Page 107 of Unsteady

“If you need anything—”

“We don’t,” I cut him off. “I mean; I have a lawyer. I have the custody papers and everything. I’m just in a waiting period.”

I have the trial date set for January, and my lawyer hopes we can convince my dad to sign away his rights instead. Then, all I’ll need to prove is that I can provide for them and house them—take care of them.

He smiles again, and it’s so perfect it looks like a mask. “Alright.”

Mrs. Koteskiy surprises them with school jerseys, Liam is swimming in his, but they’re happy as I leave them with the two very well put together adults.

“Do you think she hates me?” I ask, following Rora to our seats a few rows above the glass close to the goal.

Aurora gentles me with a shoulder shove, but her face is open and bright. “Don’t be ridiculous. All that woman wants to do is scoop youallup and take you home in her pocket.”

“She thinks I can’t take care of them—”

“No. She thinks the same thing wealldo. That you shouldn’t have to.” She stops for a moment, setting a hand on my shoulder and playing with the end of my braid.

“Bothof your parents are still alive, and you’re a talented figure skater and smart girl who spends the majority of her time balancing three jobs, keeping her brothers fed and on a schedule and in your dorm. You haven’t done something for just you since Liam showed up.”

She’s right. I hate how much she’s right.

“Well, except for Rhys. That was definitely for you. And you deserve it; you deserve him.”

I blush again, settling into our spot and watching as the teams come out for warmups. We’re on the home ice side, so Bennett leads, settling his water bottle on the net and heading to a corner to stretch.

The boys look like they're running on ice, something I’ve always thought looks powerful but choppy. And annoying, considering the state it leaves the ice in when I have to skate behind them.

I spot him easily, his hair flowing from the breeze by how quickly he skates. He makes a loop with Matt Fredderic on his heels before they come to a stop and start a little stretch routine as some of the other guys start dribbling and taking practice shots at an empty net.

Then, as they line up to take shots on Bennett in the goal, he spots me and smiles. He elbows Freddy, who glints up at us with a big grin and winks. After they take their next shot, they make their way over to our side of the glass.

A girl seated in front of us goes bug-eyed at their approach, squealing about how hot they are to her friend and it makes me smile, albeit a bit smugly.

But then, Freddy taps on the glass above them, completely directed at Rora who glitters under his attention, before making some ridiculous face at him that has Freddy laughing loud enough to hear through the plexiglass.

Rhys only smiles at me and waves—which I happily do back.

“Get it together, son,” an older gentleman to our right yells towards Rhys. “Don’t let that Kane fucker get in your head. Eye on the prize.”

I can see the way Rhys ignores him, but Iknowhe can hear it.

My hackles are raised, ready to bite the guy’s head off no matter how good his intentions are, but then another asshole a few seats past Aurora and down at the glass—decked in Boston College maroon—starts shouting at the pair.

“Hey, look at that. Their little captain managed to get himself back on the ice,” he yells. “How many hits does it take for you to toughen up, pussy?”

“Let’s see you take one, asshole,” I snap, whirling towards them so hard one of my braids slaps me in the mouth.

The boys around him make a collective “ooo”as if they’re watching a 2000s rap battle begin.

My eyes flicker back to Rhys, who seems like he’s torn between a swell of pride and wanting me to stop engaging with them. I shoot him a quick wink to show I’m fine, but cross my arms and meet the smirk of the heckler with one of my own.

“Is that your boyfriend, huh? Poor girl seems upset,” he says, walking up the steps and scooting past the empty set of seats to lean over a seated Aurora and whisper. “Does the brain damage hurt his ability to fuck? I’ll volunteer if you need—”

I knee him in the balls, swift and hard, and then watch with a satisfied smile as he trips over Rora’s feet and falls on his ass. He stands and ambles back down, embarrassed.

Rhys taps on the glass with his glove, waiting until the guy stares him down. My boyfriend is smiling, his eyes dark. “Look at her again, see what happens.” The threat is clear, menacing despite the dimpled fake smile stretching his cheeks. He smacks the glass hard with the end of his stick, making the guy jump back as a roar of laughter echoes around them.

I catch his eye again before he leaves the ice, getting a little wink from him that fills every empty piece of my soul.

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