Games We Play Book 6: Breakaway by Taylor McNiff

 

Games We Play Book 6

ETHAN POPE

Hockey and secrets have been my life since I can remember.

I don’t know when the secrets got out of hand. Maybe when I stopped recognizing myself in the mirror. Maybe when I nearly lost hockey. Maybe when I almost died.

Now my secrets and I are trapped on a PHL team, biding time as I prove that I’m worthy of my original spot in the Big Show. I have it all under control - my secrets, my career, my depression. There’s no other option, really, because there’s a promise beneath all the secrets - a promise I refuse to break.

It’s easy enough to pretend I have it all handled until Hayden Wallace comes barreling into my life, determined to discover all of my secrets - and maybe force me to discover a few things of my own along the way (like since when are men HOT?)

My best bet is to avoid him. Should be easy enough, right?

HAYDEN WALLACE

I’ve been loyal to my best friend since I can remember.

Unfortunately, that loyalty is the reason I find myself stuck in freezing-cold Michigan, working with a bunch of hockey players. It’s a favor. I’ll be the athletic trainer for Ian’s team for one year while he figures something else out, then I’m out of here.

Sticking around doesn’t seem so bad once I meet Ethan Pope, the man at the root of the biggest mystery in the hockey world - the rookie who nearly lost it all for reasons he refuses to share. I can’t stop watching him, analyzing him… wanting him.

The more I get to know him, the more I worry. He might be trying to push me away, but I’m not going anywhere.

Two Stubborn Men, Too Many Secrets, and An Attraction Neither Can Ignore

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216778376-breakaway

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Definitely one of my favorites from this series so far! Hayden does his best friend a really big favor by coming up north to be the athletic trainer for his minor league hockey team. He’ll help the team the best he can after their last trainer was completely awful and then he’ll be on his way. But he can’t help but like the guys on the team and being near his friend. But the biggest thing he can’t resist? Ethan Pope. It is clear since day one that Ethan is hiding something. And the fact that he was supposed to be playing on the major hockey team but mysteriously disappeared during training camp and came back to be booted down is just the tip of the iceberg. Every time he tries to get to know Ethan a bit more and help him, he pulls away. But when the two of them find themselves spending more time together, the more feelings develop. Ethan has been hiding something for a long time. His depression. He feels like he can’t get help and he won’t reveal it. He’ll ride it out the best he can. But Hayden sees too much. And when Ethan figures out the feelings he has been having toward Hayden are attraction and even love? How can he fall for someone but keep such a thing away from them? But it’s getting harder and harder every day and it’s only a matter of time until all is revealed. I adored these two. My heart went to Ethan and everything he has been through and what he has been struggling with. And I love that Hayden just cares for him and wants to the best for him and he wants to help in any way he can. It’s clear how much these two love one another and it’s because of that they’ll get through all the hard stuff that is coming. Absolutely loved their story and their journey as they fight Ethan’s illness together. This had such a great set of characters and I wish there was more with all these guys!