Page 84 of Playoff

Blake

It’sbad enough that my dad came to town and made a nuisance of himself, but now I’ve got my ex-girlfriend’s father in town adding insult to injury. Even though we’ve made up and are dating again, I can see the distrust in his eyes. Like he wants to clock me.

Jesus, it’s exhausting.

Is it too much to ask to just let me play hockey and spend time with my girl? That’s all I want. I honestly don’t give a shit about anything else. I’m done with dad—for real this time—and my mom is just going to have to get over it. Obviously, I’ll be polite and do my best to show Rowan’s dad that I’m a better man now than I was at eighteen, but the only person’s opinion that truly matters is Rowan’s.

We’ve barely been able to talk because I’ve been dealing with my family and she’s been busy entertaining her dad. We can’t have serious conversations at work, so there have been a bunch of texts, but no time for us to be alone. To continue bonding and finding our new normal. Thinking about what’s next.

I’m falling hard, even more than when we were kids, and I hate being away from her like this. It feels like everything is up in the air. We need to talk—have a real heart-to-heart—but there’s never the right opportunity.

Tonight is game four and we’re down two games to one, so I’m trying not to let all the bullshit get to me. My parents are still here, Rowan’s dad is still here, and I’m terrified they’re going to follow us back to Vegas for game five.

That’s the last thing I need.

“Blake. Wait up!”

I turn to see Jensen Bang coming in my direction.

“Look who it is!” I reach out and give him a quick hug. “How are you? Your arm isn’t healed yet, is it?”

“No, but I’m getting there. It’s killing me not to be out there with you guys, so I figured I’d come down, see how things are going.”

“Everything is okay,” I say thoughtfully. “We’re down but not out.”

“Hell no.” He grins. “But how areyou? I saw that bullshit with your dad. You doing all right?”

I shake my head. “It’s hard. I don’t want to alienate my mom, but she wants me to play nice, keep the peace. Meanwhile, my dad is alternating between contrite and belligerent, and I don’t have the mental bandwidth for it.”

“You need to step away from any and all drama until we’re through the playoffs.” He meets my gaze somberly. “These playoff games have been huge for you. Everyone is talking about you.”

I blink.

“They are? Like who?”

He cocks his head. “Well, yeah. Haven’t you been following the sports pages?”

“Fuck no. It’s too depressing.”

“You’re, like, the talk of the playoffs.”

“I am?”

How come no one told me? Bristol told me a few journalists wanted interviews, but I just figured the veterans on the team didn’t want to be bothered and I was fresh meat. It never occurred to me they actually want to talk to me because they’re impressed with what I’m doing.

“You are. Even that shit with your dad made you look good. How professional you were, how you protected your mom even though your dad didn’t really do anything…it’s been everywhere. Why aren’t you capitalizing on it?”

“I’m just trying to keep my head in the game. Between my dad and my girlfriend’s—” I abruptly cut off.

Shit.

I’m not supposed to say anything.

“Girlfriend?” Jensen looks more intrigued than anything else. “When did this happen? Someone here in L.A. or back in Phoenix?”

“Forget I said anything,” I mutter, pulling out my phone and googling my name.

“Is there a woman causing drama in your life?” he asks after a moment. “Because this isn’t the time for that. Are you listening to me, Blake?”

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