Page 356 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
He doesn’t deepen it, and neither do I.
The connection between us in this moment is everything we need.
It’s almost an hour later by the time I step out of Sutton’s bedroom, letting her drift off to sleep.
After her shower, I braided her wet hair so it’ll be pretty in the morning. Then, she pulled out her favorite hockey book for me to read.
Although I love that she wanted me to do this, and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, half of my head was focused on what the rest of my night is going to hold.
The rational side of me believes that Dad will be okay. We’ll turn up and he’ll see how in love we are, and he’ll just let it go.
But then there’s the other side. The rule-follower side. The side that is terrified of letting him down. That side is fucking petrified that he’s going to be beyond disappointed in me and make me choose.
My body is trembling as I make my way down the stairs. Hushed voices float from the kitchen, where Kodie and Kathleen are discussing something—probably me—but I’m too in my own head to even attempt to eavesdrop.
Their heads snap up as I step into the room, their concerned expressions softening.
The sight does nothing for the unease raging inside me.
“Everything okay?” Kodie asks.
“Of course. She was incredible, as always.”
He smiles as he slips from the stool he was perched on and walks toward me.
“I’m going to kiss her goodnight, then we’ll go.”
I swallow thickly. The thought of standing before my father and confessing my sins makes me feel like a seven-year-old myself.
The only difference is that when I was seven, I always had Mom in my corner. She was always the more lenient parent. Dad has always been the stricter one, something I’ve always respected…until this moment.
I watch Kodie go before my chest compresses on an exhale, and I lower my head.
“Your dad will understand, Casey,” Kathleen says, startling me.
Looking up, I meet her soft, empathic expression.
“He’ll be able to see how much you care about each other. He’ll be happy for you.”
God, I hope she’s right.
“But what if he’s not?” I whisper, terrified to even ask the question out loud.
“Then make him,” she says fiercely. “Love and relationships aren’t always easy. But if you’ve found the right person, they’re always worth fighting for.”
I nod as I blow out another long breath. At some point, one will work and help settle me.
The sound of Kodie’s footsteps pounding down the stairs ends my time hiding here from reality.
“Ready?” he asks, looking as confident and as self-assured as ever.
“Is that a serious question?” I ask.
“Trust him, Casey,” Kathleen says from her spot at the island. “Trust him to know you well enough to know when something is really important.”
I nod. It’s all I’m capable of as Kodie takes my hand and leads me to the hallway. I slip my feet into my sneakers, and together, probably being photographed, we leave his house and make the journey to my childhood home.
The butterflies in my stomach get wilder and wilder the closer we get to Dad’s.
