“I’m grateful to whoever stocked this kitchen.” I take some seasoning out of the pantry and set it on the counter in front of Keyra, who’s eating out of a carton of Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked.

“I was planning on surprising you and coming up here this weekend anyway, so I had them stock it. We’re just a day or two early.” She slides the spoon from her mouth, licking ice cream off the edge.

I feel like a little bitch, all the sappy stuff that’s been running through my mind about this woman.

“I probably shouldn’t have unthawed all this steak, but we’ll have leftovers at least.”

“Probably not.” She murmurs.

“You’re that hungry?” I grin, shaking seasoning over the pain.

She gets up from the kitchen and leaves, not answering me.

Okay?

I hear her going downstairs, but I just go back to putting a rub on the steaks.

That’s why when she comes back up and she’s not alone, I’m shocked as hell.

“Harlan? Fuck are you doing here man?”

“Someone was too lazy to drive.” He comes over and I hug him, seeing Kaija and Mickey come up the stairs.

I look at Keyra, but she just digs her spoon back into her ice cream like she’s not surprised at all.

“They never listen.”

“Steak for dinner? Is there A1 sauce?” Mickey leans on the island, and I point to the pantry.

“Yep, and Heinz 57. I didn’t realize this was a family trip.”

“We wanted you to know you have our support.” She says it to me but looks at Keyra, who doesn’t look up and I wonder if I’m missing something.

Either way, I appreciate it.

“Keyra, come with Mickey and me really quickly.” Kaija comes over and kisses me on the cheek, still holding her purse.

“I’m fine. You two go ahead.”

“Nah, sis.” Mickey swipes the ice cream carton as she passes, and I laugh at Keyra’s expression. “Your ice cream and I will be waiting for you.”

I can practically see the steam coming from her ears, and I feel bad. If there’s one thing that I’ve learned though, it’s to stay out of any sister to sister problems.

She huffs and hops down from her seat, following after them, grumbling.

Harlan and I stare after the girls, then look at each other, and I wordlessly grab two beers from the fridge and hand him one.

Whatever’s going on with the girls, they’ll figure it out.

I have something else I need to talk to Harlan about.

I blow out a breath, unsure how to start. Maybe bluntness is the best way to go.

“I think I wanna retire.”

Harlan narrows his eyes then scrubs his hands over them.

“You got something stronger than this?” He sighs.

“This place is more well-stocked than a bar.” I open the cabinet under the island where some of the alcohol is and pull out the bourbon and two glasses. “Come on, we’ll pop these on the grill and talk.”

We stand outside on the deck after the steaks are cooked, leaning on the railing and looking at the moon over the lake and I tell him about my fears. How scared I am about Natalie lying this way. How much meeting Addison has made me realize how dangerous the game can be.

“And Keyra…she’s amazing.” I drink from my glass. “I’ve given my life to the game for so long, I just feel like I have a lot right now that I want to soak in. We have an 82 game season, not including playoffs. I could be traded at almost any time. The game just isn’t my priority anymore, man, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Shit.” He breathes, shoulders drooping. “I didn’t know you were thinking about all this.”

“You saw how quickly Travers was okay and then he wasn’t in that last game? That shook me.”

“What are you going to do if not hockey?”

“I don’t know yet. I just know that I don’t want to miss out on anything else.”

“I respect that, bro. It’s going to be different not playing with you all the time.” He admits quietly.

“We’re dating sisters in a pretty close family, man. You’ll probably see me more than you want to.” We toast our glasses and throw back the last of our drinks. “I’m glad I’ve had a financial advisor since I got drafted, though, or else I’d probably be fucked.”

“Why are the women being weird?”

“They’re like that all the time.” I counter.

“Yeah, but I know when something’s up with Kai, and something’s up.”

“Well fuck, now you’re making me worried.” I glance through the glass, but they’re still off in the house somewhere.

“It’s probably nothing.” He claps me on the back, padding across the deck. “Let’s go ahead and grill these vegetables.”