Page 78 of Hot Damn
“Probably. Although Chase seems to be a big kid most of the time so he might have thought of it.”
“I can’t believe he gave up college and hockey to help raise his younger siblings.”
“He’s brave, that’s for sure. And he got that extra time with his mom.”
“It’s sad. All of them losing their parents like that.”
“Yeah, I thought I had it rough. But at least I didn’t start with loving parents and have them taken away within months of each other.”
“I’m not sure I’d look at it that way, everyone deserves to be loved by parents, birth of otherwise. I’d take that over eliminating world hunger any day of the week. But life doesn’t work like that, and we all have our traumas to deal with.”
“I think Chase and his sisters will be okay.”
“Me too.” I smile. “Especially now they’ve been brought into the Rogues family.”
“I didn’t understand what Blake meant when she first spoke to me about joining the team, about how they didn’t just want to build a winning team but a family we could all rely on to have our backs. She was so adamant that I be prepared to support whoever needed it.”
His forehead wrinkles and his eyes go unfocused.
“I never thought I’d experience what having a large family meant. It’s just me and Whit, and unless she decides she wants a handful of children we’ll always be a small family.”
“Family isn’t blood. You should know that. Didn’t Mama Dot take care of you and Whitney?”
“Yes.”
“That’s family. Caring for each other and having each other’s back. It’s what we built when we started Rogue sportswear, it’s what we’re building with the Rogues.”
“You’ve done it. We’re not even six months in and you’ve got that tightly woven family unit. It’s why we’re playing so well, why we’re winning.”
“You’re winning because you all have skills.”
“Yes, that too, but I’m not playing with a teammate, I’m playing with family. And that makes me want to play better. For them, as much as for me.”
“Dad!”
“That was quick.” Beckett frowns and looks at his watch. “Fifteen means ten apparently.”
“Dad!”
“In the family room,” Beckett calls over his shoulder. “Why that girl can’t just come looking is beyond me.”
I smile because I know I used to do the same when I was younger. Hell, I’m pretty sure I still do it now when I go home.
“Hey!”
“Whitbee.” Beckett holds one arm out. “Come give me a hug.”
With a roll of her eyes, Whitney walks over and delivers the requested cuddle. She surprises me by letting go of her dad and bending over to give me one too.
“How are you feeling?” she asks, a frown marring her pretty face. “You look a little pale.”
“I’m fine. Tired. I don’t think I slept very well even though I slept if that makes sense.”
“It does.” Turning to Beckett, she asks, “Can we order pizza for dinner?”
“I pulled a tray of lasagna out of the freezer.”
“Oh, that works. Can we make garlic bread?”
