Page 9 of Breaking Point (IceHawks #1)
Her sweet voice is almost my undoing, almost the thing that makes me scream, Because I killed my brother and I can’t allow myself to breathe when he can’t!
I decide to settle on a half-truth. “Because my best friend isn’t here to help me anymore.”
My voice cracks at the end, igniting a chain reaction that has my mom sniffling on the other line. After a sharp inhale, my mom’s muffled voice, tinged with emotion, fills the room. “Please let me see you, Grayson. Please. This is killing me.”
For the second time in my life, I make the most catastrophic choice and choose to be selfish.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper gutturally before hanging up the phone.
ICEHAWKS
ASHER O’CONNOR
Who the fuck put a dead fish in my car?
THEO IRVING
Why do you automatically assume it’s us?
JACK LEWIS
Poor form O'Connor
ASHER O’CONNOR
Did anyone see which fucker put the fish in my car?
LOGAN JOHNSON
It was Irving
THEO IRVING
Traitor! Next time you need me to take a crazy puck bunny off your ass I’ll turn a blind eye
JACK LEWIS
very happy to report I was not involved in this one
JACK LEWIS
I’d like a formal apology for the assumption, O’Connor
ASHER O’CONNOR
There’s still glitter in my carpet from the last prank you pulled, dipshit. Pay my cleaning bill
Jack Lewis has left the chat.
Theo Irving has added Jack Lewis to the chat.
THEO IRVING
speaking of puck bunnies, team dinner tonight at 8? O’Malley’s bar?
HUDSON MITCHEL
Why are puck bunnies and team dinner in the same thought bubble for you?
THEO IRVING
duh, because they stalk us
LOGAN JOHNSON
and you’re a sick fuck who likes that?
THEO IRVING
don’t shame people’s kinks, Johnson. I’m sure your shy ass has some weird kinks
MATTEO VALENTI
Why are we talking about kinks in the group chat again?
CALEB ELLINGTON
Irving, you didn’t last longer than twelve hours
KIERAN ASHFORD
better than last time
everyone meet at O’Malley’s at 9
KIERAN ASHFORD
KIERAN ASHFORD
are you going to make an appearance on your own tonight or do I need to drag you out again?
earth to Grayson
Don’t make me kick your door down
brOS
KIERAN ASHFORD
Grayson’s gone M.I.A again
CALEB ELLINGTON
Valenti and I are driving past. We’ll make a pit stop
KIERAN ASHFORD
text me if you need me to come out there
GRAYSON
You know I can read right?
and don’t come to my house
KIERAN ASHFORD
so he lives!
I’m very offended you’re dodging my calls
so offended, in fact, I’ve taken up Irving’s kink of stalking
GRAYSON
no
KIERAN ASHFORD
oh yes
Kieran won’t stop pounding on my front door.
Why is this annoying? Because of the sound, the invasion of privacy, or all the above maybe? No, what’s truly infuriating is this man has a key.
He’s purposely pissing me off.
Flinging open the door, I all but growl as I find Kieran, Caleb Ellington, and Matteo Valenti standing on my front porch.
“No. I’m not coming. Sorry you wasted a trip.”
I move to slam the door in their faces but Kieran’s foot darts out, stopping it. He steps through, clapping me on the back. “I see your three days of sobriety have taken a turn.” He sniffs the air. “Whiskey this time?”
Matteo and Caleb share a look, making me feel smaller than I should.
“What happened?” Matteo asks, finally stepping through the doorway.
Kieran rounds the corner, his hand in a box of my cereal. How the fuck did he get that so fast? “Mommy dearest managed to trap him and get him on the line.”
My back stiffens as my eyes slowly make their way to his face. “You talk to my mom?”
“Of course I do,” he says as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Which in hindsight, if I push through my whiskey haze, I’d realize it is. He’s been my best friend since my freshmen year of high school. My parents are practically his.
He throws his hands in the air, scattering Froot Loops across the couch. “Well, since you’re already drinking, we may as well get you dressed and down to the bar. ”
“And why would I do that?” I ask, pointedly ignoring the mess he’s created.
“Because your team loves you and they’re worried about you,” Caleb answers before anyone else can.
“You’re freaking people out, dude,” Matteo admits.
“And,” Kieran adds, “the last thing you should be doing is drinking your sorrows away alone.”
Internally, I wince as shame makes my heart shrivel up. Externally, however, I probably look like I don’t give a shit. Which is so far from who I am at my core I’m slightly terrified.
After shoving a fistful of cereal into his mouth, Kieran claps his hands. “That’s it, we’re going. I’m tired of arguing.” He sniffs me before pulling back with a grimace. “Am I going to have to force you into a shower or can you manage to do that yourself?”
He’s not going to leave until I say yes.
Rolling my eyes, I relent, “I’ll do it myself. Just give me fifteen minutes.”
He shoves the box of cereal into my hands. “We’ll be in the car.” He turns on his heel, saying on the way out, “See? I told you I can get him to do whatever I want.”
Matteo and Caleb roll their eyes and I’d laugh, but unfortunately at this point, it’s true.