"Okay, well, we are almost home. Call me tomorrow. Get some sleep, Jay."

"I sound tired?"

"You do."

He laughed as Lucy smiled. "All right, love you guys."

"Love you," they both said and Lucy hung up as she pulled onto the street her apartment was on. Letting out a long breath, Lucy was pretty sure she could hear her bed calling her name. She wouldn't keep it waiting much longer. She was ready to fall face first into the happiness of her bed.

She parked and reached for her purse, but before she could get out, Angie wrapped her arms around Lucy's neck and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Mommy."

Relaxing as her lips curved, Lucy leaned into her daughter's head. "I love you too, honey. Did you have fun tonight?"

"I did. I love hockey so much and Coach Adler is so awesome and Benji was so much fun."

"Good, I'm glad."

"You should be nice to him."

"I am," Lucy said, looking over at her.

But Angie gave her a deadpan look. "You think he's weird."

She shrugged. "Doesn't mean I'm not nice."

"Mom, come on, just give him a chance. He's supercool. I think you'd love him."

Looking into her daughter's sweet green eyes, Lucy couldn't bring herself to tell her that she'd never love anyone again. How could she? Nope, she'd let her baby think that there were good, loving men out there, but Lucy knew the truth.

But she said, "I'll try."

"Don't try, do," Angie said, using her words against her. "He really is great. Really."

"Okay," she agreed and Angie must have been pleased with that answer because she kissed her on the cheek loudly before getting out of the car. As Lucy gathered her things, she pushed the door open and couldn't help but think about the fact that Benji made one hell of an impression on her sweet girl. That should mean something to her. Should impress her, but it didn't.

Not really.

Okay. Maybe a little.

But it didn't matter.

Because Benji Paxton wasn't the guy for her.

Hell, no man was.

Leaning against the boards, Benji watched as the Stars rushed the puck into the Assassins' zone. Their offense was on fire, their passes were lethal, and that damn Seguin kid was a superstar. Within seconds and without anyone really noticing, he top-shelved it, hitting the top of the net over the head of Odder, the Assassins' goalie.

Goal.

Fuck.

Leaning back, Benji shook his head, taking a long pull of Gatorade. The Assassins needed more depth in their defense. Their defense was made of all kids, except for Benji, Sinclair, Karson King, and Jordie Thomas. Coach had paired Benji with Sinclair, and then King and Thomas were together, so the other line was kids from the AHL. They needed some power in the back because, even though they were stacked in the offense department and they had a great goalie, there had to be someone to help Odder out.

At least, he thought so.

Letting out a long breath, he looked up at the Jumbotron and saw they were one down with seven minutes left.

"Time to do work," he said with conviction to the guys around him, Vaughn on one side and Sinclair on the other.

"Yup," Vaughn agreed, basically bouncing on the bench.

"Let's do this," Sinclair said just as Coach called out their line, twenty seconds after the puck dropped. Going over the boards, he rushed to where the puck was left for him behind the goal. As Benji's boys set up, Tate tapped his stick to the ice in hopes of riling up the boys. The crowd was loud; they loved their team and Benji loved them. Time to make them proud.

Carrying the puck out, Benji shot it up, hard, down the middle to where Erik Titov was waiting. But when he went to pass it to Vaughn, who was basically in the net with the Stars' goalie, one of the Stars blocked the pass. Passing it up to another player, he took it, racing down the middle and catching the Assassins on a two-on-one.

Benji was the one.

"Fucking hell," he yelled as Sinclair pushed hard to get back down. He wouldn't make it. The Stars player passed it to the other one, and he looked as if he was going to shoot. So Benji dropped down, stretching his body completely out in the hopes that, if he did pass it, Benji would block it. Praying to God above, he closed his eyes, hoping he didn't get hit in the mouth.

Dude did shoot, and it didn't hit Benji in the mouth.

But it hurt.

Right in the spot below his ribs where his pads weren't protecting.

Gasping for breath, he popped up just as Sinclair came in, taking the puck and passing it back up. Going straight for the bench, Benji tried to watch as their offense did work, but he missed when they scored the tying goal. The arena went nuts, as did the bench while Benji sat down, the pain still very much stinging in his chest. As Anderson skated, tapping his glove to everyone, he pointed to Benji.

"Wouldn't be tied if it wasn't for you, BP. Attaboy!" he called out with an extra tap on Benji's head.

He nodded, a grin pulling at his lips as the trainer came over to make sure he was okay. He told him he was, and he was sure of it. It would be a nasty bruise later, but for now, he had a game to win.

But even though the Assassins fought, the Stars scored two more times, winning the game.

Benji hated losing games. Probably more than he hated when someone died on Game of Thrones. Which was basically everyone, but whatever. He hated it. Especially when Coach ripped into them. He was loud, he was mad, and who could blame him? The defense let Odder down and Benji didn't like that. Every goal that was shot was something the defense should have blocked. It should have been easy for Odder, but when his own team was blocking him, how was he supposed to do his job?

They had some work to do.

Leaning back in his locker, Benji sucked in a breath and let it out before he gently eased his jersey off, wincing at the pain.

"Jesus, you got stung bad," Sinclair said from his left, and he nodded as he touched the aching spot very lightly. The pain was red-hot.

"Fuck, it hurts."

"Nothing is broken, though?"

Benji shook his head. "I don't think so. We'll see tomorrow." Sinclair nodded as he leaned against his legs, pulling in a breath. "We need to work on the kids. The goals tonight shouldn't have been scored," Benji announced.

"Agreed. We'll take care of it tomorrow," Sinclair said, letting out a breath. "I mean, I get that I'm young like them too, but they were making careless mistakes."

"That's what I think."

"Oh, well, we'll get there."

"That's right," Benji agreed, continuing to take deep breaths to ease the pain.

"So, I know you're hurting and you can turn me down, but Baylor and I wanted to take you to dinner, if you're hungry."

Looking over at his captain, Benji smiled. Ordinarily, he'd turn him down. He wasn't much for going out after games. Usually, the guys went for drinks or to party after a win. Benji was more of a go home or to the hotel and chill kind of guy. That's just what he did, and he figured that was why Sinclair looked so wary when asking. But what he didn't know was that Benji hadn't stopped thinking about Sinclair's sister since Monday night.

It was getting bad. Like, he stalked her Facebook, her Instagram, and even her Twitter. He found that she really didn't post on Twitter, or even Facebook, but that girl's Instagram was loaded with pictures and videos of Angie. Some of Lucy too. One in particular that he couldn't get out of his head was her on the beach this past summer. She had a baby in her arms, her thin, sexy body curvy in every way possible, and the smile on her face was gorgeous. It made her ten times more beautiful than he already thought she was, and he still couldn't shake the image.

He wanted Lucy.

Bad.

So with a nod, he said, "I'd love to."

Sinclair's brows rose. "Really?"

Benji could only laugh as he untied his skates.

He really needed to get out more.

Maybe with Lucy.

Sitting across from Baylor and Jayden Sinclair at the little sushi bar they chose in downtown Nashville, it was easy for Benji to see they were made for each other. As much as she gave and he took, he threw right back at her. They argued over food choices, about where to lay her bum leg, and also what they were doing after dinner with him. Baylor wanted to go home and sleep, but some of the defense team had gone out to drink their sorrows away, and Sinclair wanted to go monitor. Benji kind of agreed with Baylor, but he knew that Jayden needed to go.

Not that it was any of his business, which is why he said nothing, only drank his water. Baylor took it in stride, though, and Benji was pretty sure their bickering was foreplay, which made things a little uncomfortable for him, but he was on a mission.

Lucy.

"Anyway," Jayden said after they ordered and he wrapped his arm around Baylor, pulling her into the crook of his arm. Or so Benji thought. But instead of resting his arm around his wife, Jayden pulled out a bag, handing it over to Benji. "This is a thank-you for helping me out Monday. Baylor picked it out, but I think you already have these."

Benji took the gift with a laugh. "You didn't have to get me anything. I don't mind. I loved it, plan on helping still."

Baylor beamed as Jayden scoffed. "Seriously? I heard those girls are nuts."

"They are." He grinned, opening the bag and finding at the bottom were a few Game of Thrones Funko Pops. He had two of them, but the other three he didn't, and it took everything out of him not to geek out in front of his friends. "Ah, awesome! I needed these. I've been looking. Where did you find 'em?"

Well, he tried to be cool.

Baylor giggled as she leaned on the table. "I was on a mission. Can't tell you my sources."

"You must. I have to go back for more," he begged and she laughed.

"The comic store downtown."

"Ah, I hadn't made it that way yet. Thank you, guys," he said with all his heart. "I really did need these."

"You're welcome, dude," Jayden said as Baylor leaned on him, her lips curved sweetly.

"It really means a lot to us that you were there for Angie. Jayden is such a rock for her now that Jude and Jace have moved, and we felt terrible. But apparently, you were awesome. She has been talking about you nonstop."

Benji grinned, his face reddening a bit as he laid the bag beside him. "She's an awesome girl."

"She is. The best ever, and I knew I could trust you. So thanks again," Jayden said with a nod. "And I'm so sorry if my sister was hateful to you. I know she kinda cut Vaughn down, so no telling what she said to you."

Before Benji could say anything, though, Baylor was talking. "Vaughn asked her to go home with him. I think that warrants her to call him what she did," she defended and Jayden shrugged.

"Yeah, I guess. But she's ice-cold to everyone, I swear. I don't even know how she is succeeding in her design business."

Ooh, he didn't know that... Or wait, yeah, he did. He remembered Elli saying something about coming to Florida for their house. "Like home design?"

Baylor nodded. "Yeah, she's amazing. She's done everyone's houses. She's about to do the Adlers' home in January. Jayden has basically made the whole team call her."

Benji made a face. "Not me."

"You have an apartment, that's why."

"No, I don't. I have a house."

Jayden's face showed confusion. "What? I thought you were staying over at the Hampton Places?"

Benji shook his head. "I moved this summer into my new house over by Anderson."

"Oh. Well, hire my sister!"

Benji laughed before saluting Jayden. "Yes, sir."

Laughter filled the table, but before anyone could say anything else, their food was delivered and they dug in. He liked Sinclair. He had been nervous when they were paired together. Benji was with Thomas, but Sinclair and King didn't click the way they did, and Coach moved Benji up. He was thankful, but when he first met the kid, he thought he was just that. A kid. But Sinclair was way more than that. Wise beyond his years. He was a good guy, and Benji was lucky to be playing with him.

Taking a bite of his sushi, Benji looked up as Jayden asked, "Was she bad? I've been dying to know, but then I'm worried you'll say she was horrible to you and I'll have to defend her and then we won't be friends."

Baylor snickered as Benji rolled his eyes playfully. "You sound like a teenage girl, Jay."

Laughing, he nodded. "I know, but she's hard, man. I love her. Like, with all my heart. We are all so close, my family and I. But Lucy and I have that temper, that undying kind of love for the people we love, so I know how she can be when she gets mad. Me not showing up or manning up like I should have, I'm sure, made her want to kill the first person in sight."

"Yeah, I'm surprised she hasn't killed him in his sleep yet," Baylor laughed, but then she paused, shaking her head. "No one hurts Angie and lives to tell the tale. I didn't even know he hadn't told her until I saw the death threats she was sending him."

Wow, Lucy had quite the reputation. Too bad he gave no shits about it. He was pretty sure the thick wall she had up was just that, a wall, and he was going to get over that thing. Why, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was her smile that had driven him to this madness, but he wanted the chance. He wanted to make her smile again.

"She wasn't that bad," he said softly, but they both didn't believe him.

"You don't have to lie. Was she really that bad?"

"Please tell me she didn't try to hit you," Jayden said, embarrassment all over his face, and Benji laughed.

Shaking his head, he shrugged. "She was snarky as shit, and she didn't trust me. Really, she wasn't bad, but then my main focus was making sure Angie was okay, you know? I think she appreciated that."