1. Luke

Chapter 1

Luke

“You’rea prick and I hate you!” my cousin tries to yell at me.

“If Baywatch can do it, so can I.” I mock back his words from an hour ago.

“It’s…” Jacob gulps in a breath. “Harder… than… it looks.”

He’s always giving me shit about being a professional athlete. Claiming that since I’ve been naturally good at hockey since we were kids, being a pro hockey player is hardly a challenge.

It’s nonsense. And the dying man three paces behind me knows it.

I’ve been playing pro hockey since I was twenty-two. And for the past fourteen years, I’ve been working my ass off to keep my place. But I can admit, privately, that it takes me just a little longer to recover nowadays. A little longer for my bones to rattle back into place after a hard hit.

I know the end is coming.

I’ve accepted that I’ll have to retire soon. One year, maybe two.

But I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. And the first game of the season is just a couple weeks away, so… more running.

“Pick up the pace.” I spin around so I’m jogging backward. “One more loop, then we’ll hit the weight room.”

Jacob shakes his head in time with his heavy steps. “No more loops. Weights. I’ll spot.”

I’m about to argue, but when Jacob stops—stops right there in his tracks—I stop too.

“And you call yourself an Anders.” I click my tongue.

“This is supposed to be a vacation!” Jacob collapses onto the sandy beach, sprawling onto his back. “For real. You’re not my best man anymore.”

“Such a shame,” I sigh. “Now get up so we can go to the gym.”

Jacob groans and kicks his feet a few times. “Fine,” he whines, then holds his arms up. “Help me up.”

“Help yourself up.”

He waves his hands around. “Seriously, help me up, you fuck face. My thighs are going to be so sore tomorrow that I won’t be able to make sweet love to my wife on our wedding night.”

I slap at his hand. “Don’t talk to me about sex with the woman who’s about to be my cousin. It’s gross.”

He tries to slap at my hand but misses because his eyes are closed.

“Luke.” He drags my name out. “What’s the point of you getting all jacked this summer if you won’t use your muscles for good?”

I stare down at him. “You’re making it weird.”

When he finally cracks his eyes open, I flex my biceps.

He twists his wrists and gives me double middle fingers.

He’s not wrong though. Ever since Jackson, my best friend and captain of the team… and well, Ash, my goalie, and Zach, my enforcer, got married a year ago, I’ve been spending all my free time working out. And between the team trainers and getting my ass kicked by muscle heads at Atom’s Gym, my feelings of loneliness haven’t gone away, but I’m more built than I’ve ever been before.

The guys aren’t to blame. It’s not their fault they fell in love, one after another.

And I never thought I wanted that. The whole marriage thing. But now…

I look down at my cousin and think about the fact that he’s getting married tomorrow.

Now I want it.

I want a girl of my own.

But it’s hard to date as a pro athlete.

It sounds backward, but it’s true. There are a lot of people out there willing to fake feelings for money and fame. And I don’t want to end up with someone who’s with me for some sort of perceived lifestyle rather than being with me for me.

I tried the dating app thing. No, thank you to doing that ever again.

And I’ve tried meeting someone the old-fashioned way,but on the occasions I go out with my friends, they bring their wives, not single women. And their wives are all best fucking friends, so it’s not like they even invite any other women along. Jackson has a sister who comes around sometimes, but I’ve known her forever, so she’s basically a sister to me too. And I’m not into that particular kink.

So… that leaves me as the odd man out. And going to the gym to pass the time. A lot.

I sigh. “Maybe if I take a picture of you like this, that fiancée of yours will see she’s with the wrong Anders, and I can take your spot tomorrow.”

“I know you’re just fucking with me.” Jacob rolls onto his side, pushing up onto all fours. “But I’m still gonna kick your ass for saying that.”

“Gotta catch me first.” I shove my foot against his ass and knock him over onto his side.

Then I take off for the resort gym.