“Brody Murphy, stressed? About a game?” Her eyebrows rose in surprise and her eyes grew wide. “That’s a first.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Oh please! From the time you were eight years old, your dad and I would tell you good luck before a big game and you would say—” She set her bowl down and stood up. Puffing her chest out and marching around the living room, she imitated me. “I don’t need luck. I’m Brody Murphy. I got skills.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Was I really that much of a punk?”

“Not a punk. Confident. There’s a difference.” She chuckled and sat back down. “You backed up what you said, Brody. That’s all that matters. Now, why are you so nervous about next week?”

“My contract is up at the end of this year and I’m not getting any younger. The pressure to perform is at an all-time high.”

“Oh.” Concern canceled out her previously playful tone. “I didn’t realize this was a contract year.”

“Yeah. Growing up in Minnesota, I never imagined playing anywhere else. I love it here, especially now because of Kacie and the girls. The thought of leaving them behind to play somewhere else…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“Don’t think like that. Like you said, you’ve always been a live-in-the-moment kind of person and it suits you. Don’t worry too much about the future just yet.”

“I know, but now I have a reason to worry about my future.”

She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Look at you,” she said, narrowing her eyes and smiling at me.

“What?”

“You are completely smitten, aren’t you?”

I nodded. “Beyond.”

“Think you’ll marry her?”

“I’d marry her tomorrow if I could, but she needs to go slow right now. She’s still fighting some demons from her past.”

“Stuff with her ex?” she asked cautiously.

“Yep.”

“What happened with that anyway?”

“He was an ass. Walked out on her and the girls.” I would be thankful every day for the rest of my life that that asshole left; otherwise, I might never have met Kacie. Still, thinking about the way he treated her made my fucking blood boil. “From what she’s said, he wasn’t all that great to her when they were together.”

“That’s too bad. Has she seen him at all?” she asked as she picked her bowl up off the coffee table and started eating again.

“Nothing. He literally walked out on them. Left her a damn note. I don’t think he’s even called once.”

“Wow.” Her brows pulled together and she tilted her head to the side. “She’s one tough cookie, isn’t she?”

“That’s an understatement.”

“Must be. I know women do it every single day, but I can’t imagine raising you and Shae on my own, especially as young as she was when he left. And twins?” She shook her head back and forth in disbelief. “Forget it. That’s insane.”

“Sophia’s helped her a lot, but she’s stubborn as hell and tries to do as much as she can on her own.”

A loud knock on my door echoed throughout my living room.

My mom looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face. “Are you expecting anyone?”

“Nope.” I jumped up and went to my door. It was barely halfway open when Viper came barreling through it.

“What’s up, ass clown!” He slapped me on the shoulder as he walked past me. “Dude, I just got the number of the hottest blonde ever with the most amazing tits down in your lobby. She has no idea that I’m going to be fucking the shit out of her in about”—he craned his neck to look at the clock on my oven—”five hours.”

“Hi, Lawrence,” my mom called out.

Viper’s eyes grew huge and his face turned red as he slowly turned toward my living room and peeked around the corner at my mom. His head snapped back at me as he whispered loudly, “Thanks for telling me your mom was here, douche.”

“You didn’t give me a chance.” I laughed, closing my front door and following him into the living room.

“Hi, Mrs. Murphy.” Viper walked over and gave her shoulders a quick hug. “Sorry about that.”

It was hilarious watching him backtrack like a little kid.

“Want some beef stew, idiot?” I asked, trying to save him from any more embarrassment.

“No, thanks. I’m not staying. I actually just stopped by to give you this.” He reached in his back pocket. “I found it on the floor in the locker room after you left.” He handed me my driver’s license.

“Seriously?” I walked over to the counter and grabbed my wallet to put my license in the empty spot where it normally went. “Can’t believe I almost lost that.”

“Yeah, who’s the idiot now?” he teased. “And for the record, I’m not at all shocked that you almost lost it. Your mind is always up north these days.”

“We were just talking about Kacie,” Mom said. “What do you think of her, Lawrence?”

Viper threw himself on the couch and relaxed with his hands behind his head. “I like her… a lot, actually. We just need Loverboy over here to do his job or they’re going to be testing out a long-distance relationship.” He looked up at me. “You ever been to San Jose? ‘Cause you’re about to be a Shark. Tony Ingram is having back surgery and he’s gonna be out the whole season.”

“No shit?”

“Yep, and Louie is looking pretty good at practices. Not to mention he broke up with his girlfriend solely to focus on hockey this year. Collins has been all over him.”

Mom’s brows drew together and she started wringing her hands, clearly not liking what Viper was saying.

“It’ll be fine, Viper. You know there’s no comparing me and Louie on the ice. I block twice the shots that cocky little prick does.”

“I know that and you know that, but you need to make sure Collins remembers that.” He stood up and wiped his palms on his jeans. “Anyway, I better go. I’ve interrupted your night long enough.”

“You sure?” Mom asked. “We are just about to pop in a movie.”

“Oh, yeah?” Viper tilted his head back and forth, thinking about her offer. He turned to me. “What did you get?”

“Everything that has Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan, or Reese Witherspoon in it.” I rolled my eyes.

“Aw, shit. I’m out.” He laughed, waving at my mom as he walked to the door. “Bye, Mrs. M.”

“Hey, Lawrence!” Viper stopped when my mom called out his name. He turned to face her and she cocked an eyebrow at him. “Go easy on that girl tonight. Whatever it is you said you were gonna do to her, it sounded painful.”

I let out a loud laugh as Viper’s face turned redder than it had been when he first realized my mom was in the next room. “I… uh… okay,” he stuttered as he hurried to the door. I watched as he turned the knob and walked backward through it, flipping me off as he went. I blew him a kiss and he was gone.

“All right.” I clapped my hands. “Let’s get this mushy movie marathon over with.”