Page 44 of Unbreakable
I held her back by the shoulders and shrugged. “This bitch I know.”
Jeannie laughed, like belly laughed, for the first time since our wedding day. It was beautiful to see, and a relief.
“I know I don’t deserve it, but will you give me a chance to love you? We’re just getting started, Jeannie. We’ve got a good long life ahead of us if we give it a shot.”
She rolled her lips between her teeth and nodded.
“So you’ll stay?”
She smiled softly. “I’ll stay.”
NINETEEN
DYLAN
NOW | NOVEMBER
Hey can u check the calendar to see if I can golf tomorrow morning after training? Weather’s supposed to be nice
“Hey, guys!”
Guy Stelle was on the other end of the FaceTime call, while our captain Colton Jones and I leaned in. It was a couple of hours before our Tuesday game.
“You’re still handsome, you son of a bitch,” Colt said, shaking his head. “How’s Kitty?”
“Ah, she’s good. It’s so fun that both of you are there together! Two of my friends combin?—”
“PICKLES!” came a shout from the background. Ben Miknevicius, or Mikey, popped his head into the frame. “We miss ya, Picksy. How are ya?”
I laughed. “Believe it or not, I miss you dumbasses.”
I’d played with Mikey and Stelle in L.A., and Colton had been on their team in college. The hockey world was forever small.
“Colt, my boy,” Mikey added. “Please give Pickles so much shit. Fight with him a lot so he doesn’t miss me too bad.”
I rolled my eyes. “You want me to replace you?”
Mikey tucked his hands up like he was going to swoon. “Dylan, how could you? I’m irreplaceable.”
“I figured as much,” I said.
“Mikey, how’s Maddie?”
“She’s the most beautiful girl in the world,” he cooed.
“Don’t tell Jessie,” Stelle cracked.
“Jessie’s the most beautifulwoman. Maddie’s the most beautiful girl. Stop infantilizing my wife, Stelle,” Mikey objected.
“That’s a big word, Mike. Jessie must be getting through to you,” came another voice, followed by a hyena laugh.
“I went to an Ivy League!” Mikey protested. “I’m smart!”
Guy tipped the camera up so I could see the source of the hyena laugh: L.A.’s goalie Nick Oberbeck. My best friend, Chapman Beatty, leaned into view too.
“Hey, Obi. Hey, Chappy,” I said. “This is Colton. He’s okay.”
“Aww,” Colton said, laying a kiss on my cheek and hugging my neck.
