Although, if I brought Emmersyn with one of those new swimsuits I’d ordered for her? Not that she knew about that—yet.

Not that I’d bought it with her full tits in mind, either.

“Yeah. I’ll be there.”

“Cool. So what happened? Why’d you take off?”

“Aww. Worried about me?” I parroted back to him.

I was done, ready to take the ice, like half the team around us, but there were still a few who hadn’t arrived yet.

He turned and opened his eyes into slits. “Should I be?”

My brothers knew me well. Alix more than most.

“I’m good. Heather called. Needed help with a friend.” I should probably introduce them. Wouldn’t want Alix scaring her someday when she stepped outside or anything.

“And she called you?”

“Fuck off. Who should she have called? You?”

“If your sister needed my help, I would have her calling me God in minutes.”

This jackass. I punched him in the shoulder so hard he almost fell off his chair. Once he righted himself, he laughed. Along with half the guys still standing around.

“Don’t be a dick. It’s my sister.”

“And Garrett’s sister is married to Joey.” He grinned like a savage. “The team likes to share. Keep it in the family, yes?”

“If you weren’t one of my best friends, you’d have two fewer teeth right now.” I stood, did a few squats to stretch out, and shook my arms. “I haven’t forgotten how you blew me off, either. Where were you until mid-morning?”

“The blondes.” He grinned and kicked out his legs, settling one ankle over another. Looked like he was ready for a nap. “Fantastic. At least one of them. Couldn’t get enough of her.”

“Yeah. Stop right there. I’ve heard enough. Keep those stories to yourself, all right?”

“Will do. How’d you help Heather’s friend? She got one in here in Vegas or something?”

“Nah.” I scanned the room, debating how much to tell him. It wasn’t my story after all and who knew how much Emmersyn wanted her problems shared around.

“She’s got some trouble.”

“How much trouble?” Dom interjected. He’d been near us, tugging on his jersey and ignoring the general mayhem of the locker room.

He was alert now, though. His sister, Lucy, was just getting back on her feet after a traumatic past. One that Dom spent a night in jail for to save her from.

Knowing exactly where his thoughts would go, I lowered my voice and grabbed his shoulder. “Not that kind of trouble. She just needs a place to stay for a while. Figure things out.”

“Good. That’s good.” He worked his jaw back and forth and shook out whatever was going on with him. Couldn’t blame the guy, though. Not once he started opening up and telling his family story.

Ugliest, darkest shit I’d ever heard.

I shoved his shoulder and grinned. “Nice to know you care, though.”

He was a notorious prick until Holly and her son skated into his life. He hated being reminded he was a good guy. Probably better than most of us really, considering his life.