Page 107 of The Break Out

“Many times. Guess I did a good job protecting you from that,” he tries to joke, but I don’t laugh. “I gave him and our parents every opportunity to get help. Set it up, paid for it. Anything and everything. I thought that if they had access, they would just do it, but I was wrong. None of them wanted to, so even the couple times I managed to get them to go it wouldn’t stick.”

“I didn’t know that,” I say softly.

“You didn’t need to. You needed to focus on growing up.”

My shiny eyes meet his. “So did you.”

“You all were more important. And I wouldn’t change a thing, I love my life. I do wish Bryson and Bailey were around more, but this is their choice and one day I hope it changes.”

I jump off the couch and hug my brother again. We may havea fucked up past, and things may not be perfect, but I’m glad I still have him. No one’s life is perfect, but we’ve made the best out of our situation.

We break apart and I see the way he grimaces as he asks, “So, are you going to talk to Wheeler?”

“I have a plan, if he even wants me back,” I reply nervously.

“If he doesn’t, I’ll kick his ass again,” he smirks.

I roll my eyes. “Looks to me like you got a black eye, not a good look, hotshot.”

“You should see the other guy,” he jokes.

“If you messed up his face, I’m going to be pretty mad at you, it’s one of his best qualities. Well, that and his–”

“Stop talking.”

“I was going to say his hockey skills, you’re gross. I would never talk to you about his–”

“Brynn,” he snaps, and I cackle.

“Are we okay?” I ask.

“Always,” he answers easily. “But seriously, if he ever hurts you, I’m going to kill him.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I can handle myself and if he did then you wouldn’t even get the chance, he would already be six feet deep.”

“Thatta girl, shorty.”

“Now that this is all settled, where is your girlfriend and child, I’m sick of your face and want to look at something cute.” I look around for where they could be hiding since it seems like everyone ran away while we had our moment.

I try to distract myself for the day but can’t help thinking about my plan tomorrow when I’m finally going to see Colton again and how I hope I won’t regret it.

46

By some fucking miracle I’m not on suspension or anything. I have a feeling Collee sucked someone’s dick to get us off the hook, but we both have to attend this team mediation shit. The last thing I want to do is sit in a room with him and “work out our issues.” My issue is I’m in love with his sister, she wants nothing to do with me and he hates me.

End of story.

It’s like how it was when I first got traded when I showed up for the game. Keeping my headphones in, pump up music blasting as I change into my gear. Even when I’m forced to take them out, I avoid looking at Collee, not for any reason other than if I do I think I might beg him to talk to Brynn about taking me back.

And I’m not about to beg that fucker for anything. My lip re-split during our fight, I got another cut on my eyebrow along with a fat black eye. I’m sure people are going to wonder what happened to me once they see me out on the ice, but none of us are talking about it.

On the way out onto the ice I’m tempted to ask Mann or Colver if Brynn is here because I’m sure they would know and there’s not a chance in hell I’m going to ask Collee, Dumont, or McQuaid.

I decide against it by the time my skates hit the ice. If I know she’s here I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself from leaving the game to run up and see her. And if she’s not it’ll fuck with my head too much.

After warmups, we head back into the locker room and my eyes catch on Collee for a second where I catch the shiner I gave him. I didn’t think any of my punches actually landed, but I guess one did.

I expect him to go off on me again, but he doesn’t. He doesn’t exactly smile either, but he also doesn’t look like he wants to tear my limbs off anymore.

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