Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
“Oh my God,” Bex says with tears streaming down her face. “What the fuck did he just do?”
Drake’s dad shakes his head and lets out a deep breath. “He just killed his career,” he growls, his voice so deep and scary it sends a chill down my spine.
Chapter 18
Drake
After the game, I take a shower and find my dad waiting for me outside the locker room. He’s leaning against the wall, his thick arms crossed over his chest. Even at his age, he’s still in game-ready shape.
“Drake,” he says, raising his hand to beckon me with his finger. I rush over to him, and he slaps me hard on the back, then he pulls me into a hug that could crack a rib. “Good game, buddy.” He sighs, holding me for what feels like a long time before he releases me from his death grip.
“Everything okay, Dad?”
He sighs again. “Yeah, just wanted to check on you. After what Preston did…” His voice trails off as he shakes his head in disappointment. “His career is over. Alex will have to pull a lot of strings to get anyone to look at him after that stunt he pulled. What was the fight about? It looked personal.”
“Preston said he kept getting in his face, so he laid his ass out.”
“My name might go a long way, but it won’t dig you out of a hole that size. Promise me you won’t make the same mistake as Preston. We have too much riding on your future.”
My entire life has been a series of events leading up to a professional hockey career. I’ve never planned for another future. Hockey is it for me, plain and simple.
“I wouldn’t think of it,” I admit.
“I’m proud of you.” He pins me down with his intense gaze. “You looked good out there. The Senators won because of your last save.”
I roll my shoulders. “We did it as a team.”
The corners of his mouth stretch into a wide grin.
He wouldn’t be happy with me if he knew the shit I’ve done over the last few years at school. Getting called out by The Queen for dick pics wasn’t my finest moment. Almost losing Taylor over it—that was an all-time low. The thought of disappointing my dad hits me like a punch to the gut. My dad’s here because he worries about me. Seeing Preston throw his career down the drain must have kicked his parental fear into top gear.
He cups my shoulder with his big hand and squeezes hard. “If you need to talk about what happened tonight, you know you can come to me, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, I know.”
“Your mom really likes Taylor. So does Chloe. She invited her to the house for Easter dinner.” He drops his hand to his side. “She seems like a nice girl. So does her friend. From what I overheard of their conversation, Bex is the reason Preston started that fight. Don’t let women interfere with your career.”
“My game has improved since I met her.”
“You’re still in the honeymoon period with her. Once real life kicks in, all of that will change.”
“It didn’t for you and mom,” I challenge.
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and shrugs. “Your mom is different. She turned my life around.”
“Taylor has done the same thing for me,” I confess.
“Do you love her?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“Love makes you do stupid things. Look at what Preston just did for Bex.”
“How do you know it was for her? Lehane is a dick. He’s always been an asshole to Preston because he’s the best in the league.”
“Was the best,” my dad growls. “And I know what I heard. So did your mother and Chloe. That fight was over Bex. Just ask Preston.”
Confused, I cock an eyebrow at him.
Now, it all makes sense. Preston would do anything for Bex. Every time he was on the ice with Lehane, the two were going at it. But what does Bex have to do with Lehane?
Does she know him?
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m not planning to start any fights over Taylor.”
She wouldn’t need me to defend her, anyway. My girl can kick some serious ass. She’s better trained than every guy on my team put together.
“We better get over to the hospital and see how Preston’s doing,” he says.
While the rest of us stayed behind to shower, the team doctor drove Preston to the closest hospital. His hand looked broken, covered in blood and a bone popping out of the side.
“I’m gonna ride over with the team. I’ll meet you guys there.”
My dad hugs me again, this time harder than the last before he takes a step back from me. “I miss having you around the house. There’s too much estrogen with your mom and Chloe. I want you to come by sometime this week to hang out.”