Page 126 of Pucking Forbidden

I sit in front of my locker, pulling my phone from the pocket of my duffle bag just to check the time. The screen lights up, and my heart does a warm roll in my chest.

Two notifications are sitting on the glass.

The first is a text from Mrs. Clay.

Mrs. Clay: Proud of you, Julian. You fought like a beast out there. Head up. I’ll see you and Hadley on Sunday.

A rough smile touches my lips. She’s been doing really well. Hadley and I visit her as often as we can, and FaceTime her weekly without fail. She’s safe, she’s happy, and best of all, she’s healthy.

Then I look at the second notification, and my throat goes completely tight.

It’s a text from my brother, Lucas.

Lucas: Great season, J. You left everything on the ice. Proud to call you my brother.

I stare at the words on the screen. I can still hardly believe we’re in contact again. My mind drifts back to how Hadley made this possible. Without telling me, she asked Skyler to use her tech skills to hunt him down. Once she found him, Hadley didn't just hand me an address. She sat me down, held my hands, and gave me the courage to swallow my pride and go visit him.

I thought he had abandoned me. I thought he left me behind with our father because he didn't care.

Turns out, the truth was a tragedy we both had to survive. Lucas had been planning to save up enough money to be able to take us both away. The night he snuck out, he was going to boost cars for a quick payday he was hoping would finally get us out, but he never made it. He got arrested. Now, he’d gotten out on parole and was working a steady job at a garage. When we met, he admitted to me through tears that he never reached out after getting out because he thought I hated him. That I’d look at his record and see the same trash our father was.

He also told me he’s a massive, unapologetic Night Hawks fan. He’s watched every single one of my games. Kept a scrapbook of my stats.

The two of us are now rebuilding our relationship from the ground up. It’s messy, and we have a decade of silence to talk through, but the bridge is there thanks to Hadley.

I get cleaned up and make my way out of the locker room, and she’s standing in the hallway waiting for me. She’s wearing my jersey, and her hair is pulled back into a ponytail. She walks right up to me. I wrap my arms around her, lifting her off her feet and burying my face into her silky hair. Her arms slide around my waist, and she gives me a squeeze. I feel the solid, heavy weight of the wedding ring I got her resting against the small of my back as she holds me.

“I’m sorry, big guy,” she whispers.

I pull back just enough to look down at her, and reach my hand up to cup her cheek and brush my thumb over her skin.

“Don't be,” I grin. “We’ll get them next year. I’ve got everything I need right here.”

HADLEY

The mid-summer Colorado sun is dipping below the jagged line of the mountains, casting a warm, honey-colored glow over the outdoor reception. The air smells of pine, expensive champagne, and the sweet, heavy scent of wild roses. After a year of absolute chaos, this summer brings one final wedding for the group.

Stacey and Owen are finally married.

They are surrounded by the entire Night Hawks family, the dance floor already vibrating under the weight of twenty-something athletes who don't know how to do anything in moderation. I sit at our round table near the edge of the pavilion, a half-empty glass of iced tea in my hand, my body completely relaxed as I lean back against Julian’s chest. His left arm is draped over the back of my chair, his thumb tracing a slow, rhythmic circle against the bare skin of my shoulder.

I look up at him through my lashes and smile, my heart racing at the sight of his gorgeous face. His hair is pulled back into a neat bun and his beard is tidy.

“You’re staring, sweetheart,” he rumbles, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Just admiring my husband,” I tease, shifting so I can tuck myself more securely against his side.

“Good. Keep doing it.” He leans down, his beard grazing my temple as he presses a slow, lingering kiss to my hair, his breath warm against my skin.

Across the lawn, Owen is taking turns spinning Millie and Stacey around in their white dresses, his booming laugh echoing over the music. The other guys and girls are scattered throughout the party, dancing and drinking and celebrating the only way we know how.

“I’m just saying,” Zander shouts over the music, stumbling over to our table with a fresh pint of beer and Rylee trailing behind him, her eyes bright with laughter. “It’s crazy none of us remember it!”

“Dude, why are you obsessing over Wilder’s wedding right now?” Carson hollers from the next table over, throwing a crumpled cloth napkin at him.

“How do you guys even know any of us were there?” Rylee asks, arching a brow.

Zander pauses a moment, his jaw dropping before he mutters, “Uh…I guess that’s true…”