Page 46 of Playing to Win

Braydon asked my dad what position he played, and I tried to tune out the familiar stories as Dad told him about his glory days and how not being drafted was a huge oversight by the professional scouts.

I should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn’t. “Braydon wasn’t drafted either.” He’d still found a way to make it.

My father wasn’t deterred. “It’s good that they’re more open to checking out prospects who slip through the draft now. If Wayne works a little harder, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back here.”

Wayne had all the assistance my parents could afford to give him already, but I stuffed some fries in my mouth to keep quiet.

My mother picked delicately at her salad. “You must enjoy having Jayna at your games.”

I was at the games to work, but…sure. As long as I was there for my man.

Braydon shot me a look. “It’s nice, but it’s only been a couple of times. I was playing in Hamilton, and she works with the Blaze and Bonfire, so she’s not at the Inferno games.”

“I’m sure she’ll be there now if you go back down.”

Oh, would I? “I still have to cover the Blaze and Bonfire games. It’s myjob.” The Bonfire only played on weekends, and the Inferno played most of their games then as well.

“Jayna, you need to get serious about your life. You’ve had fun, but now it’s time to guarantee your future.”

I dropped my fork. The future they wanted me to guarantee? Was to tie myself to the male hockey player beside me.

Me playing hockey? Was being irresponsible and selfish.

Braydon and Wayne? Just needed to work hard.

I shoved back my chair. “I’m leaving.”

“What’s wrong?”

I didn’t answer, just grabbed my coat from the back of my chair. Mom and Dad would tell themselves that I was dramatic and needed to grow up. They’d never acknowledge that they were being hurtful.

Braydon stood as well. Couldn’t blame him—he didn’t know the family drama he was dropped into and he’d probably been wanting to flee since we got our drinks.

“Jayna,” my mom hissed. “Don’t make a scene.”

My dad shook his head. “Sorry, Braydon. Jayna can get a little emotional.”

I blinked a few times. Why I wasn’t immune to them by now, I didn’t know.

Braydon turned to face my parents. His lips were pressed tightly together, as if he’d been holding back.

He grabbed my wrist, preventing me from leaving. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, and I only just met you, but Jayna is a talented professional hockey player, one of the best, and is doing a great job on media for the Blaze. She knows more about hockey than a lot of my teammates and has dealt with my stupidity with understanding and patience that I don’t deserve.”

I froze, hardly able to believe what I was hearing.

“She’s been battling a horrible injury, and I’ve never heard her complain, though she loves hockey as much as anyone I know. I’m incredibly lucky to spend time with her, and she’ll make any future she wants because she has skill and determination and earns the support of everyone she works with. I don’t know why you aren’t proud of that, but that’s your loss.”

He tugged on my wrist, and led me away from the table where my parents sat, speechless. I’d never had anyone support me like that. I had so many mixed-up feelings right now, but after that takedown of my parents? I wanted to climb him like a tree.

Chapter14

I had no game

Braydon

I hopedJayna wasn’t pissed at me, but I couldn’t help it. She’d warned me that her parents weren’t supportive, but this was way beyond that. The anger I’d felt about my mom and dad keeping my sperm donor secret had been fading, but now? Totally gone. My parents always had my back.

We made it outside the restaurant without a pause before my brain settled down. “Wait!”

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