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and burgers, so no worries.”
    “Sounds good. I’ll be out in a bit, if you need a hand with anything.”
    Lexi grabbed his hand as she led him down the hall toward his childhood bedroom. “We’re so happy to have you home, honey.”
    He put his arm around her shoulder, drawing her in to his side. “Thanks, Mom. It feels good to be here, real good.”
     
     
    Aiden wandered out to the backyard where the large group had gathered, anxious to catch up. It had been too long since he had made time for his family and old friends.
    His brother, Mike, wrapped an arm around his neck and passed him a bottle of beer. “Training camp hasn’t started yet. You can afford to have a few.”
    “You don’t have to convince me, bro,” Aiden said, tipping the bottle to his lips. “How’re things? Tori’s on fire with that new album, huh? I heard it went double platinum within a few months. Man, that’s crazy.”
    Tori Warner was Mike’s wife and the undisputed queen of country music. As the head of security for her record label, Titan Records, Mike traveled with her most of the time.
    “I know, right?” Mike chuckled. “Not that we’re complainin’. She knows it can’t last forever, but she sure is enjoyin’ it while it does.”
    “She should. She’s worked damn hard to get where she is.”
    “Can’t argue with that.” He grinned. “I’m her biggest fan. Speakin’ of bein’ proud…” Mike said, looping an arm around his brother’s neck and squeezing hard enough to make Aiden wince. “That was a pretty sweet contract you just signed, little brother.” He laughed. “Does that mean beers are on you tonight, or what?”
    Aiden elbowed Mike in the ribs. “Quit bustin’ my chops. Things are good. I can’t complain.”
    “Oh yeah, so why the hang-dog expression?”
    Mike always had his number. He may be able to pull the odd one over on his parents or his other siblings, but Mike always called him out whenever he tried to pretend everything was fine. “You know how it is, man. Still tryin’ to figure things out.”
    “How do you feel about playin’ with Michaels again?”
    Aiden shrugged. “It sucks, but what the hell am I gonna do about it? It is what it is, right?”
    “I guess so.” Mike smirked. “Hey, this is your team, your year, so don’t hesitate to let that S.O.B. know who’s boss right from the start.”
    Aiden would take over as team captain at the start of the season, and that meant he had to be a leader, both on and off the ice. He had worked too hard and he knew his new team had come too far to let his personal feelings about Michaels get in the way of their success this season. “Don’t worry. I intend to put this to rest before the season even starts. We don’t need to take this shit into the locker room or onto the ice.”
    “That’s probably a good idea.”
    Alisa walked up to them, holding the hand of a man Aiden recognized from the newspaper articles and Internet features he’d seen about his company.
    “Hey, you,” Alisa said, reaching up to kiss his cheek. “It’s sure good to see you. It’s been too damn long.”
    Aiden rubbed her slight baby bump and grinned when she giggled. “Good to see you too, cuz.” He extended his hand to Liam. “Nice to meet the man who was finally able to tame our wild child.”
    Liam laughed. “Believe me, it was my pleasure. Nice to meet you, Aiden. I’ve got season tickets, so I was happy to hear the powers that be had the good sense to sign you. I think having you on the team is gonna give them the manpower they need to take a run at the Cup. If not this season, definitely next.”
    “Thanks, I guess we’ll see what happens, right? I feel pretty good about our chances though.”
    “There’s the man of the hour,” Ryan Spencer said, slapping Aiden upside the head as he walked past.
    Aiden laughed at his old friend’s antics. They had grown up together and remained close, even in the years since Aiden moved to Vancouver. Mike,