Page 11 of Sweet as Puck

I sighed. They really weren’t giving up. “Why?”

Hewitt squeezed my shoulder. “Because our guess is that the only people who’ve asked for your side of the story have wanted a scoop, and that’s not right.”

I swallowed hard. He was dead-on, but I wasn’t going to tell them that. “Thanks. But no thanks.”

Gauthier waited until I had my hand on the door, ready to push it open before he added, “And no one would dream of fucking with you when we were standing in the men’s room right next to you.”

I met their gazes, and I saw the truth of their concern in their eyes. A sliver of fear passed through me, but I shoved it down. Fuck that—I wasn’t going to cower to anyone.

Not even my teammates, my brothers.

They thought I’d betrayed one of my own. Not just anyone either. He’d been my roomie during our away games for two fucking seasons. Minns made out like he’d taken me under his wing, like I was his little brother.

But brothers didn’t fuck like we had.

“We all have singles on this trip, but I’ve asked Keeley to put you in a room next to mine. I won’t have them starting any shit,” Gauthier said.

I was sure he meant to reassure me, but all it did was serve to infuriate me instead. Jesus Christ, was everyone here to babysit me? I didn’t want any of them looking over my shoulder.

“Ah, so that’s your motivation for following me in here.Stay in line, Hux, so that you aren’t a lightning rod for more bad publicity,” I spat.

“You know that’s trash,” Gauthier retorted, his voice short and sharp.

What the hell did he have to be pissed about? I was the one who was at the receiving end of this clusterfuck.

I pushed open the door just as Hewitt grasped my arm. There was no way I was sticking around. I shook him off and stomped over to my seat, ignoring the team and their judgmental stares. I wanted nothing more than for this fucking trip to be over and done with. Fuck. My. Life.

Where was that fucking comet?

five

Monroe

Early April

My feet were dragging, even though I was with my favourite person—my daughter. Three of her four boyfriends—Ezra, Ryder and Flynn—were long-time friends of mine, and I’d gotten to know Tristan well since they’d started dating. They were happy together, and they treated Zali and each other right. I loved seeing Zali, who was a prickly pear much of the time, soften to them. But it wasn’t because she needed to change. It was because they loved one another, and she let her guard down with them. I’d never wanted anything more than for my kids to be happy. Zali had that now.

But no matter how ecstatic I was seeing my daughter finally happy, I wanted to crawl back into bed.

Twenty-six years ago today, I’d become a father. I’d learned what unconditional love was the moment I held him in my arms.I’d witnessed his first gasping breath, and, in that moment, I understood what it meant to be willing to do anything to protect him.

But I’d failed.

I only had thirteen years with Asher.

For those thirteen birthdays, I’d either jumped up or been jumped on at the ass crack of dawn. Asher would launch himself onto the bed, bellyflopping into the gap between Rosa and me, and beg for his surprise breakfast and present.

I’d loved every moment of my time with him.

But I’d taken so much of it for granted. I didn’t have nearly enough photos of those days we’d spent together. I had even fewer of the ones where we were simply enjoying life. I’d gone months without the snap of a single photo, always thinking we had time.

Now the photos, the memories, were all I had.

Asher and Zali were the light of my life.

But Asher’s light had been extinguished.

My world had turned dark.