Page 64 of Heartbreak Hockey

She’s dating a boy? “Who said you could date a boy?”

“Dad.”

Of course, he did. “Dad hasn’t made the rules in a long time, little miss.”

“You’re not here anymore, Merc, so deal with it. He’s coming to pick me up on his motorcycle later.”

“Like hell he is. You’d better not get on that bike, young lady.”

“Aaaaand I think you’ve gotten your hundred buck’s worth. Bye, dickhead.”

She hangs up. I’m left staring at the phone. What the hell was that? I dial Bea. “Rachel spilled about everything. Tell her she’s not getting on a motorbike with her boyfriend.”

Bea busts a gut laughing at me. “She’s fucking with you, Merc.”

“So she doesn’t have a boyfriend?” Thank Christ.

“The boy is real, the motorcycle isn’t. He’s a super nerdy math student. It’s adorable—she’s the jock and he’s the academic.”

Rachel’s smart too, but I know Bea knows that and what she means. Rachel’s good at school but she’d rather be on the ice, which is what makes her a “jock”.

I’m still pulling out my hair. She riled me. If I were only her guardian, I’d be pissed, but I’m also her older brother. Ari and I have had many an encounter like that one, so I let it go. I should have known better. Guess she hasn’t forgiven me for leaving after all.

“What about Sandra and the baby?” My heart hasn’t stopped beating rapidly over that one. You never know how much you want something until it could be taken away.

“Yeah, that wasn’t so good, but they’re both fine. She has to take it easy.”

“I should come home.”

“This is exactly why we didn’t want you knowing. No more bribing the teens. You being here wouldn’t help anyway.”

“It would help Theo sleep.” My heart’s racing now and I can’t stop my hand from making a wreck of my hair. I check the time. I have to go. “Don’t do this again, Beatrice.”

“Don’t you Beatrice me. It was the right thing to do. Now you’re worked up for no good reason, Merc.”

“Of course, I am. This was a mistake. I’m coming home.” Hanging up on her, I swing into my gray blazer and storm down to the team bus while my phone goes off in my pocket a hundred times and I ignore it.

I don’t say hi to anyone and take my seat near the front, chewing nails. How dare they keep the family business from me.

It’s hard to say when we started moving, but I guess we have because the dark night is pelting by my window. I can’t get my thoughts together.

A familiar cologne wafts across my senses and someone sits beside me. Pretty sure I know who it is, and I don’t want to talk to him either. He’s the one who’s been distracting me. I’m so wrapped up in Jack and hockey, I’ve forgotten what’s important.

“Uh, Coach?”

I turn my head and set all my irritation on him. “What?”

He laughs quietly, covering his mouth. “Holy shit you’re mad. Never seen you mad like this.”

“Then why are you bothering me?”

“Because I’m the only one brave enough or stupid enough, I guess. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

He leans closer instead of going away. “Also, I’m the only one who can suck your dick later,” he says in a hushed voice.

I huff a sigh and don’t answer him, not in the mood for nonsense.