Page 84 of Second-Rate Superstar

Jaxon had just finished giving Mom a hug when Dad’s booming voice echoed off the concrete walls. “What the hell is the matter with you? Tonight was about your brother. And you made a conscious effort to turn it around and put yourself in the spotlight!”

My mom’s jaw dropped, and she yelled, “Michael!”

Even though she was loud, it was the soft gasp that demanded my attention. And there, standing beside Natalie, was the girl I’d begged to attend tonight—the girl I was falling head over heels in love with—with her brilliant blue eyes widened at my father’s outburst.

My jaw clenched. It was one thing to explain living in Jaxon’s shadow, quite another for her to have a front-row seat to the reason it bothered me so much. It was more than I could handle.

“Nat, get her out of here,” I forced out through gritted teeth.

“Braxton—” my sister-in-law began, understanding in her eyes.

“Now!” I raised my voice, the control on my temper hanging by a thread.

Ducking her head, Natalie did as I asked, tugging Dakota down the hallway and out of sight.

Half expecting Jaxon to rip my head off for yelling at his wife, he turned on our father. “What the fuck, Dad? Braxton had the game of his life out there tonight.”

Undeterred, the man who gave me life spat back, “Onyournight.”

“Seriously? You think I care? It stopped beingmynight the second the puck dropped. The pomp and circumstance were more than enough. Too much, really. But it was important to the fans, to the organization, so I let them run with it. And if tonight’s celebrations highlighted anything, it’s that I’ve been playing this game for a very long time. Long enough to know that it’s about the team, not individual players. I wouldn’t havegotten anywhere without the incredible guys on the ice by my side. And that includes Braxton.”

Dad opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. “You know what? Fuck you. I’m done with this shit.”

Storming past my parents, I made it halfway to the locker room before Jaxon was hot on my heels.

“Braxton, slow down. That wasnotokay what he did back there.”

I scoffed. “I should be used to it by now. Been dealing with it my whole life.”

Stunned, Jaxon blinked at me. “What?”

“Do you really not know how he’s treated me since the day he laced skates onto my feet?” When he didn’t respond, bitter laughter slipped past my lips. “It’s okay, Jaxon. You and I grew up with very different fathers. Enjoy yours because I’m done with mine.”

With that, I stormed off. I didn’t give a shit if I got fined for refusing to speak to the press. I was done for the night.

Just when I think it can’t get any worse.

Freshly showered, long after everyone else had left, I walked to the parking garage attached to the arena toward my car. All I wanted to do was go home and knock back a couple of stiff drinks—get drunk enough to black out so I could forget this night ever happened.

But it would seemGod had other plans.

Dakota was leaning against the side of my car, her sad blue eyes tracking my progress across the lot. I couldn’t even fully appreciate how amazing she looked in my jersey after what had just happened.

What I wouldn’t give to erase the scene in the tunnel from her memory. Not only was I a grown man being dressed down by my father in public, but I had lost my cool and snapped at Natalie when she’d done nothing wrong. In fact, she was the only person in this world who understood how I felt.

Something broke inside of me when I saw Dakota.

I was so ashamed.

Ashamed that I hadn’t fought back.

Ashamed that I couldn’t give her the same kind of life Jaxon gave his family.

Ashamed that I didn’t believe in myself.

Closing my eyes, I exhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm swirling inside. An emotional breakdown would be the cherry on the top of this shit sundae of a day.

Arms circled my waist, and a warm weight pressed into my chest.

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