Page 133 of For the Boys
Sandra waved the hand away and pulled Lexie in for a hug. “Any friend of Brent and Berkley is a friend of mine.”
Then Sandra led them both around the suite, introducing them to various friends and family.
“Berkley!” Mackenzie yelled from across the suite, running up for a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too! I’m glad you’re all settled in the city finally,” Berkley told her. “I’m sorry I’ve hardly seen you. How are things at FLEX? Your brother doesn’t tell me anything.”
“Great!” Mackenzie said excitedly. “I’m basically running the show right now while he’s busy with this.”
Thismeaning his hockey career.
Berkley laughed. “That’s great. I’m glad I could help you find an apartment. I don’t know if you know this, but you’re only a couple blocks from me. Let me know if you ever want to get together to watch games or just hang out while he’s out of town.”
“I would love that!” Mackenzie said. “I definitely will. But come on, I’ve been talking you up to the family, and my dad and brother are dying to meet you.”
As if on cue, a man stepped forward. “Ron Jean,” Brent’s dad said. “We’ve heard so many amazing things about you from Brent and Mackenzie. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You as well,” she said. Berkley observed that Brent strongly favored his father; there was the familiar straight nose, strong jaw, and slightly crooked smile.
The last of the Jean clan walked up to Berkley, sticking out his hand. Berkley took it.
“Nathaniel Jean,” he said. “You can call me Nate. Great to meet you, Berkley.”
Nate was handsome and tall, like Brent and their father, but with softer features that he could attribute to his mother. He was the perfect mix of both Sandra and Ron, and Berkley was sure he had broken some hearts with that pretty face of his.
“Looks like our brother finally found himself a girl whose good looks rival his own, the smug bastard,” he stage-whispered to his sister, who broke into a fit of giggles.
“I told you she’s really pretty,” Mackenzie said, and Berkley beamed at her, cheeks heating.
“Hi, Nate,” Berkley said. “It’s nice to finally meet you. This is my friend Lexie, by the way.”
The two shook hands, and Nate turned his attention back to Berkley.
“We’ve heard a lot about you,” he told her. “How’s law school going?”
“Great! I’m in the home stretch now. I will take my final exams next week, graduate the week after, and take the Bar in July.”
“Oooooh,” Brent’s mom cooed. “A lawyer. That’s wonderful. Ron practiced law for about twenty-five years. He was primarily a contract attorney. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t,” Berkley said. “I’d love to talk shop with you one day. I’m hoping to become an agent actually. Contracts are kind of my thing.”
Ron nodded. “I would love that. I wanted Brent to be a lawyer, but his dream was always hockey.”
“He does have two degrees though,” Sandra said. “One in business and one in finance.”
“I knew that,” Berkley said, remembering their date to Frankenmuth and how they’d cuddled by the fire in the cabin and shared their secrets. That night had been a big night for them. “He told me his dad made sure he had something to fall back on if hockey didn’t work out.”
“Smart man, his father,” Sandra said, wrapping her arm around her husband’s waist and grinning up at him.
“But aren’t we so lucky hockey did work out?” Ron boomed, stretching his arm out in a sweeping motion toward the view of the ice. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this.”
Berkley took stock of the suite. The bar was fully stocked, with beer and wine in the refrigerator. The counters were filled with trays of mini sandwiches, meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and chips and crackers.
“Do you mind if I have a drink?” Berkley asked Brent’s mom.
“No, of course not, honey,” Sandra said, patting her on the arm. “You look like you could use one.”
As Berkley made a beeline for the bar, Sandra turned to Lexie and asked, “So, Lexie, what do you do for a living?”
