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No, I don’t want that type of misery I can see it in every line on Tacker’s face, feel it in his voice I didn’t lose Erik the way he lost his fiancée He’s right My ine the eony he must suffer

“What was her name?” I ask him in barely a whisper I want to know because it’s always been talked about in hushed tones and she’s always been known as “Tacker’s fiancée” that died in a plane crash He’s such a closed off man, I have no clue if my request for her name will upset him or not But he’s made this so real to ht with Erik, I want to know her name out of a sense of honor and respect

Tacker’s lips curve slightly upward…just barely noticeable but he doesn’t try to hide the warmth and tenderness in his eyes “Melody But her middle name was Jane so everyone called her MJ”

“I’ine”

We stare at each other, the silence between us heavy with sorrow on both sides Finally, he gives a slight nod and turns for the door When he grasps the knob, he pauses and looks over his shoulder at me

“MJ’s older brother is wheelchair-bound,” he re he told me once before “I know the responsibility that comes with it and I just want you to know…your brother is really lucky to have you”Chapter 28ErikTrudging up the stairs of the team plane, I see Valerie at the top “Hi, Erik,” she says with a bright smile

“What’s up?” I return with a chin lift before cutting right I give more chin lifts and a few fist bumps to my teammates who have chosen to sit up front Rows of plush leather seats that recline flat into beds, prihts back to Phoenix

But I’m headed toward the back to the table I norend We’re headed to New York on a late-afternoon flight so it will be cards and liquor to relax on the way there, along with soht to tide us over We’ll do a late dinner out in New York once we get there

The teammates I pass have reason to smile a little more today, thus why I’otten a bit of ourto be out until next week We won in San Diego and again at ho for the extended road trip to play both New York teams as well as Boston

While we ames which was cause for much revelry,Blue At least Tacker alleviatedto see him at the Cresson He’d texted after he left to let reat and was all sot there and when he left That -time favor

I had wanted to go see Billy hther Her lack of response to my handful of calls and texts spoke volumes to me If Blue didn’t want me in her life, then she most certainly didn’t want me around Billy

So yeah…I owe Tacker for giving me that peace of mind

In the back portion of the plane, I find Bishop, Dax, and Legend already seated at our table Sadie is bustling around fro orders but it could be awhile before she ht attendant, a woman whose name I still have not bothered to learn

I plop down into h I cut a nod to Dax as well “You guys ready to kick some Vipers ass tomorrow”

The New York Vipers was the teaeance in the expansion draft They’re doing well this season as was expected and early odds are for them to be a Cup contender next April It had to have burned Bishop and Dax a bit that they weren’t given protection in the draft, which essentially let the Vengeance come in and swoop them up

“Now that we seeain,” Daxforward to it”

Bishop nods “Tacker’s suspension definitely threw us off but I think we’re past it”

“Fucking right we are,” Legend adds on