Chapter one
Riley: The Call
The third buzz in my back pocket made the dogs flinch, and my blood pressure spike. Whatever it was, it could wait. I was elbow-deep in dog food, trying to coax a skittish terrier named Max to eat something other than the squeaky toys he kept hoarding under his bed.
The next buzz finally got to me, and I wiped my hands on my jeans before pulling it out. Ryan's name flashed on the screen. Of course. My brother only called when he needed something.
"What?" I answered, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I scooped another handful of kibble.
"Riley, I need a favor." His voice was rushed, like he'd just run a marathon. "A big one."
I rolled my eyes. "Let me guess. You need me to dogsit again? Because I'm already at the shelter, and I'm not—"
"No, it's not that." He cut me off, and I froze. Ryan never interrupted me. Something was wrong.
"It's Colton."
The name hit me like a slap. Colton Hayes. My brother's best friend. The guy who used to crash on our couch during college breaks. The guy who always called me "sis" like he couldn't be bothered to remember my actual name.
The guy I'd spent most of high school crushing on. I tried everything to get his attention. I wore makeup for the first time. I learned hockey terminology. I even stole Ryan's old jerseys to look the part. I'd spend extra time fixing my hair before Ryan's friends came over, only to have Colton ruffle it like I was still a kid.
It was humiliating. But I kept trying, convinced that he'd eventually see me differently if I found the right way to fit into his world. And all for nothing. He'd pat me on the head like a kid and tell Ryan to keep me out of their way.
"What about him?"
"He's here in Silver Ridge. The team just assigned him to the AHL, and he's… well, he's a mess. You've seen the news, right?"
I had. It was hard to miss. Colton Hayes, the NHL's golden boy, had gone from scoring game-winning goals to making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Party photos, late-night club scenes, and—worst of all—that scandal with the married woman. The one that got him demoted. The one that made him a walking PR nightmare.
"What does that have to do with me?" I asked, though I already had a sinking feeling I knew where this was going.
"I need you to babysit him."
I nearly dropped the phone. "You're joking."
"I'm not. He's on thin ice with the team, and if he screws up again, he's done. I’m sending him to you."
"To me? Why me?"
"Because you're the only person I trust to keep him in line. You won't let him charm his way out of consequences. Colton needs someone who won’t tiptoe around him. And because you're theonly one who’ll tell him the truth—even when he doesn’t want to hear it."
I laughed, but it came out more like a snort. "You're delusional. I'm not babysitting some washed-up hockey player who can't keep it together. I have a life, Ryan. A job. Dogs that need me."
"Come on, Ri. You've always had a soft spot for the broken ones—dogs and people."
He’d slipped right past logic and aimed straight for my soft spot. Typical.
"Riley, please." His voice softened, and I hated how effective that was. “He's my friend. And he's not a bad guy. Do you remember when Dad got sick, and Colton drove me back and forth to the hospital? He had my back then. I need you to have his now. Please."
Ugh. Why’d he have to bring that up?
Back then, I had watched Colton step up without hesitation. He used to take the late-night shifts so Mom could rest. When Ryan was overwhelmed, Colton would distract him with hockey talk. He hadn't asked for thanks—he'd just been there. And now Ryan wanted me to do the same for him.
I opened my mouth to argue, but the sound of the shelter door creaking open cut me off. I turned, and there he was.
Colton Hayes.
He looked different from what I remembered. Older, sharper, more… oh boy….everything.
