Page 40 of Breaking the Pucking Rules
And unfortunately, this kind of jealousy is something that Sutton is going to have to learn how to navigate.
Being a hockey player is hard. But being a kick-ass female player…I can’t even begin to understand what that’ll be like.
When I was at school, we were seen as gods. Did it go to our heads? Abso-fucking-lutely. But I suspect is doesn’t work for the girls in the same way.
And the rivalry between the boys’ and girls’ teams…something tells me that it’s going to be savage.
“Has he said anything to you?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet. But he will.”
I scrub my hand down my face, wondering what makes me qualified to dole out advice on calm conflict resolution when I’m surrounded by physical fights on a weekly basis.
“I know it’s hard, but you’re going to have to ignore him. But tell me if he does or says anything, okay?”
“Daddy,” she begs. “You can’t get involved.”
“I can and I will,” I state.
“But his dad…” Had a career in the AHL and ended up retiring with an injury before he managed to play a single NHL game.
“No one hurts my little girl, Sutton. No one.”
She smiles at me, her eyes glassy with emotion.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Peanut,” I say as Clarissa returns with our drinks.
The next morning, I stand on the playground and watch as Sutton saunters into school. She doesn’t run like many of the other kids, but she’s also not clinging to my leg and screaming like a handful of others, either.
She’s calm, composed, and maybe even a little stoic.
She wasn’t herself this morning, and I know it’s because of Adrian.
I scan the playground, looking for him, but come up empty.
I fucking hate that she’s scared. But what can I do?
It’s a part of growing up we all have to handle.
Just because I want to wrap her up in cotton and never let her get hurt, it doesn’t mean I can.
Just like that first time I watched her get on the ice and train.
I’ve got to trust that she can handle it and be here when it gets hard.
She turns back when she gets to the door, and finally, her beautiful smile appears.
She waves frantically before slipping into the building.
With a heavy sigh, I spin around and head back to the car.
I love the start of a new season. It comes with so much promise, so much possibility.
But it also comes with a cost.
Summers with Sutton are incredible—just the two of us against the world. But now…I’m going to be away as much as I am here, and I’m going to miss out on so much.
