Page 29 of Back On Ice

“I did, but now I think… part of me wants to make sure we stay close to home.”

A beat of silence, followed by a low chuckle. “It’s Sophie, isn’t it?”

How the hell does he figure that? I mean, he’s right, but I’m mildly disconcerted that he can read me so easily.

“Yeah, it is.”

“Is she talking to you? After the way things ended between you both?”

“Kind of. Mostly yelling, which I definitely deserve. I may have burned that bridge, but fuck, man… she’s still just fuckingeverything.”

“Seems kinda risky planning your hockey career around a girl who sort of hates you.”

Yeah, but so fucking worth it.

We chat a bit more before we hang up and I wander to my childhood bedroom. This time, the visions of Sophie that assault me are accompanied by a bitter edge. The memory of what happened when my dad forced me to leave her behind.

“We need to talk, Carter.” Dad’s voice is harsh and his knuckles turn white from his grip on the steering wheel as he drives me away from the only home I’ve ever known.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, my gut sinking. What more could he possibly do?

“Starting now, I’m going to be managing your career. I’ll be your agent.” His tone has that no-nonsense, what-I-say-is-final quality to it, so I’m silent as he continues. “Youcannotblow this, son. Your success is my success. I’ve gotten an apartment close to campus to live in while you’re in school.”

“What? No, Dad, I don’t need an agent, I’m doing fine on my own?—”

“Listen here, Carter. You really don’t want to argue with me. If you don’t accept the fact that I’ll be living nearby and overseeing your success, I’ll move back home and make sure your mother pays the price for every day I have to live with her instead.”

Shit. He’s been keeping a tighter leash on his temper in front of me lately, but I’ve seen the bruises.The ones she’d hastily pull her sleeves down to hide. What could he do if I’m not there?

“What about Sophie? I can’t just leave her behind!” I won’t let him see the tears that sting my eyes. Crying is weakness in his eyes, and I don’t need to give him more ammunition against me.

“That girl is nothing but a distraction. You willnotcontact her. If you do, I’ll make sure that disgusting little flowershop her parents own is ruined. I’ll make sure every college acceptance she gets is revoked, and she’ll never work anywhere in our town.” He takes his eyes off the road for a moment to level me with a glare. “Do. Not. Test. Me.”

I don’t dare say another word. Fighting him on this will just make him double down and come up with more creative ways to ruin Sophie’s life. I don’t doubt he can do exactly as he’s threatened, he has so many connections I’m sure it would only take a handful of phone calls to achieve the total destruction of the Hartwell name.

I’ll have to find a way to get in contact with her without him knowing.

“Yes, sir.” My voice is quiet. Defeated. I don’t say much of anything for the rest of the drive, but that doesn’t bother Dad one bit. He talks of his plans and how much money I’m going to make him, and how he’ll be set for the rest of his life.

What the hell am I going to do? If I tell Sophie everything that’s going on, she’ll try to help. If she does that, Dad will ruin everything for her and her family. I don’t want to leave her… but what if that’s the only way to keep her safe?

Leaving was never part of the plan, but I was a stupid kid who had thought just disappearing from her life would hurt less than telling her we couldn’t be together. What a stupid thought. It’s clear to me now more than ever that ghosting her was just as big of a mistake as not telling her the truth of why I was leaving.

“Are you ready, sweetie?” Mom’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I see her leaning against my doorway, smiling softly.

I am ready.

Ready to help her erase every memory of Dad from this place that she can.

Ready to do the same for myself—to fix all the things he’s ruined. I may not have my own house to remodel, but Dadleft plenty of invisible scars the day he kidnapped me to Notre Dame.

Sophie’s had enough time to cool down. I’m going to repair what Dad broke, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure Sophie getsmyside of the story.

Chapter Thirteen

SOPHIE

Saturdays are always my favorite.

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