by Toni Aleo
“Good, huh?” I say, feeding her a bite of pumpkin pie.
She takes the bite and nods. “Not like your mom’s.”
“Nothing is like my mom’s,” I remind her as I look up to see her parents watching us. They both look pained, as if they were hoping I was a dirtbag or something.
Clearing her throat, Thea says, “Avery, honey, why don’t we go look in the gift shop?”
Avery looks at her, confused. “Why?”
“I want to peek and I wanted to get some stuff for the road.”
Or she wants to leave so that Benedict can talk to me.
Avery knows this too because she looks at me and I shrug. “It’s fine.”
She takes in a breath and shakes her head before getting out of the booth and walking with her mom toward the gift shop. Looking over at Benedict, I take a long pull of my tea and smile.
“I’m ready.”
He smiles. “Yeah?”
“Yup, hit me with what you got.”
Benedict nods as he laughs. “I guess that means there will be no chance of me talking you into letting her go, then? Letting her come home and relieving you of all your duties to her?”
I scoff. “Not a snowball’s chance in hell.”
“It’s a big responsibility, especially for a rookie player. You sure you want that?”
“I’m never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“She isn’t well, mentally. She struggles.”
“I know and I’ve got her.”
“It’s a lot for a nineteen-year-old boy.”
“Man,” I correct with a grin. “I’m almost twenty. And I don’t care how much work it is, because there is no me without that girl right there,” I say, pointing to where Avery is looking at silver spoons. “I get it. You don’t like me, don’t trust me. But I can promise you, that girl has never been happier. And she will continue to be happy as long as I’m there loving her.”
He nods slowly, bringing his gaze from Avery to me. “Very sure of yourself.”
“Damn right, and I’m sure that she and I will work. Trust and believe that.”
Sucking on his teeth, he swallows hard and then pins me with a look. “Can’t blame me for trying.”
“No, sir, ’cause I would do the same for my daughter who got knocked up by some rookie,” I say with a grin and he smiles. “I respect you, Mr. Haverbrooke, I do. But I love that girl, and I’m not letting her go.”
He eyes me. “It’s not easy to love her—”
“It is for me.”
“It is for me too,” he says slowly. “But I messed up somewhere. I put her brothers before her, and she holds a certain kind of animosity toward me for that. Not that I don’t deserve it.”
“You do.”
He nods sadly. “Yeah. I know you think I don’t like you, and it isn’t that. It’s that I don’t think anyone is good enough for her. I fully expected to walk into a shitshow, but you’re different.”
“Thank you,” I say, my eyes locked in his gaze. “I love her. All of her.”
“So you know the whole deal, her past?”
“Yes, sir, everything.”
“It doesn’t scare you?”
“Not even a little bit.”
He nods. “Scares the shit out of me. Want to know why?”
“Sure.”
“Because I’m pretty sure I could have prevented it, and I didn’t.”
The remorse, the pain is apparent on his face, and I feel for the guy. I don’t like that he hurt Avery, wasn’t there for her. But he regrets that and hopefully he’ll make it better. Leaning back, I nod. “I really think you should give her a chance to tell you the whole story.”
His face twists in confusion as he holds my gaze. “The whole story?”
“Yeah, the whole thing, because I’m sure it’s more than what you know. And I feel you need to know.”
Before he can say anything else, Avery slides in beside me and shoots me a grin before glancing at her dad. Looking back at me, she asks, “He try to talk you into leaving?”
I laugh as I nod. “Yeah, but it’s cool. I would do it for my daughter too.”
She smiles. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. But don’t worry, I told him no.” I add in a wink and she feigns relief.
“Oh, thank God!” she gasps before leaning into me, her hand pressed to her forehead. “I was nervous for a second there,” she jokes and I laugh.
“Sure, you were.”
“Eh, maybe not. I would have chased you down.”
“I wouldn’t get far,” I say with another wink, and when I glance at her parents, they are smiling too.
“He’s great, really,” Avery says and I kiss her temple as her mom nods.
“We are seeing that,” her dad admits.
“Yeah, maybe I was wrong,” Thea says.
Looking up at me, Avery widens her eyes as she hooks a thumb at her mother. “My mom just admitted she might be wrong for thinking you’re a rookie punk.”
My eyes widen too, faking hurt and shock as I look over at my mother-in-law. “You called me a rookie punk?”
“I did.”
“Eh, now I gotta keep proving her wrong.”
That pleases her parents, and when I look at my wife, her face is bright and happy.
I feel good about this.
I feel good about them.
And maybe, just maybe, this will work out.
“My parents should be here in a second. I think they are gonna sit with us instead of on the visitors’ side,” I say to Autumn and Lucy. I’m met with concerned stares.
Eyeing me, Lucy asks, “They’re invited to sit with us?”
I shrug, a grin pulling at my lips. “Yeah.”
“So we like them?” Autumn asks, and it’s so weird calling her that. I feel like I should still be calling her Mrs. Sinclair, but she gets on me when I do. She really wants me to call her Mom, but I’m working up to it.
I laugh. “They’ve actually been really great the last two days,” I say and they both smile. I didn’t think I’d ever say that, but it’s true. Dinner was good, and Jace said my dad wasn’t even a dick to him. Only spoke with him about his concerns, and Jace promised it went well. Yesterday, they took us shopping for our baby, which again was really nice. I know they don’t like it and probably wish I were older, but they are trying to be supportive. Something else I thought would never happen.
While everything seems good, I’m still dreading Jace being on the ice with Matty. I haven’t seen him, but my mom said they went out to dinner with him last night. They invited us, but I said no. For obvious reasons.
“That’s wonderful, honey,” Autumn says, hugging my neck. “I know that means a lot to you.”
I smile as I nod. “They are being supportive.”
“Good, that’s what they are supposed to do. No matter how much we want something different, we are to love our children, no matter what.”
Lucy grins. “She loves me more, though.”
I laugh as Autumn shakes her head. “I love you all the same.”
I love that each of her children thinks they are her favorite. It’s funny and sweet and speaks volumes of Autumn, too. She loves big, and I love her for it. Grinning at her, I say, “It’s okay, Autumn. It’s just us two. You can admit I’m your favorite daughter-in-law.”
She laughs before squeezing me tightly. “Of course, my love.”
Lucy laughs and shakes her head. “She told Baylor that last week, and I think Claire this morning.”
Smacking Lucy, Autumn laughs. “She’s a liar.”
That has us all laughing just as someone calls my name. Looking in the direction it’s coming from, I see my dad waving at me as they climb the many stairs to the top. It’s where Autumn and Lucy always sit, right under Jace’s banner.
“Hey!” I call, and I can’t believe I’m excited to see them. It’s odd, but also something I truly need. I want them in my life, I do, as long as they keep acting like this. It do
es worry me that I’m being too forgiving and dismissing the years I was ignored, but I’d hate to push them away when they really want to change things between us.
They reach us, and Autumn stands. I smile as I introduce them. She’s all smiles, hugging my mom and dad tightly before scooting over so they can sit down. We chat about their drive in from Nashville, where they have been staying, and then how great the campus is.
“Yes, all my boys went here. Lucy went to school online, but we love this school,” Autumn gushes with a grin. “They have been very successful going here. The coaching staff is awesome.”
“Yeah, I’m noticing that. Seth went to Wisconsin and Laurence is there now. Matty goes to Boston, obviously. We had heard of this school because of how great Coach Moore is, but it didn’t fit for our boys,” my mom says, but she isn’t being snotty. She’s being nice. “And I have to tell you, I’m very impressed with your son.”
Autumn’s eyes light up as she leans on her knees, grinning over at my mom. “Tell me more.”
My mom laughs along with all of us as she nods. “He is so polite, so sweet. I expected something entirely different when I came, but Jace is very mature for his age.”
Lucy scoffs at that and I laugh. “He is,” Autumn says with a nod. “That’s probably my fault, though. He had to grow up quick when I went through my divorce.”
“Ah, that can do it,” Mom agrees with a nod and I smile. They are getting along. It’s awesome and I can’t stop grinning. I’ve wanted this my whole life. For my parents to love me, and then to love the man I chose and his family. It’s just so great.
Letting out a long breath, my dad squeezes my shoulder. “It’s hard to trust someone with your child, but Jace really showed us we could in the last couple days. This could have gone a whole different way. She could be alone.”
“Jace wouldn’t have done that,” Lucy says, running her hands through her hair. “He’s been wrapped around her finger since the moment he met her.”
That has us all smiling as my dad gives me a sideways hug. Leaning into him, I crave his attention and I try to tell myself not to get attached, that this could all change once they leave. But then, why shouldn’t I enjoy it now? Kissing the top of my head, he says, “Can I talk to you?”
Looking up at him, I nod. “Sure.”
He stands then, looking back at Mom and Autumn. “You guys want anything from concessions?”
Hot chocolate is the consensus, and as we walk down and around the rink, Dad looks up at the clock. “We have about twenty minutes, right?”
The rink door opens and the boys start to warm up. “Yeah, maybe twenty-five.”
“Okay, cool,” he says, passing by the concession stand and leading me out into the lobby. Turning to me once we reach a quiet spot, he smiles. “I wanted to catch you alone, without Jace, to talk to you.”
Dread fills my gut, and damn it, I knew it was all too good to be true. “Okay?”
“So, you’re happy?”
I smile. “Yeah, Dad, I’m happy.”
“Okay, that’s what Jace said. And Avery, honey, he’s so confident, so sure about it all.”
“Yeah, he is.” My grin grows as my heart flutters. “He really is awesome, Dad.”
“You know, I didn’t want to like him. I wanted to hate him, especially with how much Matty hates him. But we all know that’s jealousy.”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Have you talked to him?”
“Matty? No.”
He nods, a pained look on his face. “Seth or Laurence?”
“No.”
Shaking his head, he sucks in a deep breath. “That needs to change. You guys are family.”
“I agree.”
He pulls in a breath through his nose. He looks back down at me. “Jace said something at dinner, something that has been bothering me for the last couple days.”
For some reason, that makes my heart race. Did he tell him about Matty being gay? “Yeah?”
“He said he knows the whole story about your…um…”
I wait, and when nothing comes, I shake my head. “Suicide attempt?” I supply and he cringes.
“I hate that word,” he breathes and then looks back at me. “Yes. That.”
“Okay?” I’m confused. What could have Jace told him?
“He told me I don’t know everything I should and that I should ask you.”
My eyes stay on his as I nod slowly. “Yeah, you don’t, but I don’t see what that matters now.”
“It does. Can you tell me, please?”
Holding his gaze, I feel my eyes start to water. When everything happened, no one asked me why. They only assumed it was because Caleb and I broke up. I never changed their minds because I didn’t want them to know I succumbed to the pressure of killing myself. I mean, I know they knew I was weak, but I felt like making the choice myself was more acceptable than being teased and bullied into doing it. I was young and stupid. What can I say? I regret it more than anything. But then, I don’t think I would be the person I am today if it hadn’t had happened.
Clearing my throat, I look up at my father and shrug. “Dad, you won’t like it.”
“I don’t like it anyway.”
Touché. Swallowing hard, I nod. “Okay.”
I can’t look at him as I tell him what happened. The whole thing. I don’t hold back, and I also don’t hold back that Matty was involved. Nothing. I let it all out and when I’m done, I take a deep breath and then look up to see him watching me. His eyes are so sad and so full of remorse as he clears his throat.
“You know, this all really shook me up, the pregnancy and the marriage. I mean, it came out of left field for me. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, like your mother and Matty implied.”
“I didn’t.”
He nods. “I know, and this jealousy Matty holds for you needs to end. You know, it really didn’t start until you and Caleb started dating.”
I nod, and I could tell him the last secret. Easily, right here, but I don’t see the point. I also don’t want to give Matty any more attention than he’s already stolen from me. “The jealousy needs to stop, and I plan to talk to him about that.”
Swallowing hard, I ask, “Really?”
He shakes his head. “You shouldn’t have to ask that, and it kills me that you do.”
I bite into my lip, and he continues to shake his head, swallowing hard. I realize he is holding back his tears. Looking down at me, my big brute of a father has tears in his eyes as he holds my gaze. “This has really made me open my eyes that I’ve allowed a lot of things to happen and not changed them. I’ve failed you, Avery, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wasn’t the father I shouldn’t have been. I can make excuses, blame work, blame your brothers running me ragged. But the truth is, I didn’t try hard enough. For that, I’m sorry, honey. And I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m going to earn it and I’m going to do my best to do better by you.”
Biting into my lip, I look down as the emotion takes over. I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear my father say those words, and now that I have them, I’m a little overwhelmed by them. My chest starts to hurt as my eyes fill with tears, and the panic that is filling me is unwanted. Why am I panicking? I wanted this. Sucking in a deep breath, I let it out slowly as I shake my head. I should be happy. Instead, I’m overwhelmed. I’m worried this could end, that he could keep failing me and—
Before I can think anymore, his arms are around me and he’s hugging me so tightly, I can’t breathe. “Shh, breathe, baby. It’s okay. I’m so sorry, Avery.”
Pulling in a breath, I let it out slowly and then suck it back in as I let go. I cry into his chest and my dad holds me, whispering that I’m okay, that he’s sorry, and everything will be fine. Rubbing my nose into his chest, I close my eyes as I cling to him, but I wish it were Jace. I know that’s horrible since my dad is trying, but I still crave Jace. Because while this man is my father, the man who was supposed to be my hero, he never w
as.
But Jace is.
And has been since the moment I met him.
As I hit the ice, I look up to see that Avery isn’t sitting with my mom, but her mom is there with Lucy. I wonder where she and her dad are. Looking away, I can’t help but worry. I know that’s silly since it’s her dad, but I just hope he is doing right by her. And he has for the last two days, but that’s because I’m there. I think that’s the reason. Maybe they really are trying. More her dad than her mom, but I can tell they want to make things better with their daughter. No matter how much Avery claims to be done with her family, I know she craves their love. I just hope they don’t let her down.
But if they do, I’ll be there.
I’ll always be there.
I look down the ice because I feel someone staring at me, and my gaze meets Avery’s brother’s. He’s glaring and I roll my eyes. “Got something to say, Haverbrooke?”
He laughs as he skates toward me, and I do the same, meeting him in the middle. “I’ve got nothing to say to you. You’re the one ruining your life.”
I smirk. “And how is that?”
I feel Markus watching me—hell, the whole team is watching. They all know he’s Avery’s brother and about my hatred for the dickhead. Shaking his head, Matty looks over at me, leaning on his stick. “She’s a fucking psycho, dude, and she’ll ruin your career. Watch.”
“Funny, I heard it was you who tries to ruin people when things don’t go your way.”
He eyes me and I know he knows I know the truth, yet he laughs as he says, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. She’s crazy, dude, really. I’m trying to help you out.”
“I don’t need your help, bro,” I say, my eyes burning into his. He looks so much like Avery, a male version. But unlike his sister, he’s the devil himself. Leaning in close, I say, “And from what Caleb Rutherford said, the only crazy person is you. I mean, really, dude? Your own sister? Who does that?”
