Page 105 of The Break Out

“You fucking hurt her; I’m going to kill you.” He punches me again and that time I think blood sprays onto the ice.

There’s chaos going on around us with the rest of our team and coaches as they try to get us to stop, but Collee isn’t letting up, and I don’t want him to.

“Don’t worry, she loves everything I do to her,” I smile a bloody smile at him right as another punch rattles my brain.

A loud whistle echoes all around us, but we don’t stop. I try to land another hit on him, I feel my fist connect with his jaw, but not as hard as I intended. We’re finally pulled apart by our teammates. I don’t even fight them, but with Dumont andMcQuaid holding Collee back I can see him struggle to try and come at me again.

“I fucking knew you couldn’t help yourself. You’re a piece of shit and have been since you stepped foot in this city. You wanted to piss everyone off and only make enemies. Is that why Brynn has been so fucking depressed? Because you took advantage of her and then left her? Congratulations, how does it fucking feel to be the shittiest person possible?” He doesn’t let up and his words feel worse than his punches.

Thinking about Brynn being depressed and in pain is a different type of hit. This one feels more like a stab right in the gut. So does his accusation that I’m the reason for it.

“Fuck you, Collee, she ended it with me. I would never fucking hurt her, but I know you want to make me out to be the enemy so go ahead. Fight me some more. Do whatever the fuck you want because without her I don’t give a shit anymore.” I shake off Mann and Jones holding me back.

“Wheeler, Collee, get the fuck into the locker room!” Coach screams and I’m already skating that direction anyway.

As I pass him, I can’t help but try to put the final nail in my own coffin. “Might as well call the GM to get rid of me now.”

Despite the physical pain in my face and the blood in my mouth I spit out, all I can think about is Brynn feeling half as shitty as I have since I left. And I don’t care about what might be about to happen with my career, my team, anything. I just want to somehow know that she’s okay.

But I worry that seeing me will only make it worse and the best thing for me is to leave.

45

Chandler let me know when the guys were supposed to leave practice today so I can come over and talk to Brent. I’m obviously not about to tell him everything, but I am planning on telling him that I don’t want him to be mad about my relationship with Colton. If he will even want me back.

My hands twist together in front of me as I approach the front door. My knock is weak, and I debate turning around and leaving because as confident as I’ve been about this plan, every second makes me more nervous.

When the door swings open, I expect to see Chandler, but it’s Brent and he has the start of a black eye forming. “What happened to you?”

His jaw ticks before he answers. “Courtesy of your boyfriend.”

My–Oh shit.He knows.

“How–”

“Why the fuck did you not tell me?” he snaps, stepping outside and shutting the door behind him. I’ve seen Brent in a lot of ways. Rarely it’s anger and when it has been, it’s never been directed at me. Not until right now.

I can’t help but go on the defense, though I have so many questions, starting with why did Colton punch my brother.

“Probably because I knew you’d be mad. Which is clearly the case.” I put my hands on my hips.

“I thought you were smarter than this, Brynn, seriously. I’ve had good teammates that asked about dating you, but you choose him?”

“I’ve never wanted to date any of your stupid teammates. Not like you would’ve been okay with it no matter what.”

“I did everything for you so you could have a better life than the one we were born into, and you get caught up with a guy like that? I mean seriously, Brynn, what the fuck?” Every word he says has me tempted to punch him too, and I’ve never felt this way toward him. I don’t like being scolded like I’m a child.

“My relationship has nothing to do with how we were forced to grow up, Brent, that’s stupid.You’rebeing fucking stupid.”

“Oh, so it is a relationship?” he scoffs.

“It–I–why does it matter? It doesn’t seem to make a difference to you no matter what. You just want to stand here and talk to me like I’m a fucking kid.” I may be yelling like one at this point, but I don’t care.

“It matters because I wanted better for you. I still want better for you. I gave you everything. All of you,” he yells back, I know referring to our siblings.

I’ve reached my breaking point when he mentions them. Letting out a humorless laugh I reply, “You always tried to take care of all of us, but we didn’t need you! We survived and we all got out, but the damage was done, Brent. Look at all of us. Brandon is dead, Bryson barely talks to us, and Bailey has disowned us.”

I should stop, I know I’m driving the knife in deeper, but I can’t help it. I'm too pissed off, so I continue. “You wanted to protect everyone, but how did that work out? You can’t control everything and everyone. I’m an adult and I’m with Colton. I don’t care that you don’t like it, if you want, I’ll just join our other living siblings and not talk to you anymore. Is that what you want?”

---