Callum The flight should’ve worn Brody out, but he bounded off the plane with that same, unstoppable energy he always seemed to have. Chattering about hockey practice and what his class was doing for a fair coming up at school, he also still didn’t seem to have run out of things to talk about. I smiled as I listened to him, juggling our bags and trying not to be nervous about meeting Maisie’s dad and brothers. Brody had reassured me a bunch of times that they were the best and that we were going to have fun with them, but I was more reserved, cautious and not necessarily optimistic. At seven, there was no way he understood how badly this could go. Their daughter and sister had agreed to marry a guy they’d never even met, and she was doing it not for love but for the sake of convenience. That wasn’t exactly the epic love story or the happily ever after I was sure her dad had dreamed about for her. Even so, I swallowed my nerves and followed him out to where three men were standing outside of baggage claim. Maisie’s brothers were unmistakable, broad-shouldered twins flanking an equally broad older man, who I assumed was her father. They all carried the easy physicality of people who either played sports regularly, did farm work, or both. Their dad’s dark hair was shot through with gray, his stance and gaze steady in a way that made me straighten up a little bit without meaning to. “Uncle Michael! Uncle Mason!” Brody’s voice was shrill with joy as he ran forward, and I realized I’d been holding my breath. “Grandpa!” The twins’ faces softened instantly and even their dad’s armor cracked as he ran up to them. They bent over to scoop him up, holding him between them in a kind of group hug that seemed to in volve a bit of tickling, a bit of wrestling, and a lot of love. When I reached them, the introductions didn’t feel like I was facing a firing squad. Their Godfather-esque appearance when we’d first walked out was broken by their display of affection. One of the twins was the first to extend his hand toward me, his grip firm and measuring. “Mason,” he said without prelude. “Callum,” I returned, matching his intensity before turning to his brother. “I’m Michael,” he said, half rolling his eyes at his twin before he shook my hand, seeming more curious than intimidating. “Thanks for getting Brody here safe. We’ve been dying to see him.” “You’re welcome. Thanks for coming to pick us up. I know it’s late.” I’d wanted to get here sooner rather than later, though. All three of them hadn’t had to make the airport run, but I supposed they’d wanted to put up a show of force. I’d even offered to simply rent a car or Uber to a hotel, but Michelle, Maisie’s mom, had refused when I’d called, insisting that we stay with them. Her dad studied me with that quiet appraisal only a father could manage. Finally, he shook my hand too. “Callum. It’s nice to have a face to put with the name.”
“Mr. Morgan,” I r eplied. “Matthew,” he corrected. “If you’re marrying my daughter, you’d better start there.” I nodded, but the knot in my chest loosened slightly. All three of these men were important to Maisie, and they had every reason to be suspicious of me, but Matthew turned his attention to Brody almost immediately and the twins each grabbed one of his bags while I wheeled my own along behind them. We piled into an SUV apparently belonging to Michael, who Harrison wanted me to ask for an autograph, and weaved our way through the dark streets to Maisie’s childhood home. Brody had finally run out of steam after telling his uncles and his grandfather all about the flight, and he was half- asle ep against my side by the time we slowed to a stop outside the house. Thanks to his enthusiasm, I hadn’t had to say much on the drive, but I could feel Matthew and Mason watching me all the way, quietly assessing while Michael drove. The house glowed with warm lights shining from the inside. Wind chimes tinkled on a wide porch. The front door opened as we climbed out of the SUV. Michelle appeared and jogged down the few st eps to swe ep Brody into her arms. She smiled at me as she hugged him. “Hey, Callum. It’s lovely to see you again, honey. Come on inside. You two must be exhausted.” She ruffled Brody’s hair with grandmotherly affection, her arm around his shoulders as she led him inside. “Are you hungry, baby? Thirsty?” “No, thanks,” he mumbled. The burst of energy he’d had to leap out of the car and into her arms had already faded. “We ate and drank on the plane.” “Alright. Well, I suppose that means we can get you straight to bed.” She guided him to a staircase at the far side of the foyer. “Say goodnight, darling. I’ll dig through your things for your toothbrush and we’ll give Mommy a quick call before I tuck you in.” Brody nodded and, to my surprise, came over to me first, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his head against my stomach. “Goodnight, Callum. Will you come check on me before you go to sle ep?” “Of course, bud. I’ll see you then, okay?” I returned his hug, stroking a hand through his hair. After saying goodnight to his grandpa and uncles, he followed Michelle upstairs without complaint, leaving me with the welcoming committee in their living room. The house wasn’t huge, but it was cozy and warm. A fire crackled in the hearth and every inch of wall space was covered in pictures of the family. Silence fell between us, not hostile but not comfortable either. I cleared my throat and forced an easy smile that wasn’t easy at all. “Thanks again for picking us up. Brody was really excited about getting to see you tonight instead of having to wait until the morning.” Mason shrugged. “We figured we’d make sure you were who Maisie says you are if you were going to be bringing our n ephew with you.” Michael smirked. “You’ve already passed the first test. Brody clearly likes you.” Matthew said nothing at first, just watching me with those steady eyes until finally he sighed. “Would you like some coffee? It must’ve been a
long day.” I didn’t really want coffee, but I did want to talk to Matthew. I’d come here to lay it all out for him, leaving him with no doubt that I would take care of Maisie, and assure him that I loved her no matter how this had started. So I nodded. In the end, I never quite got to have that conversation with him. Michael and Mason took it upon themselves to fill every silence, asking me questions while also telling me more about themselves. Michael talked about his job as a sports broadcaster. Mason was a broker. He seemed like the type who didn’t talk as much as his brother, but he listened carefully, probably tucking away every fact Michael pulled out of me for later assessment. Even so, I didn’t feel like I was being interrogated. They were friendly enough but intentional about what they asked. “So,” Michael said once we were seated in the living room, freshly made coffee in our hands. “How’s your hockey game, Callum?” I lifted my eyebrows at him. “I manage.” “There’s a rink in town,” he said. “Once I’m off air tomorrow, let’s go there. We’ll call it a tradition.” I glanced at Matthew, who had been pretty quiet so far, just sipping his coffee as he nodded his agreement. Mason smirked, and I knew the invitation wasn’t really a request. “Sure,” I said. It wasn’t like I had any other option, and besides, hockey was better than sitting around, trying to convince them I was good enough for Maisie. “That sounds good.” “Awesome. I’ll be done at nine, so be ready just after that.” Michelle came back downstairs, giving me a smile that was softer and more genuine than the rest of her family’s. “You’re in Maisie’s old room, Callum. Up the stairs, second door on the right.” I nodded, finishing my coffee before I said good night and carried my bag up. My heart was thumping, but I’d survived the first couple hours alone with the Morgans and I was still standing. When I opened the door to the room I’d been directed to, Maisie’s childhood bedroom, I nearly burst out laughing. I didn’t know what I’d expected from her, but it wasn’t this. Girly didn’t even begin to cover it. The walls were a shade of pink so bright, it hurt my eyes. The bedspread was floral patterned, with a mountain of pillows on top that looked like they belonged to a six-year-old. Framed posters of Olympic divers and college banners lined the walls, and old, dusty but proud trophies sat on the bookshelves. This had been Maisie’s world before she’d gone to college, and it had been preserved like a time capsule. I dropped my bag on the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed. The mattress squeaked under my weight. As I looked around, I wondered if she’d stayed here when she’d been pregnant. I wondered if this was the bed where she’d cried herself to sle ep at night after walking away from a dream she’d spent her whole life working toward.
On the other hand, I also wondered if I’d just gotten lucky that her brothers had chosen hockey to test me. Smiling, I got up to check on Brody before I turned in. I decided that I would skate my heart out in that game— then I’d pour it out to her father later in the day. As always, I was up before the sun the next morning. After a quick shower, I pulled on a sweatshirt and jeans, finding Brody in the living room with a bowl of cereal. Those green eyes found mine and he grinned, already practically buzzing for the day ahead. “Is it true that you’re playing hockey today?” he asked right off the bat. “Grandpa told me.” “It’s true, champ,” I said, veering toward the kitchen to grab some coffee. “Do you want to come with us?” He waited until I got back to the living room before he nodded, but his lips pressed into a pout. “I do, but Grandma said she and I are going to do something together this morning instead. I think she’s going to take me shopping.” His nose crinkled on the last sentence. I chuckled but grimaced in sympathy. “I’m sure you’ll have fun. Do you want me to talk to her, find out if you can come and I’ll drop you off at the mall later?” He sighed. “No, it’s okay. She’s also taking me out for breakfast and she said Grandpa and my uncles want to get to know you.” I wrapped my fingers around my mug and inclined my chin, leaning back on the couch as I gave him a slight smile. “Then don’t eat too much cereal. We won’t be long though, okay? Maybe you and I can hit the ice this afternoon. D epending on their plans.” A grin spread across his face immediately and my heart swelled. I would have loved to have him with us, and not only because he’d been a great icebreaker and an even better buffer last night. I simply would’ve liked to have been playing with him, too. But I understood it. This wasn’t just a friendly game. It was a test. A means of taking my measure. Michelle and Matthew came downstairs, showered and ready for the day themselves, just a few minutes later. They spent most of the early morning with Brody while I got some work done on my phone. After Michael finished work, he came to pick us up. His SUV rumbling in the drive drew Matthew and me to the porch. Michael grinned like a kid on Christmas morning as he rolled down his window and stuck his head out. “Are you ready to get your ass handed to you, Westwood?” And so, it begins. “That d epends. Do you play as good as you talk?” Matthew chuckled as he climbed into the passenger seat. “Simmer down, boys. Save the trash talk for the ice.” Nerves slithered through me, but I shoved it all away. After all the hockey I’d played in my life, this might just be my most important game and I wasn’t about to let any of them get in my head. We met Mason at the rink and he was already lacing up like he’d been born with skates on his feet. Michael and I joined him on the ice when we were ready, with Matthew watching from the sidelines. The moment we got underway, I knew I’d been right about this not just being a friendly, family game. It was war—brutal and fast.
Michael had the same kind of speed Brody did, but he also had a mouth to match, calling out plays like he was live on air. “And Callum has the puck and he takes the shot. Oh, that was weak. Someone call an ambulance. That man’s ego is shattered.” I laughed, panting but having a good time. Mason was quieter than his brother, reminding me somewhat of a shark who came out of nowhere to bodycheck me into the boards. As I connected, he shot me a grin that made me suspect he’d been waiting for that since he’d first found out I existed. Pain shot through my arm to my shoulder, but it wasn’t bad. I gave as good as I got. My lungs burned after a while and my muscles screamed, but it was worth it. I wasn’t about to let Maisie’s brothers just have the win. By the time we were in our own version of the third period, I was grinning like a lunatic. Sweat was stinging my eyes, but my stick connected with the puck for the winning shot. As I watched, it sailed easily into the net. I threw my arms up in the air, but they dropped again almost immediately. Panting like I’d just completed a week-long run, I doubled over, bracing my stick against the ice so I had something to lean on. The twins weren’t doing much better, with Mason gasping for breath and Michael cursing as he skated over to his dad and grabbed a bottle of water. Matthew held up two more and Mason and I followed. Once I’d pulled off my helmet and downed half the bottle, I realized that this was my chance. I’d just won and the twins were too tired to fill every second of silence right now. “For the record,” I said between labored breaths. “I actually really like your sister. Love her, even. I realize it’s unorthodox what we’re doing, but I’m looking forward to her becoming my wife. I’m going to take great care of her. And of Brody. That’s a vow.” Three sets of eyebrows jumped up. Complete silence stretched between us. Just as I was starting to worry that I hadn’t made myself clear or that I’d just blurted it out way too randomly, Matthew smiled. Maybe not a full smile so much as a twitch at the corners of his mouth, but it was something. Michael and Mason exchanged a long look, then shrugged in perfect unison. Michael clapped me on the back hard enough to nearly knock me over. “Well, at least you can skate,” he said. “We’ll have some fun together.” Mason chuckled like he hadn’t just tried to break every bone in my body. “Brody wanted to come. We’ll have to bring him back here after Mom’s done with him, but yeah. You’re alright. We’ll ke ep you.” Matthew didn’t say anything, leaving the talking to his sons, but as our gazes connected, he lowered his chin in the slightest nod. Just like that, the knots in my chest eased. They might not know me yet, but they were willing to give me a chance, and that was so much better than I’d even dared hope for.