Page 69 of That's Too Pucking Bad

“Yeah,” I say plainly. “I think I can. Everyone has a price.”

He stares, obviously offended, but there’s a glimmer in his eye that says he’s at least listening. I keep going.

“Two hundred fifty thousand,” I say, voice low but direct. “Enough to get you out of whatever financial crap you’re in. And enough to help you move on.”

His jaw tightens, and I can see him mentally fighting it, but then he just sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck, man. We’ve been fighting a lot. She’s not exactly… thrilled about things lately.”

I nod, feeling a flicker of satisfaction. “So, what’s it gonna take? Three hundred fifty?”

Colin goes quiet for a minute, biting his lip, then finally nods. “Yeah. That’ll do it.”

I pull out my checkbook, scribble the amount, and hold it out to him. He snatches it, glancing at it with wide eyes, then shoves it in his pocket, glancing around like he’s afraid someone will see.

“This doesn’t get back to Remy,” I tell him, my voice dropping. “I’ll come get my money back if you say a fucking peep. But you’re gone. Out of her life. Moved on. No more contact.”

Colin scoffs. “Do you even like her? Or is this just some kind of sick game for you?”

I glare at him, words clipped. “That’s none of your business.”

He just shrugs, taking a step back. “Fine. Just… take care of her, okay?”

I nod, keeping my face blank as he turns and walks off.

As I head back to my car, my phone buzzes, showing a bunch of missed calls from Caleb. Figures.

But I can deal with that later. Right now? All I can think about is Remy.

And I am beginning to think that this is not the best thing for my sanity.

I walk into the house, already bracing myself for the storm. My dad’s sitting in his favorite chair, his brows drawn tight, and I can feel the tension radiating off him.

“Where the hell have you been?” he barks, his voice low but full of anger. “Coach Jacobs called me. Said you missed practice. You’ve never missed a practice in your life!”

“Yeah, I know. I had… some stuff to take care of,” I say, forcing a calmness I don’t feel.

He leans forward, his arms crossed. “Stuff? What kind of stuff?”

I hesitate, knowing I’m about to lie through my teeth. “I got a girl pregnant. Had to sort it out.”

His eyes widen, but then a smile breaks through. “Well, damn, Zane! You’re growing up. I am glad you at least had the sense to get rid of that before word got out.”

Sick churns in my stomach. “Yeah, thanks,” I mutter, struggling to keep my voice steady. “But I need to focus on taking care of it.”

“Right. And that means you need to put your hockey career first.” He sits back, satisfied. “You know the scouts are watching. Don’t screw this up over a girl.”

“Agreed,” I say, forcing myself to nod. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Good. You’re talented, son. Just remember that.” He pats his knee, relaxing a bit. “You’re gonna make a name for yourself.”

“Yeah, sure,” I say, barely able to keep the sarcasm in check.

He squints, studying me. “You sure you’re ready for this?”

I swallow hard, trying to push down the guilt. “I am.”

“Life’s complicated, kid. But you’ve got to stay focused.” He leans back, crossing his arms again. “You get this sorted out, and then we’ll talk about your future.”

“Yeah, okay,” I say, nodding more for his benefit than mine.

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