Really fucking good, since I’ll be playing right alongside him.

It took two months for us to get moved and settled in Bellevue, and I have to admit, I love it here.

I hated leaving Delanie and Mandie. They cried and fussed over me, and I may have even teared up a bit, but I promised to stay in contact and I have. The guys from the team, you know, I think they were glad to see me go. Maybe not my dad since he was going to mold them into these fantastic, amazing players, but they were glad to be rid of their biggest competition. They didn’t even say bye to me, which kind of hurt. I’ve worked with these guys for the last two years and I thought we were cool, but apparently only the twins care one way or another if I’m gone.

Dad told me not to let it bother me, but it still stings.

The great thing is I get a new start and a new chance to get noticed. Cliffy, my agent, is thrilled with me going to Bellevue to play. Scouts from all over come to watch the Bullies because the coach before stacked it. I’ve heard about some of the players, ignored the ones with the last name Sinclair, of course, but the others, yeah, they are lethal. A lot of them are prospected to go first round in the draft, and if I want any part of that, I’m gonna have to bust my ass. It’s sort of intimidating. I know I have my work cut out for me to shine and surpass these great players, but I’m gonna do it. And I’m gonna be the best. No matter what.

And I’m gonna completely ignore dudes with the last name Sinclair.

Yup¸ that’s my plan.

I’m still nervous, and when I told my dad that, he laughed since I don’t get nervous. He waved me off, telling me I shouldn’t be, but he doesn’t understand why and I’m not telling him. He’s Papa Bear, he doesn’t let anyone mess with his cub, and if he knows that Jayden was the guy in Florida, he’d make his life a living hell. I’m not exactly sure why I don’t want that, but I don’t. I believe in the guy, he needs his chance to make his life great because he’s worked hard for it. Who am I to ruin that because he didn’t want to sleep with me? So I’ve kept that little tidbit to myself. But it’s easy to say anytime Bellevue hockey comes up in conversation, which is about seventy percent of the time, I get butterflies.

Because I’m gonna see him. I’m going to be playing beside him. And I’m not exactly sure how that is going to go. It has me on edge for obvious reasons, and I should not want to see him. I should want to kick him in the throat, beat his ass on the ice and show him who’s the best, but I do want to see him. I just don’t want him to see me.

If that makes any kind of sense.

Since Dad didn’t want me to think too much about the impending hockey camp, we decided to do a mini-vacay before things became about nothing but hockey. I’ve always wanted to visit Nashville. But since it wasn’t really a big hockey city before, we never got the chance until now, and I love it. I love this city and I could honestly live here for the rest of my life and be happy. There is something about the people; they are so nice and welcoming. I love the land, the country, and all the quirky little shops. It’s just nice, and there is so much to explore. So for three weekends straight, since I do have school, Dad and I did all the fun tourist stuff.

We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and I got to see Carrie Underwood perform. Supercool, right? We went to the zoo, to some plantations, and shopping galore. We even went to the Jack Daniel’s distillery where Dad got drunk and I had to drive home. To say that was the adventure of a lifetime is an understatement. There aren’t very many moments when our lives aren’t consumed with hockey. We are two very busy people, but we needed this trip. We spent the whole trip home either yelling at each other—because apparently I can’t drive, according to his drunken ass—or having the music so loud I’m pretty sure my ears are still ringing a week later from his horrible singing. But it was great and something I’ll always remember.

Leaning back in the grass, I pull my cap down farther on my face just to be sure no one notices me as I people watch and take in my new home. The Bellevue campus is one of the nicest campuses I’ve ever been to. I don’t even have to go off campus to get what I need. Everything is here, even Dad was impressed by that. No one really drives except in the winter from my understanding, and everyone is nice for the most part, I guess. It isn’t like I’m going out and meeting people though, so really I have no clue. I’ve spoken to two people, the janitor at the ice rink and the other janitor in the weight room.

I’m such a social butterfly.

Since we moved into the house they gave my dad, I’ve kept to myself. I go to my classes and sit in the back, praying and hoping that Jayden, or even Jace, doesn’t walk in. Thankfully, they haven’t. I haven’t even seen them. Thank. God. I don’t know how I will handle that, but I better get ready. I’ll be seeing him sooner rather than later.

Camp starts Monday.

The house they gave my dad is right next door to the Bullies’ frat house, and the team will move in after camp. I thought that would exclude me, but then we found out that wasn’t the case. The board threw the mother of all fits because Dad just assumed I was going to be on the team. I mean, why wouldn’t I be? But apparently they hadn’t heard of me, so they said that I had to try out—which is really pointless since my dad is the coach, but whatever. Then they said if I’m gonna play on a team with boys, then I have to be a full member of the team.

Which means I have to live with them.

This wasn’t the case in Arkansas. I got my own locker room, shower, and housing with my dad, but apparently, there are a bunch of fucking assholes around here that want to make my life a living hell. In truth, they want to scare me off. But they won’t. I’ll be part of the team; it will be like I have a dick. And yeah, my dad is not happy about it, but no one is gonna ruin my chances of getting what I want. He threw a fit, threatened to quit, but I talked him off the ledge. I mean, really, it’s not a big deal. Dudes don’t bother me, I can handle my own, and if one of them touches me in a way I don’t like, I’ll kill him. But the main reason my heart is palpitating in my chest and I have clammy hands is because I’m going to be around Jayden almost all the damn time.

And he doesn’t even know I’m here.

I take in the four-story house and let out a breath. Maybe I can be on the top floor and him on the bottom. Maybe I can figure out a way never to see him and never to deal with him, but even I know that’s stupid to even try to attempt. A hockey team is supposed to be a family if they want to win. I’m going to see him, I’m gonna have to talk to him, and I’m going to have to act like he didn’t reject me and turn me into a little crybaby. It’s gonna be hard. I can still feel the sting of his rejection, but I won’t allow that to derail me. This isn’t about some stupid fling on the beach. No, this is about me getting to the NHL.