Page 31 of Puck It!

"No." My father snarls at me and I give it back, I’m fucking pissed.

Lisa looks over at me with her words, "Of course you will defend her, she rode your fucking lap."

"And you haven’t ridden my father’s? Or Jack’s?"

"Jaxson that is enough!" My father using my full name, thinking he is going to get me to stop, but I won’t, not until this shit stops.

"That’s not the same Jax, how would you feel if you had a daughter, and she was on stage, half naked, practically fucking a man in a lap dance? How would that make you feel Jax?; That’s MY fucking daughter."

"Who is a grown woman." I growl, "You only saw the ending, you didn’t see a damn thing that came before that, did you? The talent, the humor, and damn, how happy she was."

"I did." She says it so casually, it makes me sick.

"Then why are you holding it against her? I seriously want to know the answer to this."

"It’s not what I want for her."

"Jax I see both sides here." My father decides to finally voice his opinion on this shit, "As a parent I see why Lisa is worried, but, as a coach and someone who knows talent when I see it, I see Macie’s side too."

"I get that, I do, I didn’t like it at first either, but don’t you think it’s time Macie gets to be happy. Do what she wants without everyone hating her, judging her?"

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pray like hell it’s the call I’ve been waiting for, and when I pull my phone out, my chest tightens.

"I have to take this." I say as I stare at my phone, seeing the number, the call.

"Is that-"

"Yeah." Not needing him to finish his question, I know what it is. Walking away to take this call alone in case it doesn’t go the way I want.

I’m praying it does. Macie won’t wait forever.

Paul

This is exactly why I’m happy I had one kid, and it wasn’t a girl.

I see Lisa’s side, I do, but I see the talent in Macie. I’m trying to stay out of it as much as I can but of course Jax has to start acting like the wild man he can be, which is getting me involved.

Lisa only feels Macie has thrown a talent away she truly didn’t want to give up. Deep down, I think Macie still wants to skate, but she’s made herself clear she doesn’t want it.

This is why Jack could handle Macie better than anyone. Macie sets her mind to something, and she will not break. Jack used to tell me all the time about her sassy shit. But he managed it.

I just hope that call was the call Jax has been working for, and I hope all this shit doesn’t fuck him up.

Macie

Managing to pull my shit together, I sit on the rock ledge, at my spot, dangling my feet as I look out.

I won’t let my mother ruin anything else for me. Whether she likes it or not, I’m an adult now. She can’t hold me under her wing forever, and I’m leaving.

I hear the sound of a motorcycle coming down the road, and I already know it’s probably Jax. I shouldn’t have left like I did, especially after he defended me. It felt damn good to have someone in my corner, and in a way, I think Paul is too.

Getting my mother to understand there is a whole different story is almost impossible. I understand it’s probably not what a mother wants for their daughter to be doing on stage. But, again last night was a little extreme, bad me. What I really want, is so much more, I just have to get there. All of this is practice, giving me more experience, keeping me on my feet, for what I really want.

The bike gets louder as it gets closer, until I hear the sound of the bike slow, knowing for sure it’s Jax. He is the only person I’ve brought here or told.

The sound of the bike disappears, with a few moments of quiet again, before I hear the sound of a stick crack, and I turn, looking up at Jax walking towards me.

"Knew I’d find you here."

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