Page 90 of Hate to Love You

Nerves hum along my skin, but Brody seems unfazed by it. “Okay.” I get the feeling that it’s John’s way or the highway.

Amber regales the table with stories about Haley and what a little devil she’s turning out to be as she slams headfirst into the terrible twos. Brody slips his hand around mine under the table. When I sneak a peek at him, he winks and smiles. I don’t know why that simple gesture is able to dissolve the building tension in me, but it does.

I jump as a loud wail pierces the quietness of the sunroom.

“It appears that our little ray of sunshine has woken from her nap.” Amber rises smoothly from her chair and glances at me. “If you’re finished eating, Natalie, you’re welcome to join me upstairs. Hailey likes to play in her room for about ten or fifteen minutes before coming downstairs.”

“Thank you, I’d like that.” I try to keep the relief from my voice. I don’t want to offend Brody’s dad, but I’m grateful for the chance to escape his intimidating presence. Even though he hasn’t necessarily been staring, I feel like he’s been watching us closely. Brody holding my hand beneath the table has not evaded his notice.

I give Brody a small smile and follow Amber out of the sunroom. I don’t realize just how stifling the room has grown until I leave it behind.

“We’ll be back in about fifteen minutes,” Amber says.

“Take your time,” is John’s response.

When I glance over my shoulder, I catch Brody’s eyes and blow him a little kiss. He grins as I turn the corner.

I’m happy that he brought me here, but I’ll be equally glad when we leave.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Brody

As Amber and Natalie climb the staircase to the second floor, Dad clears his throat and says, “She’s a lovely girl.”

Something sours in my gut, and I almost laugh. “But?”

Because there is most definitely a but coming.

He sighs and sets his fork on his plate. “Buuut,” he says, drawing out the word. “You have enough going on without getting wrapped up in a girl. This is your last season before moving to the pros. Your focus needs to be on hockey and school, not getting into the pants of some pretty girl.”

Maybe I was naïve, but I’d hoped that once Dad met Natalie, he would understand that she’s not some puck bunny I spent Saturday night with. Natalie is different. She’s smart, gorgeous, amazing. She has her shit together. And for some odd reason, she wants me.

Unfortunately, I now see I made a mistake. Dad isn’t interested in getting to know the girl I’m falling for.

He’s concerned she’ll get in the way.

Annoyed with the way he’s starting out this conversation, I say, “Natalie isn’t a distraction. If anything, she’s helping me with the classes I’m having trouble with.” I shift on my chair and quietly admit, “I told her about the dyslexia. She’s making copies of the notes she takes in class—”

“Your professors already do that, don’t they?” He doesn’t look impressed.

“Yeah, but hers are more detailed. She’s made notecards for me to study from and has researched other methods that can help me.”

Does he have the slightest fucking clue what that means to me?

I don’t make a habit of discussing my learning issues with anyone. I hide it like a dirty little secret. Natalie is the first person I’ve been completely open with. Not even Sawyer, Luke, or Cooper know, and they’re my closest friends.

He disregards my words, shrugging them off. “You can hire tutors for that. Hell, you can even fuck them if you want.” His voice hardens. “What you don’t do is get emotionally attached to them.” He shakes his head like I’m a child who refuses to see reason. “Now isn’t the time. There’s too much at stake to risk fucking it up.”

I crush the paper napkin in my hand until it’s nothing more than a tight ball.

Dad and I rarely butt heads. After Mom died and before Amber came into the picture, it was just the two of us. His life revolved around me. I realize that he has my best interests at heart, but still…I want him to give Natalie a fair shot. I want him to see just how good she is for me.

I sit back on my chair. “Look, I didn’t plan for this to happen, but it did. Natalie is important to me. I won’t let her go. I can handle everything, it won’t be a problem.”

Changing tactics, he says, “I spoke with Lang the other day.”

Aw, hell. I know what’s coming. My father has always been two steps ahead of me.

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