Page 107 of Puck'n Bully
“I will,” I promise him.
Just as we’re about to cross the shadowy lawn to reach the dorm’s entryway, I notice a familiar figure. My entire body tenses as I recognize my dad standing near the entrance.
My world tilts for a second.
What the hell is he doing here? Is he planning to mess me up right before a game?
“Hayden, what’s wrong?” Liam asks, his voice suddenly tight with concern.
I stay silent, every instinct in me screaming to protect him against my dad.
“You should go home now,” I say, my voice icy.
“I will,” Liam says. “I’ll walk with you till the door and leave you there.”
“Liam,” I say, my voice shaking as I struggle to stay in control of my emotions. “Leave. Now.”
I pull my hand out of his hold and stalk forward.
There’s no way I can have Liam with me while I confront my father. He’s way too precious to be caught in the crossfires when my dad is here to break me.
“Hayden, wait—”
Liam’s voice is cut off as my dad steps forward.
By now, Liam has noticed him too. But instead of getting out of here, he catches up with me and boldly stands by my side.
A sliver of surprise flares through the miasma of dread bubbling inside me.
Liam is so damn tiny and delicate but that doesn’t stop him from being brave.
He witnessed the violence my dad is capable of but he’s still choosing to stand with me. I love him so damn much at this moment but I can’t help feeling annoyed at him for not listening to me. He should’ve left when I told him to. It’s not safe for him to be here with my dad looming close.
Dad’s towering frame casts a shadow beneath the glow of the streetlights. A familiar sneer sits on his face as he stares at me and Liam.
“Who is this?” Dad asks in a rough voice. “Your fuckboy?”
My teeth grind together at the insult.
“As if you weren’t enough of a disappointment,” Dad says, his breath reeking of stale whiskey and cigarettes. “You had to be a damn faggot too?”
I stay silent, too used to the way things worked with Dad.
He’ll hurl his venom-laced words at me and proceed to beat the shit out of me. The sooner he’s done with the ritual, the sooner it all gets over.
But things are different now.
I have to protect Liam.
Blood pounds in my ears while my heart beats at an erratic pace. Even though I’m ready to stand up to my dad, my body reacts almost involuntarily to his presence.
“What do you want?” I say in a low, grim tone.
“I came to remind you that you’re not some hotshot pro,” he says, sneering at me. Stepping closer, he grabs a fistful of my hair as he leans in close, adding, “You’ll never go far, boy. All those offers you’re getting from scouts will go away as soon as they see what a loser you are.”
“Sir, let go of him,” Liam says in a calm tone.
Dad glances at him, continuing to pull my hair.
