricity is coursing through my body.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Oh, that’s right. I’ve been in love with my best friend’s sister since the day I met her at the beach three years ago.
“Can we talk?” Hadley asks, and her tone has me concerned, her usual sass gone. This is serious Hadley, and I don’t like it.
“Of course. Did I do something wrong?” I scan her face for any hint of what’s going on.
I thought the bantering was all in good fun, but maybe I went too far. I think back to the conversation in the car, replaying it all and trying to figure out what might have crossed a line.
“I need a favor.”