5. Natalie

NATALIE

The Nighthawks are up by one with just seconds left on the clock. I"m on the edge of my seat, my heart pounding as I watch Emile skate down the ice. He"s been playing an incredible game tonight, and I can"t help but feel a surge of pride for my little brother. Even though he"s not so little anymore. That much is apparent by the way he maneuvers his way around the opposing players like the pro he now is.

I've watched him play hockey hundreds of times before, but seeing him skate onto that ice for his professional debut is something else entirely.

The whistle blows, and Emile swiftly passes the puck to one of his teammates. There"s a scramble in front of the net as both teams fight for possession of the puck. Then all of a sudden, there"s a blur of jerseys as the opponent"s enforcer, a behemoth of a man, crashes into Emile. My heart seizes at the sickening crunch that echoes across the ice. The buzzer sounds, and the crowd erupts in cheers for the Nighthawk's victory, but I barely hear any of it. All I can see is Emile, lying motionless on the ice.

"Emile!" I scream his name, my voice lost in the cacophony around me. My heart is hammering, a wild rhythm that drowns out everything else. The arena turns into a blur as I jump up, shoving through the crowd and rushing down to the locker room. But as soon as I'm close, security blocks my path.

"I"m sorry, ma"am, but you can"t go in there," one of the guards says, his hand held up to stop me.

"Please, you don"t understand," I plead, my voice cracking with desperation. "My brother, Emile. He"s the one who got hurt. I need to see him."

The guard doesn"t budge. "I understand your concern, ma'am, but you'll have to go wait over there with the rest of DuPont's ‘sisters'."

I glance over my shoulder to where a group of puck bunnies are huddled together, their sequined jerseys glittering in the harsh lighting.

"Oh, I"m not one of his?—"

"Listen, lady," he interrupts. "Rules are rules. Either wait with them or get out."

I"m about to argue further when a gruff voice cuts in.

"Let her through."

I look up to see Luc standing there, his stern face softened by concern. He"s still in his hockey gear, the captain"s "C" proudly displayed on his chest near the number eight-nine. I"ve never thought I'd be relieved to see him.

"Luc..." I breathe out his name, my panic lessening slightly at his presence.

The guard hesitates. "But sir..."

"She's with me," Luc says firmly.

When the guard steps aside, I"m so relieved I could cry. I look at Luc, my eyes wet with unshed tears. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice trembling.

Luc"s expression softens a fraction. He nods, placing a hand on my back to guide me into the locker room. The puck bunnies behind me let out high-pitched squeals of excitement the moment he comes into view, but Luc barely even glances their way. His focus is solely on me, and only on me.

Inside the locker room, it"s a hive of activity. Players in various states of undress are either moving about while talking lively about the game or slumped exhausted on one of the benches. Trainers rush past us with ice and towels to mitigate any damage received. The air smells like blood, sweat and disinfectant. It makes my stomach roil.

"He's in here," Luc says, leading me to a small room at the back.

"I-Is he... I mean, how bad is it?" I ask, dread creeping up my spine.

Luc glances at me, his blue eyes filled with compassion. "He"s fine, Natalie. Just a hard hit. He"s being checked out by the team doctor now. He knew you'd be worried and asked me to let you in."

My knees practically buckle with relief. "Thank God."

Luc nods once. "He"s tough, just like his sister," he says, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He points to a chair in the corner. "Why don"t you have a seat? I"ll go see if he's cleared."

"OK. Thanks." I perch on the edge of the chair, nervously tapping my toes on the hardwood floor. It's barely a few minutes, but it feels like hours pass before the door finally opens again, and Luc reappears, Emile close behind him.

"Nat!" My brother"s voice is a welcome sound. A huge smile splits across his face, despite the dark circles beneath his eyes and the ice pack on his shoulder. I"m immediately on my feet, ready to hug him.

"Hey, champ," I say, squeezing him tightly. "What the hell were you thinking?" My voice gets muffled in his jersey.

"Hey, yourself," he chuckles. "And I"m all right, Nat. It"s just a bruise."

"A bruise? I saw your head hit the ice!"

"I know, but my shoulder took the brunt of the impact, and it"s fine. The doc says I"m good to go next game." He winces as he moves his shoulder, but quickly masks the pain with a grin.

I narrow my eyes at him, not buying it for a second.

Emile laughs. "I"m fine, Nat," he assures me, wincing again as he shifts. "Just got the wind knocked out of me good and proper."

Luc clears his throat, and I turn to him. "Doc says he"s gonna be sore for a few days, but there"s no serious damage. He got lucky."

I let out a shaky breath. "Thank God."

"Dude," Emile says, nudging Luc with his good arm. "Don't tell her that. She'll make me play in bubble wrap the rest of the season."

Luc doesn't crack a smile, but I can see the ghost of amusement in his eyes. "I'll leave you two to bicker this out. You played a hell of a game tonight, rookie. Get some rest. We need you back on the ice ASAP. Even if it's covered in bubble wrap."

With that, he"s gone, leaving me alone with my brother. I hug Emile tight, letting my relief wash over me as he laughs. "God, you're worse than Mom. I'm fine."

A little while later, after the doctor has done a final check and given Emile instructions to aid his recovery, we"re getting ready to leave. The locker room is empty now, the rest of the team having headed out to celebrate their win.

"How about we stop by the restaurant and I heat up a big bowl of gumbo for you?" I suggest, throwing my arm around my brother"s broad shoulders as we head toward the door.

"You know I love your gumbo, but I think I'm gonna pass. Soak this up tonight, you know?"

I roll my eyes but can"t help but smile. "Fine. Just don't party too hard, all right? The doc literally just told you to rest up."

"That was just a recommendation, so I make no promises." He grins at me. "But hey, why don't you come with? The guys are having a little get-together at Russo"s. I can introduce you to the team. Could be fun."

I hesitate, glancing down at my outfit. I"m hardly dressed for a party, but the hopeful look on Emile"s face is impossible to say no to.

"OK, sure. But just long enough to meet your teammates. I don't want to overstay my welcome and cramp your style."

Emile laughs. "Impossible."

As we"re heading out, I spot Luc in the hallway, talking with one of the assistant coaches. On impulse, I pause, touching Emile"s arm.

"Hey, I"ll catch up with you in a second, OK?"

Emile nods, shooting me a curious look but heading off toward the exit. I take a deep breath and approach Luc, waiting for a break in the conversation.

When the coach walks away, Luc turns to me, raising an eyebrow. "Everything OK?"

"Yeah, I just..." I pause, suddenly nervous. "I wanted to thank you again. For letting me in to see Emile. I know you and I aren't exactly on the best of terms, but that meant a lot."

Luc shrugs, looking at his feet before bringing his attention back up to me. "You asked for a truce in your gumbo note, right?"

"Right…"

An awkward silence falls between us. I chew my lip, unsure what else to say.

"Well, I better catch up with my brother. See you around, Luc." I turn to leave. God, that man always has me feeling so flustered.

"Natalie, wait," Luc calls after me. I spin around, heart pounding. "I... uh..." He clears his throat, running a hand through his damp hair. "Have a good night."

"Sure. You too." Heat rises in my cheeks as I start to turn away, but then I stop and clear my throat, deciding to extend an olive branch. "Listen, Emile invited me to the team party at Russo"s. Are you... will you be there?"

Luc shakes his head. "I"m not big on parties. Will probably just head home."

"Oh." I try to hide my disappointment. "Well, if you change your mind..." I trail off, feeling foolish for even suggesting it. Luc nods once, and I wince because I'm making this weird. "Anyway, Emile's probably wondering where I am. But Luc... you"re, ah, welcome to drop by the restaurant anytime. I still owe you a peace-offering bowl of gumbo, after all." I offer him a small smile, hoping he can hear the sincerity in my voice.

For a moment, Luc looks surprised. Then, slowly, a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "I might just take you up on that. I didn't think it was sanitary eating off the locker room floor, but it sure did smell good."

My heart does a little flip in my chest, but I try to play it cool. "Great. I"ll make sure to always have a bowl waiting."

With that, I turn and head off to find Emile, a silly grin on my face. I don"t know what"s gotten into me, but suddenly, the idea of seeing Luc again doesn"t seem so bad.

In fact, I just might be hoping for it.