Page 96 of Breakaway Goals

“Doesn’t matter,” Morgan said. “I’m around, and besides, what am I gonna do instead? Sit at home and watch the game?”

The look Finn shot him was concerned. “Dad, you don’t have to completely change your life to be here. To support me. You know that, right?”

Morgan wanted to laugh. Wanted to cry, too. Embarrassing that his son actually thought he’dhada life in New York. “I know.”

But when Finn shot him an even harder look, Morgan caved. “If I was in New York, you know what I’d be doing?”

“No?” Finn pulled into the player section of the parking garage and turned off the car.

“Staying in and watching probably two to three games on TV.”

“Dad,” Finn chided, meeting his resigned expression with one of his own. “Youcoulddate, you know. You don’t have to be alone. Mom moved on. I don’t mind if you do, too. In fact, it would make you look less pathetic if you did.”

Ha.Moving on. That was a fucking joke. “I know,” Morgan said testily.

“You’re not that old, and you still look good for your age,” Finn pointed out more softly this time, like this whole conversation didn’t make Morgan wish hehadstayed home.

“Not that old,” Morgan muttered. “God, it’s a good thing I have a decently sized ego, still.”

“Hey, it’s a compliment,” Finn retorted, because he was twenty-three and everyone who was forty was practically ancient. “I’m sure that a lot of women would go for you. Not just because you’re Morgan Reynolds, either.”

It would be nice if that was true, but even post-divorce and pre-Hayes, Morgan had discovered that was a pipe dream. One of a very long list of reasons why Hayes had been so perfect for him. He hadn’t cared who Morgan was—or hehad, but only the parts that Morgan actuallylikedbeing wanted for.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Morgan said dryly.

As he made his way to the box, stopping to talk to a few of the arena staff that he’d gotten to know over the last two months, he wondered, not for the first time, if it would ever be worth telling Finn the truth.

He couldn’t see himself confessing the whole story, not if Hayes stayed Finn’s captain, and with the way he was playing, the Sentinels would be really fucking stupid to get rid of him now.

But maybe he could tell Finnpartof the truth. At least enough that he’d stop nudging him towards only women, who were all invariably interested, who he then had to extricate himself from. But mostly so he’d stop making noise about how Morgan wasn’t quite dead yet.

It was a five p.m. game tonight. Maybe he’d take Finn out for a late dinner, to his favorite steakhouse in Tampa, and explain enough of the story that it got Finn off his back. Jacob knew, and as much as that stuck in his craw, he didn’t want to keep Finn in the dark forever or force Jacob to keep all of Morgan’s secrets.

Morgan settled in the suite, not happy about the plan, necessarily, because it was hard to imagine that Finn wouldn’t push just as hard, if not harder, than Jacob, to find out the mysterious ex’s identity. But it was time. It was probablylongtime. If Finn hadn’t been drafted to Tampa, Morgan imagined he might have actually confessed the truth sooner.

As always though, Hayes was there, inserting himself, making it impossible for Morgan to move on, impossible for Morgan to do anything but pine hopelessly over him.

Wish things had been different six years ago. Wish things were different now.

Warmups started. Jacob wasn’t here, and the rest of the box was mostly empty, and for once, nobody was actually paying attention to him, so he could stare goopily at Hayes as he rotated around the ice, checking in with his players and warming himself up.

Finn was over with Silov at the Sentinels’ bench, and every so often, Morganwouldglance over at them, but it was honestly hard to tear his eyes off Hayes.

Maybe he should be ashamed or even humiliated that he was still stuck on this.

Hayes had told him, without really mincing words, that he’d missed his chance.I don’t want you around, but I’m going to have to accept it, for Finn.

That had hurt, but in a way that at least Morgan expected, and itwasbetter than if Hayes had been totally unmoved and apathetic about Morgan’s presence in Tampa.

Morgan could imagine both Jacob and Finn ganging up on him if he actually admitted Hayes’ hate was better than nothing. Danny, too.

They’d tell him he was pathetic.Check.

They’d tell him to get his head out of his ass.I’ve fucking tried.

They’d definitely tell him it was time to get over it.Don’t you know if I could have, I would have?

The Bandits did have a game tonight, but they were on a west coast roadie, so Morgan pulled his phone out and sent Danny a text.