Landon

"We need one more game to clinch the division." Wyatt said as he took a pull of his beer.

While the girls were at some paint class with mom, the guys and I decided to make it a boys night. The Den was the best place to go if we wanted to get drinks. It was only a few blocks from the Arena and probably one of the only places that Wyatt, Trevor and Bryton can go to without being hassled.

We learned our lesson a few years back about going out to other bars. As soon as someone recognized any of the guys we would be swarmed with fans and women. Winning the last Championship just made the three of them even more popular, making it hard to go out with someone recognizing them.

I know they don't mind too much. The three of them always stopping to take pictures or sign something for fans. They appreciate the support from the fans but I know at times it can be a bit much. I know none of them ever expected to be this well known. The price to pay for being three of the best hockey players in the world.

"That Cup is ours again this year." Trevor said matter of factly. It could be seen as cocky but he wasn't wrong. The team is playing just as good as they were last year, having only lost a few games. The guys next to me playing the best they ever have. Part was thanks to the women in their life.

"A wedding and a Cup win. I like the sound of that." Wyatt smirked.

"Speaking of wedding. You ready? It's only a few weeks away." I asked my younger brother. Hard to believe he was going to be married. It was just yesterday I was teaching him how to drive.

"More than ready." The look that appeared on his face was one I never saw on him until he met Josie. As I looked at my brother I thought about how far he's come. He wasn't the little kid that use to follow me around and annoy the shit out of me. He was a grown man about to be married to the love of his life.

After multiple failed relationships, one where the girl was only with him to boost her social media, Wyatt stayed away from anything serious. I saw countless articles of him with a new girl every other day. Then he got hurt.

I've never felt more fear than I did watching Wyatt tear is ACL during a game. It was by far the scariest moment in my life. Watching my brother hurt and unable to do the one thing he loved and not being able to help was torture.

I had to sit back and watch him struggle to heal. He won't admit it but that period of healing and watching his team lose in the playoffs was hard. He wasn't the Wyatt I knew. He put a front on, especially in front of mom so she wouldn't worry but he couldn't hide it from me.

The hardest thing I've ever had to do was sit back and let him work through it himself. As soon as he got cleared to play he was better but it wasn't until he met Josie that he changed. He is the happiest I have ever seen him be and its all thanks to Josie. The two of them couldn't have found each other at a better time.

"When are you going to tell her about the surprise?" I asked, sipping my beer.

"I'm thinking this weekend after the game but I may wait until the wedding."

"What are you going to do with the apartment?" Bryton questioned, across from me.

"It's the last thing Jo's father gave her before he passed so I'm not sure how she feels about selling it. We could always keep it and let Mateo move in at some point."

Ah the joys of being a millionaire. My brother may be a millionaire but he doesn't act like it. He use to spend his money on shit he didn't need but thankfully over the years he's stopped that. I wasn't a millionaire by any means but I did fairly okay. With the rink and some side investments, thanks to Trevor, I was doing well. Wyatt has tried many times to try and give me money but I always refuse. He works hard for his money there's no way I'm taking any. It has lead to plenty of fights but the last thing I'll do is ever take the money Wyatt has worked so hard for.

"She's gonna love the house." I nudged his arm. In the past two months I've gone with him to countless homes, trying to find the most perfect one. 15 homes later he found one that both of them would love. Close to Sydni and Bryton's place and not too far from my mom's place either.

"I hope so."

"Who would have thought we'd see a domesticated Wyatt." Trevor joked.

"Me? You're the one who's wrapped around Tasha's finger." Wyatt shot back.

"And I'm not complaining." Trevor grinned. "I'll wrap myself around her any day."

"Glad you finally grew a pair and got together." I commented.

"Me?" Trevor looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "When are you finally going to admit you have a thing for Lydia?" That had Wyatt and Bryton looking at me.

"I don't." The lie burnt my tongue. They had no clue I've spent the last two weeks with Lydia. Hell I've spent more time with her than my own brothers recently.

"Yeah right." Wyatt scoffed in his beer. "The two of you are always staring at each other."

"The sexual tension between you is astounding." Bryton added. Oh I know. I know all the sounds that Lydia makes when I'm eating her out and fucking her. I wasn't about to tell them that though.

"You do realize if you don't snatch her up someone else will. Lydia's a catch." Trevor looked at me across from the table. "Aside from the fact she's gorgeous, she owns her own business and is crazy smart."

My jaw tightened at the mention of Lydia with someone else. I did not enjoy the image of someone touching her that wasn't me.

"There's been a few guys on the team interested in her." The way Wyatt said it had me clenching my beer bottle. Like hell one of those boys could satisfy Lydia like I could.

"She'd chew and spit them out within minutes." I said, trying to sound like I wasn't pissed at the thought of another guy seeing Lydia the way I do.

"You never know." Wyatt shrugged.

As they changed the subject and started talking about something else I sat there silently fuming. Like hell I was going to let some idiot steal my girl.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

An hour later we called it a night. The guys were ready to get home since they had practice early in the morning. I used their excuse to leave as well but I had other plans than heading home. I needed to see Lydia, which is why I was currently lifting a hand to knock on her apartment door.

I wasn't prepared for the the sight to greet me when Lydia opened the door. It almost felt like a sucker punch to the stomach.

Her short blonde hair was half pulled up and done in a cute bun that I found myself liking a lot. She clearly changed out of her work clothes and was now clad in an oversized t-shirt and what I hoped were shorts underneath that I couldn't see, my eyes glued to her long legs. Her face was clear of makeup which made her even more beautiful, if that was somehow possible.

"Hey." She greeted, a small smile on her face.

"Hey."

"I was just about to start dinner." She stepped to the side to let me in.

"Need help with anything?" I asked as I followed her to her kitchen. Seeing her counter sent a flashback of eating her out for the first time on it. I willed my dick to behave.

"I was thinking of making a quick stir-fry. That okay?" Lydia looked at me over her shoulder. Those gorgeous green eyes stealing words from my mouth. All I could do was nod in return. "While I get the sauce made want to chop the vegetable's?"

"Sure." I finally got my tongue to work.

I stayed off to the side of the kitchen as Lydia moved around getting everything. I couldn't help but watch as she bent over in the fridge, her oversized shirt lifting up to show her thighs and the tiny shorts she had on underneath. If she keeps bending over like that we won't be having dinner.

"Here you go." She placed an arm full down of stuff. A mix of broccoli, peppers, green beans. "You know how to use a knife right?" Her voice was serious as she asked but her eyes twinkled.

"Blondie." I narrowed my eyes at her. "I know how to handle a knife."

"Just making sure. Don't want a trip to the emergency room." She put her hands up as she backed up. Lips twitching. "If you lose a finger can't blame me." All I did was send her a look that had her grinning.

While she turned to start the stir-fry sauce I started pulling out different vegetables to cut. The two of us were quiet as we worked. It was surprisingly comfortable and very....domesticated. I can't remember the last time I cooked for or with someone.

"Do you cook often?" I found myself asking after a bit.

"I try but sometimes I stay late at the office and end up just ordering something. What about you?"

"I cook most nights." I answered, eyes on the peppers I was currently cutting. "I like to cook."

"Really?" She sounded so surprised that I laughed under my breath.

"Really. When I was younger my mom had to work late most nights so I ended up making dinner for us." I shrugged. "I ended up liking it."

The least I could do was help make dinner while my mom worked. She had to take time off to pick us up from school and then most nights she had to head out to her other job. I may have only been 11 but I was the man of the house now. I needed to help out while my mom worked. Because of that I took over cooking, cleaning, an helping my brothers.

"Sweet of you to cook for everyone." I appreciated that she didn't give me any pity looks. I've had plenty of pity looks when people hear about my father leaving us at such a young age. I didn't want it or need it.

"Have you um..." Lydia hesitated in asking. Since I was done chopping I turned around and leaned back against the counter. She was already looking at me, biting her bottom lip. "Have you spoken to your father since he left?" She finally asked.

"Once." I replied honestly. I took a deep breath as I thought back to the moment. I haven't told a single person about it. Not Wyatt or my mother. Lydia's gaze was curious as she waited for me to elaborate. I don't know why but I found myself wanting to tell her about the only interaction I've had with my father.

"About four years ago I got a call from a random number. I thought maybe it was Mateo borrowing someones phone, not the first time that's happened." I crossed my arms looking at the cabinet in front of me instead of Lydia.

"Ended up being my father." I remember the shock I felt hearing his voice for the first time in 14 years. I was on my lunch break back when I was working at an accounting firm. I just stood there, my phone pressed to my ear unable to do anything.

The last time I saw and heard my father was the day he left. Wyatt and I were outside playing hockey in the front yard. I came in to get a drink to find my parents standing in the living room, bags surrounding my father as my mom stood there holding Mateo.

I watched from the doorway as he told my mom he couldn't be here anymore. That having three kids was too much for him. That was his fucking excuse. That having kids wasn't for him. That was all he said before he grabbed his stuff and brushed past me. I remember following him out, confused as hell. He didn't even spare Wyatt a glance as he stood there watching our father get in his car and drive off.

"The prick didn't even try and make small talk first before he was asking questions about Wyatt. Nothing about my mom, Mateo, Me. It was all about Wyatt being in the League and winning the Cup Championship."

"You serious?" Across from me Lydia looked at me with a slack jaw, disbelief clear on her face.

"The only thing he cared about was his son being a professional hockey player. Wanted to know if he could get season passes." Even now thinking about it pissed me off. "The guy wanted nothing to do with us growing up but suddenly he wants to be Wyatt's dad." I scoffed.

"When I told him to fuck off he got mad. Saying he was Wyatt's father and that he wanted to talk to Wyatt himself." The fact he only cared about Wyatt hurt more than I cared to admit.

"What did you do?"

"I threatened him to leave Wyatt alone." I shrugged, stretching the truth a bit. I may have done a bit more than threaten him but I wasn't about to tell Lydia about that. "He hasn't reached out since."

"Does Wyatt know?"

"No." I shook my head. "None of them do."

"You haven't-"

"No." I didn't mean to snap at her but I couldn't help it. "They don't need to know." If carrying that secret keeps my family safe and happy I'll gladly carry it. I'll carry any burden.

Lydia was quiet, her eyes assessing. I waited for her to say I needed to tell my family. That I was being an idiot carrying this the last four years. But she did none of that. Stepping forward she gently pulled my arms away from my chest before hers wrapped around my middle.

It took a second to clue in that Lydia was hugging me. I brought my arms down, pulling her closer. Her head rested on my chest as she squeezed me a little tighter. I felt the anger and tension seep out of my body as I dipped my head down by her shoulder; breathing in her perfume.

"You're a good man Landon."

Lydia's voice was muffled by my shirt but I heard her words loud and clear. Her words struck a cord, making my throat close up. Unable to form the words to thank her I pulled her even closer.

As we stood there in the kitchen hugging I felt lighter than I ever have. 

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ 

Now you kinda see why Landon is the way he is. Imagine giving up your dreams to take care of your siblings. Landon really stepped up. Their father was such an asshole.