The 6th Man Series

Normal childhoods don't exist for girls like me—daughter of former NHL star and head coach of the Chicago Sharks, Tommy Hark. Life in the spotlight means no screwing around. AKA: No fun. My first semester of college outside of my dad's jurisdiction was supposed to be about spreading my wings—not my legs! And discovering who I am outside the shadow of great men.

Rebecca “Becky” Hightower My best friend is tall. Athletic. Smart. Funny… Oh yeah, he’s gorgeous too. But I can’t go there. Not with Beau Stephenson. His reputation on campus has him as one of the good guys with a real chance to go pro. A headliner in the making. My mom made a lot of those as the first female assistant coach of the Chicago Sharks. I’m tired of being a tagline in my own life, so I’ve forced myself to keep Beau at a distance. After last semester's rollercoaster of emotions and only a few months before he enters the draft, I've decided I'm coming off the bench.

One stupid play nearly cost my team their shot at the cup in the Spring Upshot Tournament back in March. It did cost me the rest of my season. Possibly my shot at next year’s draft. It’s the summer before my senior year and my last chance to get professional teams looking at me as a real contender. Coach has it in his head that some upstart trainer is my ticket back to the game; and while she seems to know her job, I have to resist. There’s no way I can jeopardize my one shot to get away from my past.

My friends are falling like bugs in a flea bath. One by one, they’ve wifed up and— while I love their partners, consider them sisters— I’m not ready for the responsibility being in a relationship comes with. It’s my senior year! That means girls and games on repeat. I’m not expecting the outgoing blonde bombshell from the bar to be anything more. Funny that…