27. Jake

The guys are all laughing their asses off, drinks in hand. Townies from Frosty Harbor are doing karaoke at the bar's little stage, and the place is packed. Caroline, Mia, Paisley, and Andi are all at Frosty Harbor's small theater, watching some romance movie that just came out.

We were all more than happy to let them handle that one on their own.

Besides, all my friends are enjoying this. Too much, probably.

"You really didn't know we knew?" Nolan asks. "I thought it would be kind of obvious."

"How would that be obvious?" I ask. "Nobody said a word to me."

"And how does that feel?" Liam asks. He's got an arm around his chair, eyes narrowed.

Okay, slight correction. All the guys but Liam have been laughing and enjoying this. He's clearly still pissed. Not that I blame him. As soon as Caroline called and told me what she learned from Mia, the news was everywhere. We knew, so everybody could stop acting like they didn't.

"I was honestly trying to do you all a favor," I say. Somebody at another table whoops loudly and the waitress appears with a tray of more beers. A group of young girls are waving our way.

I grin. Pretty soon, there won't be any single ones left to flirt when this kind of shit happens. Carter is happy enough to stand with a mug in his hand, take a deep sip, and march over to the girls.

I'd never tell him as much, but they look slightly disappointed when only he comes over.

"A favor?" Maddox asks. "By lying to your friends?"

"I was taking a metaphorical bullet for you all," I correct. "If I'd told you the lie, you would've all had to start lying, too. I didn't want to get any of you guys in trouble with the team."

"Except me," Jesse corrects. "He was okay getting me in trouble with the team."

"Yeah, well," I say, grinning.

He shrugs, tipping back his drink with a smile.

"How long have we known you?" Liam asks.

"A long time," I say. "Since before the league."

"And you think we wouldn't want to have your back on this?"

"I fucked up. I'm sorry." My thoughts go back to the locker room last week. "Is this what had you so pissed last week?"

"Oh," Liam says, rubbing the back of his neck. "No. I'm just making sure somebody at least briefly holds your balls to the fire over this. You shouldn't get off with laughs and back slaps. It was an asshole move."

"Fair enough. Consider my balls properly roasting right now."

"Good."

"So what had you so pissed?" I ask.

He shifts in his chair. "I wasn't exactly being honest when I said it was about a girl back at the cabin. It's that the team isn't planning to re-sign me after this season. I've got some interest from Houston and Florida… But unless something changes, I might not be a Vandal after this season."

"I thought you were retiring? You made the official announcement and everything," Maddox says.

"Yeah, man," Nolan says. "I was already planning to subscribe you to a few newspapers so you could be a lazy retired asshole with me."

"You run a fine dining restaurant," Jesse chuckles. "You retired from hockey, not work."

"Let a man have his jokes," Nolan complains.

"I was," Liam says. "But it feels like the whole team is drifting apart all at once. I thought about Jake on his own and wanted to stick it out for him. At least a little while longer."

Liam's not meeting my eyes, but the sentiment of what he's saying makes my throat feel thick. Fuck.

"Oh," Nolan says, eyes on his beer. "Yeah."

"Jake is unstoppable, man," Jesse says. He gives me a punch, smiling as if he still has no idea how tough our group"s retirements and changing dynamic really are on me. "You think he gives a shit if we retire? Jake would go out there one against six if he had to. He wouldn't even complain."

I try to smile easily like none of this is a big deal, but I still feel a thick ball of something in my chest.

"Sorry, man," Liam says softly. "I wanted to stick it out for you. But if I'm not a Vandal, I really will retire."

I nod my head. "Hey, no worries. It's fine."

Maddox has been staring hard at me. He finally gets up and comes over, wrapping me in a big bear hug. "Come on, boys. Hug our captain. He needs it."

I try to protest, but before I know it, all the guys hug me in a tight, muscley ball. Once I'm too engulfed for anyone to see it, I let myself smile.