“Okay, son. I respect that.”
That pulls me from my thoughts, and my face twists in confusion. “You do?”
“Yeah, I mean, I’m the one who hurt her. You’re being a good son, and I respect that.”
Am I being punked? I look up and even Avery is confused and in disbelief.
“Okay, thanks,” I croak out.
“All right, bud. Let me let you go. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Yeah, bye, Dad.”
“Bye, y’all.”
When I hit end on my phone, I turn to Avery. “I don’t know about that.”
Her brows are touching and her lip is curled. “Yeah, I mean, I don’t know him, but that seems kinda fishy.”
“Hmm.” I tuck my phone into my pocket. I don’t know what he is up to, but man, I’m so tired of worrying about what he is going to do. I just want this to be easy, I want to enjoy my year, get into the NHL, and live. Fuck, he drives me crazy, but I have to let that go.
Because nothing matters but celebrating with Avery.
“Fuck it. You almost done?”
She nods, reaching out and taking my hand, lacing her fingers with mine. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just don’t trust him.”
“Me either,” she says slowly. “I don’t trust my family either, and I have to spend three days with them starting Friday.”
I balk. “Ew, gross.”
“Exactly.”
“Do you think I’ll meet them?”
She shrugs. “Maybe one day.”
“Do you want me to meet them?” Why do I care? I don’t want to meet the people who hurt her.
“Do I want to show off my superhot, sexy, talented, amazing boyfriend to my family?” she asks with a grin. “Yeah, but I don’t think it would make me happy the way it should. They’ll find a way to ruin it, so maybe I’ll keep you all to myself.”
I grin, cupping her behind her neck and pulling her toward me. “That’s a good place to keep me.”
“I think so,” she says with a wink.
“I am hot, too. And talented. I think you did good there.”
She rolls her eyes. “It’s suffocating in here with your ego, you know?”
“Eh, hush. You love my ego.”
She blows a raspberry, but it’s only for a second before I press my lips to hers, my eyes falling shut as her kiss takes me to another world. One where there is no pain for either of us. Where we both come from happy homes with no drama at all. But when she pulls away, I’m ripped back into reality, staring into her turquoise eyes.
This reality, yeah, it can be tough, but it’s also pretty freaking great.
With her in it.