“He’s busy,” Claire says, giving me a look that says I am very busy in fact, but I don’t remember being busy.

Shrugging my shoulders, I say, “I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to say I’m busy, but I can’t remember with what.”

“Jerk,” she mutters, pulling herself out of my arms and shrugging her shoulders. “It’s your funeral.”

I laugh as Reese rolls her eyes. “It’s not a big deal. Phillip will be nice, I swear.”

“You can’t guarantee that,” Claire says and then looks back at me. “She can’t guarantee that.”

“Oh, hush, it will be fine. I’ll figure out the details with Claire. Excited to see you on Wednesday!”

“See you then,” I say as she waves and then heads inside. I reach for Claire, pulling her to me as I hold the bike up. “Don’t you want me to meet your uncle? You met my family.”

“You’ve meet Reese. Believe me, that’s good enough. He’s gonna be an asshole, and I promise you’re going to say I’m not worth all that trouble.”

I smile as I nuzzle my nose against her ear, taking in her sweet scent. “Don’t you know that you are worth all the trouble in the world and that I will never stop loving you?”

She doesn’t say anything so I look at her, hoping she sees it in my eyes, but hers are suddenly so sad. With a melancholy smile, she says, “I wish you could guarantee me that.”

Cupping her jaw, I bring her eyes up to mine and say, “I can.”

“How?”

I smile as I stroke her jaw with my thumb. “Easy. As long as there are stars in the sky, I am yours. Forever and always.”

“Some nights it’s cloudy, though,” she points out.

I nod. “You’re right, but the stars are still there. And that means that I may be mad or upset with you, but I’ll always love you. I mean, come on, Claire, it’s taken me twenty years to find the person I’m meant to love. That doesn’t ever stop.”

“That was supercorny,” she says, her eyes playful.

I laugh as I nod. “Sometimes you get supercorny when a person makes you feel like this.”

“Feel like what?”

“Like they’ve taken over you. Flood your thoughts, make you so breathless and blown away by them. It’s a crazy thing, love, and sometimes it brings out the crazy in you.”

“Crazy in love? Like the song?” she says, her lips curving into an even bigger grin.

“Exactly.”

Reaching up, she traces my lips with her finger before saying, “I love you, Jude.”

I smile, nipping her finger and making her jump before crashing my lips to hers. As I kiss her, I hold her close and the love pours out of me for this girl. I mean every word I say. She is it. She is my forever. Is it too damn soon to know that? I don’t think so. I think when you know, you know. Everyone wants that person, the one who they’ll spend forever with, and thankfully I found mine and knew right away. Do people think we’re nuts? Hell, do we think we’re nuts? Yes. Do I fucking care? No, because I love her.

Pulling away much too soon, I say, “I love you. Now go before I steal you and take you back to my place.”

She lets me go and grins. “I think I might like that.”

“Oh, you would, believe me,” I groan, my dick coming to life in my pants.

“I think I’d like it more on that bike though,” she says and then she bites her lip playfully, her eyes full of lust.

Hot. Damn.

Breathing out slowly, I grip the handlebars as my whole body vibrates with want. “I will make sure that happens soon.”

“Promise?” she asks, taking a step back, her eyes locked on mine.

“I swear.”

After parking my bike beside Jayden’s car, I hop off it and head inside. Before I can get to the door though, my phone rings. Pulling it out, I see that it’s my agent, Ralph.

Answering it, I say, “Hello?”

“Hey, buddy! How’s it going?”

I drop down on the steps and brace my elbow on my knees as I say, “Good, thanks. You? How’re the kids? Your wife?”

“I’m breathing, wife and kiddos are good. Thanks for asking,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

I’ve known Ralph as long as I can remember. He and my dad played hockey together when they were younger. He’s in his late forties and just started a family a couple of years ago. Said life was too hectic to bring a family into, and my dad was always so jealous of him. He would always say that Ralph was living the life, traveling all over the world, not giving a damn about anyone. I don’t know what changed, but now, Ralph seems like a different person, a little happier. While I feel that Ralph’s family is a blessing and something that was good for him, I think that to my dad, we’re a burden. I hate that I feel like that. I should know my dad loves me, but sometimes I don’t think he does.

“So the reason why I’m calling, bud, is that we have four teams that want to meet with you throughout the season. The Kings, Hawks, Rangers, and Lightning.”

“Good teams,” I say even though the Wings aren’t on the list. I really wanted the Wings, but I still have plenty of time to make them bite and consider me. I’d be an asset. I know that.

“Real good teams, especially since the Kings just traded one of their top players for a first-round pick. If the draft goes the way it should, you’ll go first, I think, or at least, I hope.”

“Sounds great to me.”

“Me too. So main thing, stay healthy, focus, and kick some ass, kid. The NHL is right there, waiting for you. Only nine months till we’re there.”

“I’m ready.”

“I know you are, and so am I. Then I’ll get Jayden and Jace in there and have all the Sinclair boys kicking some NHL ass. I’m hoping maybe we’ll get some bites and I can throw Jayden in this year, but I won’t unless I’m confident. We’ll see.”

I nod, excited for my and my brothers’ futures. We are going to rock the NHL. “Awesome. I’m excited.”

“Good, that’s what I want to hear. All right, bud, like I said, keeping kicking ass, please God stay healthy, and just do you. Be amazing.”

“Will do, thanks for calling.”