13. Royal

thirteen

Teagan looks damn good on the ice. The other team's defenders are having a hard time keeping up with her. It's not until the second period that things go downhill.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of their defenders nod to the other one in a silent gesture meant for only their eyes. But since my eyes haven't stopped surveying the ice for potential problems that might occur while Teagan is on the ice, I don't miss the look.

I leave my guy and skate next to Teagan. I take a shoulder to my side that was meant for her, thwarting the attack on her blindside. It gives her a direct path to the net for the first score of the game. She does this with a fake to her right before slicing to the defender and shooting the puck in the net.

"What the fuck Royal? That's not your assigned zone," Coulter uncharacteristically questions my actions on the ice.

"They were coming for her. Royal stopped them." Fin skates next to us, explaining to Coulter my reasoning for doing what I did.

"Those assholes." Coulter grounds out, his jaw flexing with fury. "They better not lay a hand on her."

We nod in unison, knowing we will do whatever it takes to protect Teagan.

For the rest of the game, we take turns intercepting the other team"s plan to take out Teagan. With the distraction, it wasn't our best game. But thanks to Teagan's goal, we still won 1-0.

"What was that all about?" Teagan grabs my arm as I pass by her on my way to the tunnel.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know goddamn well what I'm talking about. The three of you spent more time babysitting me than actually playing hockey." Her eyes dart from me to Fin and Coulter, who have skated up behind me. "And don't try to deny it. I watched all of you flank me instead of staying in the play formation. You didn't do it for any of our other teammates."

"Look, Teagan," I start to say, but she pushes past me and skates down the tunnel to the women's locker room.

"That didn't go over very well, did it boys."

We spin around and come face to face with the last person from Teagan's family we expected.

"No, Mrs. Hayes, that didn't go well at all." Coulter hangs his head like a sad puppy.

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret about Teagan. The more you try and fight her battles for her, the more she will push you away. I've seen her do it with her father and brothers, everyone she loves, and now the three of you."

We nod at Mrs. Hayes, none of us ready to speak yet.

"All I'm saying is, if you want Teagan in your life, let her fight her own battles, no matter how hard they might be. Teagan's been in more fights than her brothers, and that's saying a lot. She learned from the best. She can handle herself on and off the ice. Remember, they're just words."

"Yes, ma'am." We reply as one.

"I never knew my wife was a puck bunny." Mr. Hayes wraps his arms around his wife in a big hug before planting a kiss on her neck. "I thought you got lost."

"Eww, gross, dad. Don't call mom a puck bunny," one of the triplets says as they all take on matching scowls.

Mrs. Hayes rolls her eyes at her sons. "I wanted to have a little talk with Teagan's teammates before we left. I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more of these boys."

Mr. Hayes raises his eyebrow, shifting his gaze between the three of us. "Hmm, I approve. Now, let's get home. I've got a special surprise for my wife." He leans down, capturing her lips with his.

"Still gross, Dad," one of the triplets says as the other two make gagging noises, acting more like six-year-olds than twenty-six-year-olds.

Breaking the kiss, Mrs. Hayes scolds her sons. "You act like a bunch of old ladies instead of hot studs in their prime. Just wait until you find someone you can't keep your hands off of, then we'll talk."

The triplets" expressions change from teasing to sadness. "Yeah, not everyone can have the epic love story the two of you have," one of them says, and the other two nod in agreement.

"Oh, boys, it will happen for all of you someday. Now, why don't we go out to eat and celebrate Teagan's first game? Why don't you boys join us." Mrs. Hayes's eyes shine with undisguised mirth.

"But Val, what about my surprise?" Now, it's Mr. Hayes's turn to act like a six-year-old.

"Don't worry, honey. I'll make it up to you." She gives him a lingering kiss, which is interrupted again by one of the triplets.

"Come on, we"re in public."

Instead of getting mad at their sons, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes just laugh. I'm not used to this. In my family, if you smart off to your parents, you get punished. And God forbid you get accused of something you didn't do because your parents will never believe you. Always wanting to believe the worst.

Teagan is a lucky girl. I hope she knows just how much.