Page 19

CHAPTER 19

OLLIE

B y the time I get home for the day, I’m wiped. We’d traveled into the wee hours so we could get home and make it for the tuxedo fitting, which I still need to do after my surprise meetup with Mia.

The morning’s conversation with Mia and Les still swirls in my head, leaving me raw and restless. I collapse onto the couch, scrolling mindlessly on my phone, trying not to think too hard about anything.

The door swings open and Dixon walks in, followed closely by Campbell.

“What’s up, man?” Dixon says, tossing his keys onto the counter. He’s carrying that energy he always has, like he’s five seconds away from starting some kind of chaos.

“Not much,” I reply, sitting up. “What’s going on with you guys?”

Dixon glances at Campbell, who shifts uncomfortably, scratching the back of his neck.

“You should tell him,” Dixon says, his voice uncharacteristically serious.

Campbell hesitates, then takes a deep breath. “It’s about Jimmy.”

Jimmy. Again. I’m tired of hearing his name.

“What about him?” I ask, my stomach tightening.

“He pulled me aside last week,” Campbell starts, his tone bitter. “Told me I wasn’t ‘marketable enough.’ Said I needed to ‘up my image’ or I’d start seeing fewer opportunities.”

My jaw tightens. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” Campbell mutters. “It’s been messing with my head. Every time I’m on the ice, I’m second-guessing everything. It’s screwing with my game.”

Dixon nods, leaning against the counter. “And he’s not the only one. I asked a few of the guys when we were getting fitted for suits this morning. Henry said Jimmy’s been on his case, too—different excuses, same pressure. It’s affecting all of us.”

I let out a sharp breath, trying to process. “And no one thought to bring this up before?”

Campbell shrugs helplessly. “I figured it was just me. Like, maybe I wasn’t doing enough. But hearing Henry say the same thing...I don’t know. It feels bigger than that.”

“It is bigger,” Dixon cuts in, his tone fiery. “This guy’s the owner of the team, his stakes should be higher. Why would you try to make your team feel small? I don’t care if it’s his ego or some messed-up strategy, it’s unacceptable.”

“Agreed,” I say firmly. “It needs to stop, or we need a better buffer or something.”

Dixon leans forward, arms crossed. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking we need to tell Ben and let him handle it. He can make it clear this stops now. And if it doesn’t...” I hesitate, then shrug. “I don’t know, I’ve not thought that far.”

The room goes quiet as the weight of the conversation sinks in.

Before I can say anything else, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from my dad.

Coming to the game in RC. Can’t wait to see you.

The knot in my chest tightens again, shifting from anger at Jimmy to a deep frustration with the man who’s caused so much damage in my life. Without thinking, I type back:

Don’t bother.

Not five seconds later, my phone rings. I know it’s him even though it’s a number I don’t recognize. He was never around long enough for me to add him as a contact, and the stretches he was around he usually changed phones like I change underwear. When NO ID flashes across the screen, I answer, my voice cold. “What do you want?”

“What’s your problem?” he fires back, his tone defensive.

“My problem?” I snap. “My problem is you. You here to bet against me again?”

“Like it’s my fault the Renegades did horribly and suck,” he scoffs.

“I can’t do this anymore. It’s broken. It’s been broken and I’ve tried,” I shoot back, standing up and pacing the room. “You need help. Real help. Rehab, therapy—whatever it takes. But until you do, I’m done. You’re not welcome at my games, and you’re not welcome in my life.”

“Don’t do this, Ollie,” he says, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “I just need a little support, that’s all. A few bucks to get me back on my feet?—”

“Are you kidding me?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “You’ve been saying that for years. How many times have I bailed you out, only for you to end up in the same place? Calling me or Mom. Bothering Mia. Enough is enough.”

There’s silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I think he’s going to hang up.

“Ollie,” he says finally, his tone low. “I’m your father.”

“And I’m your son,” I reply, my voice breaking despite my resolve. “But I can’t keep saving you. I’ve got to take care of myself. If you want to be part of this family, get better. Otherwise...you’re out.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me,” he says, his tone bitter now.

“I’m not doing anything to you,” I say quietly. “You did this to yourself.”

I hang up before he can respond, my hands trembling as I toss the phone onto the couch.

“Decker?” Dixon asks cautiously. “You good?”

I nod, even though my throat feels tight and my chest feels heavier than it has in years. “I will be.”

Dixon exchanges a glance with Campbell, but neither of them presses further.

“Look, the whole team is here for you two,” Dixon says after a moment, his voice steady, his eyes bouncing from Campbell to me and back. “But it’s obvious there is more to this than Jimmy’s letting on.”

I nod, grateful for their support. “It’s crystal clear there’s more happening.” I let out a sigh, glancing at the time. “I need to go back to the arena and do my fitting, then find Ben.”

I look at Dixon. “Can you two get the other guys together? I feel like we need to all go see Ben and?—”

Campbell stops me mid-thought. “I was already there myself. I’ve sent a group text out and asked the guys to make their way to Ben’s now.”

“Good.” I stand, running my fingers through my hair. “I need to call Anna really quick.”

I head to the back of the house, making my way down the hallway to my bedroom. Once I shut the door behind me, I press a few buttons and all of the stress in my shoulders eases as soon as I hear her voice on the other end.

“Hey, stranger,” she says. “Welcome home.”

“Hey, sorry for the runaround since I got back. It’s been chaotic to say the least.” I can hear Dixon’s voice intermingled with Campbell’s, only now it sounds like Stockton’s arrived as well. I open my door a crack and find I’m right, only Henry stands with him. It’s like it’s a meeting of the bullied players club.

She doesn’t respond, but I keep going. “I can’t talk long, some of the guys are here.”

“Impromptu party because of codependency after this much time together?”

Her tone is teasing, but I’m distracted. This time, it’s because someone’s leaning against my doorbell and it’s ringing nonstop. I crack the door again and I’m not even shocked to see Travis in the melee, talking away with the guys as Sawyer, who is here now, and Dixon sit with Campbell and fill Travis in on what was said to the rest of us.

“Ollie?” There’s something in her tone, and its sharpness, that makes my ears perk up.

“I’ve had a few roadblocks pop up, but I need you to know I want to see you?—”

“But you can’t.” She lets the words hang in the air, and I suddenly feel like I’m letting down the one person I don’t want to. So I quickly go over what I know from my brief chat with Dixon and Campbell.

“Whaaaat?” Anna lets out a low whistle of surprise. “Go, Ollie. You’re a wanted man. We’ll talk another time.”

There’s something in her voice, though, a hitch that stops me. She sounds funny. Off. Not my Anna. But a loud bang in the living room pulls me away once again. It actually sounds as if my couch has been shoved through a wall this time, because it appears that hockey players like to wrestle through their emotions. I’d rather they ate their feelings, but whatever is gonna get ‘em through the night.

“I’m sorry that I need to go. There’s a lot happening.” I hate hanging up like this, when she’s clearly sounding off, but it’s like I have computer tabs open in my mind and I need to close them. Then I can focus on the good stuff. “I’ll call you later?”

Something softens across the wires. “I’ll be home after seven, so try me then.”

As I hang up, I can’t help but wonder what it is that’s got her sounding funny, but then I remind myself it could be many things. We’re both dealing with our own Daddy issues at the moment, and to say it’s inopportune considering the facade we’ve got going on would be just shy of ludicrous.

Because, let’s be serious.

It’s all nuts.