thirty
Evan
I need to pick up a few things from my parents’ house that I forgot the night before. Callie is going to pick me up from here once she’s done showering. She trained this morning, so I decided to drive my car back to my parents’ house so it wouldn’t be on campus during break. I know it’s safe there, but why leave it?
After I get the stuff that Owen had asked me to, a couple shirts and a face care set he left here when he came to check on me, I grab some of my own stuff that I wanted to take to South Carolina. After stuffing everything into my bag, I head toward the living room to wait. I don’t like being in my room that much, not with the constant reminders of how I’m no longer playing the sport I loved for so long.
When I reach the living room, I find my dad set up on the couch watching SportsCenter. He nods up at me as I drop my bag beside the couch and then throw myself onto it.
“Don’t let your mom see you do that,” he warns playfully, and I smirk at him as I check my phone.
“Since she’s not here, I’m good to Free Willy it onto the couch,” I joke. I said bye to my mom before she left for a meeting. She was sad I was going but glad I would be spending time with Owen. “As long as you don’t tell on me.”
He laughs. “Lips are sealed. Owen is leading in goals right now.”
I glance at the TV to see my brother scoring against the Bruins, and I nod before looking back at my phone when Callie texts to tell me she’s on the way. I send her the address once more, just to be sure she doesn’t get lost. “Not surprised. He said Dart has been feeding him some bangers.”
“Yeah, that kid has a wicked pass. Almost as good as yours.”
My jaw goes tight as I nod, unsure what to say to that. I set down my phone to look at my dad’s profile. I know my dad has aged; I can see it.
It takes a moment before he looks at me. “What?”
“You know I have no intention of going back,” I say, holding his gaze.
To my surprise, he nods. “I know.”
Um. Okay.
“I know you, Evan, better than you know yourself most of the time. You were done a long time ago but stuck with it for the wrong reasons. Now, though, you’re finally where you need to be.”
I swallow past the emotion that is suddenly suffocating me. “I thought you’d be mad.”
He shakes his head, still holding my gaze. “Never. I want nothing more in this world than for the people I love and care for to do what makes them happy.” My lips quirk a bit, and he sends me a grin. “Don’t stress,” he says, tapping the top of my head. “I love you.”
That simple. He loves me. “I love you too, Dad.” I keep looking at him, and he looks back. “You put a lot of time and money into me, though.”
“Yes, because I love you. I put time and money into all you kids.”
“I know, and they’re doing big things. I’m not.”
“But you are,” he corrects. “And I’m proud of you.”
I didn’t expect that, and I really need to stop doubting my choices. I am going to help people. That’s huge. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Always, son.”
He pats my head, and I ask, “Do you think Owen will be mad?”
He shrugs. “Probably at first, but he’ll get over it once he realizes how well you’re doing now.”
I try to swallow past the lump in my throat. “I don’t want to upset him.”
“If you do, oh well. You gotta do what’s best for you, Evan.”
His words play heavy on my heart as I watch him turn his attention back to the TV. He’s absolutely right and I know that, but still, I’m worried about telling Owen. Unable to deal with that, I decide I need to ask for something I should have asked for a long time ago.
“Do you think we can move our medals and stuff to your room? Like, make it one big Hall of Fame of Adlers?”
“Yeah, I’ll get that done,” he says easily, and again, I’m blown away by his support. Was it really this easy the whole time, but I didn’t express how I was feeling?
He looks thoughtful. “It’s funny how you move out and all of a sudden start doing better. Probably has a lot to do with the constant reminder of your retirement. Sorry I didn’t take everything out of there sooner.”
I wave him off. “It’s fine. But thank you.”
“No problem,” he says, clearing his throat. “Are you going to go to a game while you’re over there?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Callie asked me if I wanted to, but I don’t know yet.”
“I think you should. Might be nice, and there is no pressure since you’re going to cheer on your team.”
I know, but that also means being around Nico, and I don’t know how I feel about that. Callie has mentioned going to dinner and hanging out with them a few times, but I haven’t committed. I don’t want to be put in a position where my anger gets the best of me because Nico can’t control his own emotions. “It’s not that. I told you Nico doesn’t like me.”
Dad rolls his eyes. “I don’t know how to take that. Not liking Owen, sure, he’s a loudmouth, but how does someone not like you?”
“I’m dating his soon-to-be daughter.”
“So? Listen, I’m an overprotective dad. My girls were not supposed to be near a man, but here I am, a grandpa. It sucks knowing your daughters are being violated, but it’s a part of life.”
I snort. “Are they being violated if they want it?”
He glares. “Shut your mouth, boy.”
I laugh hard. “My bad.”
“I hope you have nothing but girls one day.” I can’t help but laugh harder, and he shakes his head. Once my laughter subsides, he adds, “Anyway, with the whole Nico shit, just tell him you aren’t going anywhere.”
I scoff. “That sounds way more confident than I am.”
Dad grins. “Do you plan on going anywhere? Because how I see it, you’re pretty damn smitten with her.”
I shrug. “I am. She’s great.”