Page 26

TWENTY-SIX

leo

“ W ho’s here?” Victoria asks, squinting into the darkness when we arrive back at the house after our epic date.

A woman waits on the front steps, silhouetted by the porch light.

“I’ll take care of this,” I say, immediately getting out of my car. Tina’s been texting me a few times a month, and I’ve been avoiding her.

“Hey,” I say. “Thought I told you to text me before showing up.”

It doesn’t seem to matter where I move or what team I play for, she always finds me. And I can’t help but think it’s because she wants something from me.

Victoria steps beside me. “Do you want to come inside?”

I turn to Vic. She has no idea who this woman even is. “I think I should handle this,” I tell her under my breath.

“You can’t just leave our guest in the rain,” she whispers. She turns back to Tina and puts a hand out. “I’m Victoria, by the way.”

Tina stands slowly and looks over Victoria. “You’re very pretty,” she says, then looks at me. “You got a good one.”

“Yeah, I know.” I glance at Victoria. “This is Tina... my biological mother.”

Victoria gives her a warm smile. “It’s good to meet you.”

When we were dating before, I only mentioned in passing that I was adopted from foster care, carefully keeping those doors closed. Victoria, to her credit, was always respectful of my boundaries, never prying for details I wasn’t ready to share. She met my adoptive parents when they visited at college, but I really didn’t have much contact with Tina back then. She was busy chasing one loser boyfriend after another and largely ignoring any connection with me. Back then, I wasn’t much of a priority for her, and I was too busy trying to forget that part of my life.

It wasn’t until my hockey career took off after college that Tina decided she wanted more contact. But that’s the thing about her—she’s always been about timing. And her timing right now couldn’t be worse.

Victoria glances over, her eyes puzzled, trying to piece together why I’m not more excited for an unexpected visit. “Leo and I were filming a commercial together and then stopped for food afterward,” Victoria says. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.” She opens the door for my mother, and Tina looks around as she steps inside.

“Pretty place,” Tina says.

“Do you want something to drink?” Victoria asks.

I cut Tina a sharp glance.

“Water is fine,” she says. “Thank you.”

I invite Tina to sit, and glance up the steps. Much to my relief, it looks like everyone else is gone for the night. Victoria heads to the kitchen while I lean against the wall across from Tina. I don’t want to sit down and give her the impression I want her to stay a while.

“Why did you stop by tonight?” I ask cooly when Victoria is out of earshot.

“So now I need a reason to see my favorite kid?” She grins, but there’s a hint of nervousness behind it.

“Also, your only kid,” I reply, crossing my arms.

“Maybe I just wanted to meet this girl you’re so smitten with.” She gestures toward the kitchen.

“Considering you didn’t even know about her five minutes ago?” I lift an eyebrow. “Nice try.”

She looks at her fingers, folded in her lap. “I’ve been wondering how you are. Haven’t heard much from you lately. Guess I know why.”

“I’ve been busy,” I say. “And we both know you only come to see me when you need something, so what’s up?”

Her smile falters. She knows our history has been messy. The years of chaos, the visits from CPS, and the day everything I had was packed up—it all sits like a rock against my chest. Don’t get me wrong, where I ended up was a lot better than the life I could’ve had. But her mistakes are the reason I don’t trust people easily.

She glances at the fireplace, then to me. “I came over because I had the electric turned off at my house.”

“What happened to the job you had?” I ask, frowning.

“At the grocery store? I missed a day of work, and they fired me.”

I scrub my hand over my face. She doesn’t have to explain why because I already know. She probably drank too much the night before and overslept. Her problems are nothing new to me.

I glance over my shoulder to make sure Victoria isn’t there before lowering my voice. “If I give you the money for your electric bill and a hotel room, will you just leave?”

She frowns, then looks away in shame. “I’m not asking to be your charity case, or take your money. I just had nowhere to go.” She shifts on the couch, her voice softer. “Sometime, we should just talk. There are some things I need to tell you, and it sure beats sitting in the dark at my place.”

“You mean talk about our feelings?” I grimace. “Not my thing.” That’s why I chose hockey, the perfect sport for channeling your rage into something productive.

I fish a few large bills out of my wallet and thrust them toward her. “Here. Take this.” I know it’s a lousy move, the exact opposite of what she’s asking for, but I’m not ready for a relationship. I nod toward the door. “Victoria and I were in the middle of a date.”

“You want me to go?” She stares at the money, like she really doesn’t want to take it, before she slowly slips it into her pocket. “If you ever want to reconsider—” Her voice trails off, like she’s waiting on my next move. “Invitation’s always open.”

I could have said something. Should have. But letting her in feels harder than letting her go.

Victoria enters the room with a tray of water and snacks. I shoot Tina a look.

“Thank you, but unfortunately, I have to head out,” she says, taking the glass of water.

“Already?” Victoria’s smile fades as she looks between Tina and me. “But you just got here.”

Tina downs the water quickly. “Need to find a hotel room. My electricity’s out.”

Victoria frowns. “I’m so sorry. You know, you could take my bed and I could sleep on the couch. It wouldn’t be any problem.”

“I don’t want to be an inconvenience,” Tina says, glancing at me before she sets the glass on the tray.

“Maybe next time you can have dinner with us, then?” Victoria asks, following Tina to the door.

“If you can talk this guy into it.” She hooks her thumb at me before turning to Victoria. “Thank you for being so kind. You seem good for Leo. I hope you make each other very happy.”

Victoria smiles. “You have a really amazing son.”

“I know,” Tina says softly before heading out the door. “Anyway, you’ve got my vote.”

As Tina’s old sedan rumbles away from the house, Victoria looks at me with a puzzled smile. “Tina seems really nice. I’m glad I got to meet her.”

“She obviously likes you,” I grumble, heading back into the living room.

Victoria follows me, crossing her arms. “Why are you acting so weird?”

I straighten the couch pillows where Tina was sitting. “What?”

“Your birth mother shows up at your door, and the whole time I get the feeling you don’t want her here.”

“I don’t,” I say, keeping my face turned away.

“Why not?” she says, not letting it go.

I guess if we’re going to go there, we’re doing it now. “She has problems, Vic,” I say sharply.

“We all have problems, Leo,” she says. “I know your MO is pretending like you’re untouchable, but you were rude to her.”

“You don’t know how she can be,” I grumble before brushing past her into the kitchen. “She can be just as rude.”

“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, then,” she fires back.

I stop mid-step, my voice barely controlled. “I don’t ever want to be compared to her. And I don’t want to have this conversation now.”

I stride into the kitchen, hoping Victoria will let go of talking about Tina. We had such an incredible day together. I don’t want it to end like this.

“We need to have it sometime.” Victoria follows me to the kitchen, leaning against the frame. “How could you let that woman sit on your front porch without even inviting her inside? That isn’t the Leo I know.”

I stay on the other side of the kitchen. “It’s better that way, believe me. You don’t know her.” Truth is, I don’t want Victoria to know her. I’m not proud of who Tina’s become, and I hate being the one who has to pick up the pieces when her life spirals out of control. It’s exhausting. And eventually, Victoria will realize it too.

Then what? My greatest fear is that she’ll think I’m destined to end up the same. She already said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Victoria’s face softens, and she crosses the kitchen toward me. “Leo, I don’t know what happened between you and her. But whatever it was, that was a long time ago.”

I hold up my hand to stop her. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

Victoria frowns. “Who else can she go to if not family?”

“But she hasn’t been there for me. Not the way my parents have.”

She shakes her head in disbelief. “And you don’t think she loves you?”

A humorless laugh escapes my lips. “If she loved me, don’t you think she’d have stopped drinking herself into oblivion? CPS took me away when I was two, Victoria. Two. The judge gave her chance after chance to clean up her life, and she failed every single one. It cost her everything... including me.”

Victoria’s mouth opens, then closes, her face suddenly losing the resolve that was there a minute ago. She reaches out to touch my arm. “I’m so sorry, Leo.”

I turn away from her, placing my palms on the countertop and dropping my head. Victoria’s family has money and respect. She’s never had to carry the weight of a family secret that overshadows her life like I have.

“There are rehab programs,” she offers softly. “We could find her one.”

I close my eyes, forcing my voice to stay even. “She’s been through rehab. Multiple times. At most, it lasts a few months.”

“There has to be something else,” Victoria says. “But ignoring it won’t do any good.”

She’s trying to help—I know that. But I’ve been down every road she’s imagining. I’ve hoped. I’ve fought. And every time, I’ve watched Tina throw it all away.

“I appreciate the suggestions, but I’ve tried everything,” I say.

Victoria hesitates. “So you’re just going to give up on her? Not even try?”

“You don’t get it. I’ve tried—for years . Paid for treatment centers myself. But you can’t save someone who doesn’t want to change.” I turn around to face Victoria. “I know what you saw tonight makes me look like a bad guy, but there’s no other way. If I keep giving in to her, I’m not helping her—I’m enabling her.”

“Would it kill you to treat her with a little more compassion? You acted like she was a stranger.”

“Look, it’s not like I’m tossing her scraps,” I brush past her, heading for the stairs. “I gave her money—I’m not heartless.”

“You might want to tell your face that,” she shoots back.

“Well, I’m glad my face could provide you with some entertainment,” I say, climbing the stairs, irritated that she’s pushing so hard. “At least it’s honest.”

“I’m just asking why you can’t sit down and have a conversation with her? That’s all she wants,” she says, following me upstairs.

“Because I don’t want to, okay?” I turn to face her in the hallway. “You don’t understand. Your family has money, respect, and a portrait hanging in the Ice House hall of fame. It’s nothing like my life.”

Victoria blinks. “What do my parents have to do with this?”

“You’re out there rubbing shoulders with families from the country club, while I’m just trying not to embarrass you. We’re from two different worlds, and mine doesn’t fit with yours.”

Hurt flashes across her eyes. “I don’t think that, Leo.”

I shake my head. “I saw it in your face earlier, the way you looked at me like I was some charity case. And then you tossed in that apple-tree comment at my expense.”

“That wasn’t what I meant,” she says softly. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you.”

“Great job, then,” I deadpan. “Truly, a masterclass in not trying to hurt someone.”

She levels me with a look. “I just wanted to help both of you.”

“Well, she doesn’t need it, and neither do I,” I say, heading to my room. “Just because my past isn’t perfect doesn’t mean I need you swooping in to save the day. I’ll never be like your family, Vic. I’m not like them.”

I try to push the door shut, but her hand blocks it. “That’s why I like you, Leo. Because you’re nothing like them.” She holds the door firmly in place, her eyes on mine. “And just for the record, my family isn’t perfect. If you knew how many arguments we’ve had about me being a ‘disgrace to the family name,’ you’d probably rethink dating me.”

“Even though you’re the one who rethought dating me?” I can’t help but ask the question. It’s been eating at me ever since I became her skating partner. The text message breakup felt so generic, like I didn’t mean anything to her.

“It’s not what you think,” she says, shaking her head.

“Oh, let me guess—was it so your parents could set you up with some Ivy League jerk? Someone who plays tennis? Or better yet, golf? Figures they didn’t want a hockey player with a hot temper.”

Her lips tighten, and she hesitates. “They didn’t give me a choice, Leo. They’ve always wanted me to focus on my skating career. By college, they’d invested tens of thousands of dollars in lessons and coaches. When they saw that I was spending so much time with you, they gave me an ultimatum. They made me choose .”

“Between me and skating?” I finish for her.

“No.” Her eyes dart away. “There’s more to it than that.”

“More to it than just bulldozing your way to the top—no matter who you leave behind?”

She doesn’t respond, but the way her gaze falls to the floor says enough.

I nod. “That’s what I thought.” She wanted a career more than me, when I was ready to give up everything for her.

“Leo, I know you won’t believe me, but I did it for both of us,” she says, her voice barely audible. “And I’m the one who had to live with the regret. I should’ve chosen you.”