Page 149 of Puck Prince

“No, but you should’ve!” I snap. “That’s the problem. You don’t ask for help even when you need it, which is why I’m fucking worried!”

There’s a beat of silence before she sighs. “I didn’t even want to say anything. I knew this is how you’d react.”

“Appropriately, you mean?”

“No, by being dramatic.” I can hear Nicky babbling in the background, which is oddly comforting. He’s okay.They are okay. “The only reason I told you is because I know about the three security guards you paid off to spy on me. They would’ve told you if I didn’t.”

“I did not hire three security guards.”

I hired four. They work in shifts.

She snorts. “This apartment complex is nice, but there’s no way in hell I pay enough in fees for them to afford a door man or security who park their black Escalades in front of the main office.”

I don’t say anything, and she goes on.

“Whatever. Either way, it was a false alarm.”

I pace back and forth in front of my locker. “A false alarm would be a rumor that someone tried to break in, but someone actually tried, Summer. This was real. What if they try again? Guys like this—they don’t stop”

“Guys like what, Owen?”

She is really, really grinding on every last nerve I have right now.

Lance pops his head into the locker room. “You coming, O?”

“Just…give me a second.” He frowns, and I cover the mouthpiece. “Emergency. You lead practice.”

He gives me a thumbs up, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Guys like our dads. Guys like the unbroken chain of assholes Mom dated. I know you weren’t around for most of it, but I was. I saw every one of them. Some of them left on their own, but a few of them, she had to kick to the curb. And if they weren’t ready to leave, they came back. They followed her. They stalked her, Summer. And when they finally got back in, it was bad.”

Filed away in the back of my mind is a memory I don’t open. Not when I can help it.

I can still hear the banging on the back door. The sound of the wood cracking under the force.

Drunken slurs, my mom crying, shattered glass.

“Owen…” Summer’s voice softens on my name. “I get what you’re saying, but this isn’t like that. I haven’t heard from my ex in a while. I don’t think this has anything to do with him.”

“And I don’t believe in coincidences. You can’t underestimate him.”

“I don’t.I won’t. I know you think my apple didn’t fall far from Mom’s tree, but I’m not her. I haven’t even wanted to date since Nicky was born. Taking care of him is all that matters to me. So, please, stop worrying.”

I don’t respond.

“Please?” She begs, and I can hear Nicky getting fussy in the background.

“I’ll stop worrying when I know who he is,” I finally say. “When I can stop him myself.”

“Goodbye, Owen.” Summer hangs up.

She might be pissed for a while, but at least she’ll be safe. I’m going to find out who he is and make sure he never bothers her again. I won’t stop until I do.

I grab my helmet and gloves and am heading for the door when Miles walks in.

“I know, I know.” I wave him back towards the hallway. “I’m coming back.”

He stops in the doorway, though. “Actually, I came to talk to you about something.”

“If this is about Dax, I’m working on it. That kid will learn to pass if I have to?—”

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