Maxim (Carolina Reapers 10)

“Damn. Didn’t know it was like that.” David had the grace to look ashamed, shoving his hands into his pockets. His frame was lean now, fit, but no longer packed with the heavy muscle he’d built up over the years on the rink.

“He’s a good guy, and it’s not his fault that Dad couldn’t keep it in his pants,” I rushed as Mila came closer, Mom and Dad hanging back slightly, clearly having words.

“What’s he really like?” David asked, but I didn’t have time to reply as Mila reached us.

“They’re already arguing about some autograph that Dad just signed on a blonde’s boobs,” she muttered, glaring up at me like I’d been the one signing some fan’s tits.

“What?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest.

“You know what,” she hissed, narrowing her eyes at me. “This is the first time I’ve seen you since I came home—”

“And you know where I live,” I fired back.

“And you know who I live with!” she spat, fire in her eyes. “How could you, Max? How could you hurt her like that?”

“What the hell am I missing here?” David glanced between the two of us.

“I hurt her?” I gripped my keys, pain biting into the palm of my hand. “In case you missed it, Mila, she walked out on me.”

“Can you blame her? You didn’t exactly give her a reason to stay!” She poked me in the chest with surprising strength given her miniscule height.

“News flash, sis, she wasn’t looking for a reason to stay, otherwise she would have fought for it—for us! Instead, she took the first obvious, easy exit. If you’re looking for someone to blame, then take your ass home and—”

“She loves you!”

“What the fuck is going on?” David stepped between us, gently pushing me out of Mila’s range.

“Nothing!”

“He fucked my best friend!”

We answered simultaneously.

David’s head swung like a pendulum, looking at Mila in shock before turning those raised eyebrows my direction. “You slept with Evie?”

“It’s a long story.” I rubbed my hand over my face.

“How is you fucked my best friend a long story?” Mila countered. “I left her with you to go to Italy, and I came home to a crying mess of a friend. You broke her heart!”

“Maybe she broke mine!” I shouted.

Mila fell silent, her jaw dropping a good inch.

“Damn,” David muttered, stepping back.

“Just because I don’t choose to run to your house and beg her to come back doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt every time I try to fucking breathe, Mila. You’re only getting one side of the story.”

“Because you’re not telling me yours,” she said softly.

“Why the fuck would I?” My tone was softer than my words. “Knowing that’s your best friend? I have Jansen, and Caz, and hell, all of the Reapers if I need someone, Mila. Evie only has you.” I let out a bitter, hurt laugh. “Because she sure as fuck doesn’t want me, does she?”

Mila’s mouth opened to answer, but Dad pushed David aside, sending him staggering backward.

“What was that bullshit in the third?” Dad got into my face.

“Sergei!” Mom shouted, her heels clicking on the pavement as she hurried our direction.

“Stay out of it!” he shouted without even looking in her direction.

The footsteps stopped.

“In case you missed it, Dad, we won.” I stepped to the side.

He followed. “And you almost didn’t! You gave up and let him right by you. Where is your fight? Your drive? I raised you better than this! How can you be content with mediocrity?”

I glanced at David and he got the message, putting himself between Dad and Mila, slowly rotating them both so Mom was behind him, too. If I lost my temper here, there were others who would pay for my words, and we all knew it. “I’m not sure which play you’re talking about, Dad.”

His face grew red under the lamplight. “Four minutes and twenty-eight seconds in, you let that forward right by you. You just…gave up and headed for the bench.”

“It was a line change, Dad,” I said softly, leashing my rage the best I could. “The defenders were still on the ice and Sterling made a spectacular save.”

“Which he wouldn’t have had the chance to do if you had done your fucking job and stopped the puck!” he roared, taking another step and putting his face directly in front of mine.

“Dad—” David started.

“Your advice isn’t needed, quitter.” Dad flung a finger toward David.

“Damn, Dad. His ACL tore. What the hell did you want him to do?” Coming after me was one thing, but going for David was entirely another. “The doctors told him he couldn’t play anymore.”

“Which left me with you.” Dad glared at me. “And you’re blowing it, all because you’re distracted over a piece of ass?”

Mila gasped and sidestepped, but David matched her movement, keeping her protected.

“Evie isn’t a piece of ass. I’m not distracted, I’m…” Destroyed. Ruined. Broken. But he would only see those words for the weaknesses they were. “Working on it. I’ll do better watching the line changes during game two. Now would you please take Mom home? You know she hates when people stare.” And considering that my team was making its way out, there were definitely stares in our direction.