Page 85 of Breaking the Pucking Rules (LA Vipers #1)

CASEY

I shriek when I open the front door, because Kodie isn’t in the car waiting for a signal to join me. He’s standing right there as if he was just about to barge in the house.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters. “I couldn’t just sit out here. I?—”

“He asked me to come and get you.”

“Did he know already?”

“I think so.”

Taking his hand, I march him through Dad’s house until we’re standing side by side and hand in hand in the entrance to the kitchen.

Dad's face doesn’t show a single emotion as his eyes flick back and forth between us, alternating between our faces and our entwined hands.

The silence in the room is deafening, ensuring my heart continues to pound faster than I’m sure it should.

A million words dance on the tip of my tongue, but none of them fall free.

In the end, it’s Kodie who breaks it.

“Sir, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, and I’m sorry for not coming to you sooner, but I need you to know that I’m in love with your daughter.

She is the most incredible, intelligent, funny, talented, beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and over the past couple of months, she has made me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. ”

Dad’s lips press into a thin line the moment Kodie mentions a timeline, and I panic.

“Dad, I?—”

Dad holds his hand up to cut me off. “Let him finish.”

“I-I…um…” Kodie stutters, having lost his flow.

Dad frowns slightly, and Kodie thankfully finds some words.

“I know that I’m not the kind of man you hoped for, for your only daughter.

I know I’m a disappointment, but I promise you, sir, I will protect her with everything I am.

Every single day, I will strive to make her as happy as she makes me.

I want to give her the life she’s always dreamed of.

I know that’ll include me being away for games, and that fucking kills me, but sir…

I can’t live another day of my life without her in it.

I love her,” he says before ripping his eyes away from Dad and turning to me.

His hand still holding mine squeezes while the other lifts so he can tilt my chin back with two fingers.

“I love you, Casey. I’ve loved you from that very first night. I might not have known who you were, but I knew you were going to change my life in ways I never could have imagined.”

My breathing is erratic, and the moment I press my hands to his chest, I feel the heavy beat of his heart against my palms.

Tears fill my eyes as I replay everything he just confessed. It’s everything I’ve always wanted to hear from him, but something I always thought would be a dream.

“I love you, too, Kodie. I always have.”

“Goddamn it,” Dad suddenly barks, and we turn just fast enough to catch him wiping his eyes.

“Dad?” I whisper, desperate for him to say something. Anything.

But he doesn’t. Instead, he slips from the stool he was sitting on and marches over.

Kodie and I tense as he closes the space between us.

I stop breathing.

Dad’s going to hit him. I’m going to be forced to watch Dad pound into my man, and knowing Kodie, he’ll take it .

It won’t be the first time I’ve seen Dad fight. It used to happen almost every game back in the day. But he hasn’t hit anyone in years. As far as I know.

But as he comes to a stop in front of Kodie, no fists fly. Instead, Dad holds his hand out for the man at my side to shake.

Kodie hesitantly slides his palm against Dad’s.

“Welcome to the family, Son. It’s been a long time coming.”

All the air rushes out of my lungs.

“What?” I ask, as Dad releases Kodie and turns to me.

“I’m so proud of you, Care Bear,” he says, his voice cracked with emotion as his arms wrap around me.

“Thank you, Daddy,” I whisper, clutching him tightly as my tears soak into the soft fabric of his ratty Vipers tee.

Long seconds pass before he pulls back and wipes his face, turning his back on us in favor of sticking his head in the refrigerator.

“You okay?” Kodie asks, wrapping his arm around my waist as I also dry my tears.

“Yeah, I think I am. He’s…he’s happy about this, right?”

Kodie chuckles. “Yeah, baby. I think he is.”

Turning to look up at him, I find the same amazement and bemusement I feel reflected in his eyes.

“Okay, good. That’s how I took it.”

“You both want a beer?” Dad asks, finally emerging with three bottles in hand.

“Uh, yeah, sir. That would be great.”

“Kodie, for fuck’s sake. Stop calling me sir. It’s James while you’re under this roof.”

Kodie nods, looking thoroughly chastised.

“Living room,” Dad states before walking off with the beers, leaving us both to trail behind.

“So…” Dad starts once he’s positioned in his favorite spot while Kodie and I take the couch opposite.

“You two have some explaining to do. Earlier, during your very heartfelt speech—good work there, by the way. Got me right here,” he says, slamming his fist against his chest. “You mentioned that this had been going on for months. Talk me through that. ”

I groan, aware that I’ve got a few more confessions to make.

“I may have made use of your masquerade ball ticket this year.”

Dad’s brows lift slightly in surprise, but that’s as much of a reaction as I get. “I see.”

“I dyed my hair, chose a mask that covered enough of my face that I hopefully wouldn’t be recognized, and…well…”

“We hit it off but I had no idea who she was,” Kodie finishes.

“And when did you learn who she was?”

“About a week later. She came down to the rink to see you and…one look at her and I knew. I didn’t think I’d ever find her again. And there she was, right under my nose.”

“I tried to do the right thing. I tried to follow the rules, but…I couldn’t. Not this time.”

Dad frowns. “Rules? What rules?”

“What?” I ask on a laugh. “The rule that I should never get involved with one of your players.”

I expect Dad to remember and agree, but what I don’t expect him to do is throw his head back and laugh.

“What?” I ask, confused and a little offended by his reaction.

“Casey, you are a fully grown woman. I’m not controlling who you can and can’t spend time with.”

“B-but?—”

“Yes, there were a few years when I warned you to stay away from my team. You were young and impressionable, and I’m sure Kodie will be the first to agree that hockey players aren’t always the best role models.

Sure, there are many of my players I’d rather you steer clear of because the chances are that you’d end up hurt.

But I can assure you, Kodie isn’t one of those. ”

I blink, utterly speechless.

“And anyway, I knew the minute he moved to LA there was a chance you’d go after him,” he admits.

“W-what?” I blurt.

“Oh, come off it, Casey. You’ve been in love with Kodie since you were about twelve years old.” My expression must tell him what I’m thinking. “You didn’t think I knew you had his posters stuck everywhere, or that you suddenly paid more attention to college hockey than you did any of my games?”

“I…um…”

“Casey, I know you. Clearly, better than you think I do.” He laughs again, amused by my utter cluelessness. “Why do you think Kodie was traded here in the first place?”

“Because he’s an amazing winger. Any team would be lucky to have him.”

“Well, yes. I wouldn’t bring a shit player to my team. But…I brought him here…for you.”

All the air rushes out of my lungs.

“Of course, I didn’t know this would happen,” he says gesturing between us, his eyes locking on our joined hands again. “But I knew you’d get a kick out of getting to spend time with your hero.”

“You’re my hero,” I counter.

“When you were a child, maybe. But as I said, you’re an adult now, Casey. You get to make your own choices and decide your path.

“I just wish you would have told me sooner instead of allowing me to find out online.”

A regretful sigh passes my lips. “I’m sorry. We wanted to tell you, but it was all so new and…I was scared.”

Dad’s eyes darken with regret. “Casey,” he soothes.

“I’m so sorry. I only ever warned you off the guys to try and protect you.

You know what they can be like, how quickly they go through bunnies.

I didn’t want that for you. I never meant to scare you into thinking you couldn’t tell me if one of those guys was the one for you. ”

“So you’re not disappointed in me?” I ask quietly.

“Care Bear, I could never be disappointed in you. I’m so proud of you for everything you’ve overcome and achieved.

” I smile as I fight back my tears. “And Kodie,” he says, turning his eyes to my man.

“I know I warned you off my girl. But if you wanted her, I needed you to fight for her. Only someone very special comes before hockey.” Kodie nods in understanding as tears continue to burn my eyes.

“I’m proud of you, too. Being a single parent is hard, but being a single father in our world is almost impossible.

You’re doing an incredible job; Sutton is a credit to you.

She reminds me so much of this one at that age,” Dad says with a fond smile.

“Bossy and know-it-all,” Kodie says lightly.

“Yep, that’s it,” Dad laughs. “She has good ideas, though.”

“Don’t tell her that or she’ll never stop. She wants you to get Donnelly from Seattle. Have you heard that one yet?”

Dad’s thoughtful for a moment. “Indeed I have,” Dad confirms.

“Yeah. Don’t worry, it’ll be someone else next week. I’m happy as long as she isn’t trying to get Nash in a Vipers jersey.”

Dad laughs again.

“We don’t have a game next Saturday; will you all come over for dinner? Sutton and your mother, as well.”

I look at Kodie, unable to wipe the smile off my face.

“We’d love to,” Kodie confirms before lifting his beer to his lips.

“So…what else do I need to know?” Dad asks, his eyes bouncing between us.

We glance at each other. I don’t know about Kodie, but I’m certainly thinking of what happened all those weeks ago right above our heads.

“Oh, um…I’m not sure there is much to tell really.

We’re taking things one day at a time and figuring it all out.

I’ve never had a serious relationship before so it’s all new to me,” Kodie explains while Dad eyes him suspiciously.

“You might want to get your story figured out, by the way. Everyone is going to want to hear from you about this. You can’t tell me that your cell isn’t already blowing up.”

Kodie’s face pales, giving us all the answer we need.

“I may have had a few missed calls from Hailee and my agent.”

“Hailee will sort you out. She’s a good one. Anyone want another?” Dad asks, lifting his empty bottle in the air.

“No, thank you,” we both say, watching as he leaves us alone.

“Well, that could have been worse.”

“I can’t believe it,” I say with a laugh and a shake of my head. “All this time, he brought you here for me.”

“See, you’ve been underestimating him.”

“Yeah,” I muse. “I think I have.”