Page 49 of Fate on the Ice

It’s not Otto who loses his shit. In fact, he is cool as a cucumber. Instead, it’s my father. Rushing toward Otto, I watch as my father runs forward. He reaches out, grabs ahold of Hayze’s shirt, then I watch as he picks Hayze up off the floor.

Otto wraps his arm around me, tugging me against his side. I hold my breath as my father screams in Hayze’s face, and then I watch as he releases one of his hands from his shirt, rears back, and punches him.

Hayze’s eyes are so wide that I’m afraid they won’t ever be able to close again. Then he whimpers right before he falls to the floor. I stare at him, and then my gaze flicks to my father.

He is staring at Hayze on the floor crying, but I am focused on my father, who seems no worse for the wear. Pressing my lips together, I watch as he leans over, and then I hear him murmuring something that I can’t make out right before Hayze cries out.

The voice is obviously pained, and if I didn’t know how much of an asshole he was, I might feel sorry for him—but I don’t. Whatever my father threatens, whatever he’s done, Hayze deserves it.

“You don’t get the money. You don’t get the car. You don’t get shit. So, stand your ass up and drive away. I even think you’re back in Willow Creek, I’ll do a hell of a lot worse than what I’ve just done.”

I’ve never once seen my father stand up for me, but maybe this is more about him standing up for Otto than it is about me. That’s something I can understand. Otto’s arm flexes around me, and he tugs me a bit closer before he turns his head, and his lips touch the top of my head.

OTTO

Closing the car door, I dip my chin, and she gives me a smile. I turn my back to her, then move toward Coach. He is standing with his back to the motel, his gaze focused on the passenger in my car before his attention shifts to me.

“You were going to give him the keys to that car and five grand. Why?” he asks.

I almost laugh because the question is ridiculous. He should know exactly why I would do that—especially as her father. But I explain it anyway.

“I love her, Coach. I would do just about anything to keep her safe.”

He dips his chin in a single nod, then he shakes his head once. “I can honestly say that I’m not sure I would have done the same.”

“No matter what,” I say, “Grace didn’t deserve what he gave her.”

He curls his fingers around my shoulder before he squeezes me there and shakes me once. “You’re right. She didn’t. Maybe I’ve been too hard on her.”

I don’t want to tell him he’s been a shit dad. But he’s been a shit dad.

“I won’t say shit. I won’t stand in your way with her. I’m going to maybe try to get to know Grace a little bit better, but your relationship won’t affect ours.”

It’s all I needed to hear. I should probably still look for another team because I highly doubt that Coach will be able to separate my relationship with Grace from the rest of my life. She is going to be part of my world, and hockey is my world.

But all of that aside, I have six weeks before I have to worry about it. It’s rest and recovery for me, then, when I’m feeling well enough, the gym. My focus right now is to ensure that the woman in that car is taken care of, safe, and loved.

I think right now, safe and loved are the most important parts of that equation. And safety is not just physical but mental as well. I know her coming here means she had to have been desperate.

I don’t want that for her.

Desperation should never be the way of things.

“She’s not going anywhere, not if I have anything to say about it,” I state. “She’ll be at my place if you want to work on things.”

He studies me silently for a long moment. Then he dips his chin and takes one step, then another toward his car. He stops and turns his head to look over his shoulder at me before he speaks.

“You love her?” he asks.

“Yeah,” I murmur, my lips twitching slightly. “I do.”

He doesn’t say anything else. He shifts his head around and walks straight for his car without another word. I never imagined a parent being this distant from their child. My parents are amazing. I realize that now. I always knew they were good, but witnessing this scene, I understand how some parents cannot be so great.

My poor Grace has had a rough go of it. But I’m going to ensure that it never happens again. Not to her, not to our children. The generational curse ends now. I’ll make that vow my life’s duty.

Coach Burns leaves just as Forrest and Alexei pull into his vacated spot. Moving toward them, I hand Alexei Grace’s car keys.

“This goes back to our place,” I announce.

---