Page 56 of One More Time

“Hunter, you’re not going to work with that man. You’ve never wanted to. Your dream is the NHL—to fund your own life and play hockey.”

I sighed, contemplating my response just as I spotted my father at the end of the hall. His expression said it all, and a condescending touch of his watch was his signal that my time was up.

“Look, Kins, you’ve caught me at a bad time. I’ll call you later.”

She began to protest, but I quickly hung up and turned my phone off. A small part of me was already working up excuses in the back of my mind, fully aware that Kinsley would demand real answers—answers I wasn’t ready to provide.

Returning to my father, I couldn’t shake the disapproving look in his eyes.

“Go mingle, make us look good. Then you’re to come back with me to the house.”

I sighed and nodded, swallowing the dread that the latter half of that sentence brought up.

Chapter twenty-nine

Hunter

“Igave you what you wanted, didn’t I?” I braced myself and took the blow that was sent my way.

“Yes, sir.”

“Why wasn’t it good enough? I’ve given you everything you could ever want and you still fall out of line.”

I had no clue what I’d done wrong this time. Sometimes, I never did. Nothing I did would ever please him. I did wonder what would happen if I crept a little closer to that metaphorical line he was talking about. Would he stop hitting me?

But stepping onto the ice made me feel like myself. Tyler made me feel more like myself. I’d tried being with women and outside of Kinsley, no one stuck. I couldn’t see a future with any of them. Ha, some future I pictured for myself.

Yes, I found women attractive, but the only time I’d been in anything resembling a relationship was with a man. Yet another thing my father didn’t approve of. Could I give up being with men?

I suppose I could, but Tyler’s words echoed in my head. It didn’t matter that I was attracted to both men and women; what mattered was who I fell in love with, and that happened to be a man. I knew then I couldn’t give up Tyler Riley.

Fear embedded itself deep into my body, deeper than the bruises he pounded into my skin. I was afraid of what he would do if he found out I was sleeping with a man. I didn’t want Tyler involved in my mess—he had enough on his plate. Could I add my father to that mix? But could I bring myself to walk away? My heart tugged me in one direction while my head pulled in another. I would stand next to Tyler no matter what, I’d help him weather any storm. But what if I was the storm? I could be the one to destroy everything.

My father swung again, this time knocking me to the ground. “Hunter Domonic Graves, are you listening to me?”

What was there to say? Sorry for not being the son he wanted, sorry for the rules I couldn’t seem to follow despite how many times he tried to beat me into submission. But that’s what I said in the end—sorry. I groveled like a pathetic loser.

My “reward” was him walking away. I was free to go.

Hey, I’m exhausted. I’m just going to crash in my room. I’ll see you at tomorrow’s game. Hope you’re okay.

Aussie: ‘M fine but something tells me you’re not.

Why wouldn’t I be? Just studied too hard. See you tomorrow.

Aussie: Fine, g’nite.

Chapter thirty

Tyler

Ithrew my phone across the room, sending it clattering onto my desk as a stack of textbooks fell to the ground.

Hunter and I weren’t officially an item. I wasn’t ready to come out so we hadn’t had the “boyfriend” talk.

Damn it! In light of my situation, I wasn’t in the right mindset to be thinking about calling Hunter Graves my boyfriend.

However, if we weren’t on the same page, I at least thought we were reading the same book. I thought he wanted to be around me as much as possible. He claimed he was there for me. He listened to my thoughts, he held me while I cried.

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