Page 9 of Hearts on Ice
“It’s no contact,” Evan said with a shrug. “And not as expensive as hockey.”
“If you only knew someone who could set you up,” Declan said with a shrug.
“We kind of wanted the idea of teamwork without a lot of contact,” Meghan said as she served him a huge slab of lasagna. “And it’s not as big of a commitment. If he likes it, maybe.”
“I could at least teach them how to skate, you know.”
“I thought you had classes all the time.”
“I have a couple of sets of students. One takes a little more than the other, but I can fit in my favorites.” He flashed a grin at Nicole.
“I don’t want them to feel a lot of pressure,” Meghan said. “Evan told me what kind of pressure you grew up under, and I really don’t want that for them.”
Declan hesitated. He knew Evan thought that, and he knew that Evan had suffered because of the focus put on Declan. And okay, yeah, he’d been under a lot of pressure, and he put the same pressure on Josh and Lexi, the early hours, the long days. But the results had been worth it.
Hadn’t it?
He steered the conversation back to Tristan. “So when are you playing? Let me know, and I’ll try to make a game or two.”
Tristan’s eyes grew as big as the slice of lasagna on his plate. “You will?”
“I will do my very best,” Declan promised.
“Good. You need to get out of that rink every once in a while,” Meghan said.
If only she knew.
As he ate, he was peppered with stories about school and teachers and PE class, and art class—Nicole’s favorite—and new friends and riding the bus. He felt a small twinge in the area of his heart. He thought by this age, he’d have a family of his own, a home of his own. Colby had done more damage than he’d realized, because even the idea of dating again made him shy away. Even when he wanted this life.
After dinner, he and Evan took over the clean-up while Meghan ushered the kids upstairs for their baths, over very loud protests.
The quiet that descended on the kitchen in their absence made his ears ring as he turned to help his brother wash the dishes.
“Is it like this every night?” Declan asked.
“They’re just excited to see you. I told you they missed you. But, yes. It’s like this most nights.”
“Wow. You think they get all that from Meghan, or is that you?” Declan honestly didn’t remember a lot of family meals at his house, at least on weekdays, because of his skating schedule. Honestly, he was surprised Evan liked him as much as he did, considering how Declan had disrupted his life. No wonder he didn’t want his kids to skate.
“Oh, it’s definitely Meghan. Hey, I got that contract you asked me to draw up.”
“That was fast.”
“Pretty boilerplate. I beefed up the areas you asked. I gotta say, I know you said you never worked with a choreographer before, but these are some pretty tight parameters. I didn’t think you had so many trust issues.”
Declan shut off the water and braced his hands on the edge of the sink, then turned his head to look at his brother. “It’s Colby.”
“It’s what?” Evan’s voice echoed through the kitchen, and moments later, Meghan’s feet sounded on the stairs.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, running into the kitchen, breathless.
Evan was still staring at Declan, who had to look away.
“What the hell are you thinking, Declan, Jesus! After what she did to you!”
“What’s going on?” Meghan stepped into the kitchen.
“He’s working with Colby,” Evan told his wife
