Page 64 of Puck'n Bully
“I spent my life training you and coaching you. And for what?” Hayden’s dad shouts, his face twisting in rage. “You’ll always be a useless little loser who can’t even win a game.”
His words sound slurred, like he’s been drinking. That’s when I notice the whiskey bottle in his left hand.
The cruelty of his words sinks into my soul but the horror doesn’t end just yet. He slaps Hayden’s cheek, the sound so hard and loud, that I seem to feel it against my skin.
Hayden’s head snaps to the side from the impact but he still remains limp and motionless in his dad’s grasp. Just what the hell is he doing?! Why won’t he fight back?
Before I can overcome the shock of what’s happening, Hayden’s dad lands a fist into his gut. The strike is so forceful, that Hayden bends over, panting and gasping.
My heart squeezes in my chest. Hayden is already severely hurt from the game. I saw the bruises and injuries on the bodies of his teammates and know he’s sustained worse hits from the opponents.
My head spins as the man shouts worse things to Hayden while continuing to use his body as a punching bag. I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare, unable to utter a word or move.
Hayden stumbles but his father yanks him back up, shaking him like a ragdoll. He neither resists nor tells his dad to stop. He just takes it like he’s used to this treatment.
My stomach twists as I helplessly watch. I want to scream, to throw myself between Hayden and his father, but my body refuses to move.
Hayden’s body falls to the ground. But his dad isn’t done with him.
Seeing Hayden down, quiet and unmoving, seems to enrage him further. He kicks his battered body with a disgusted cry.
Hayden’s dad is gasping for breath. Breathing loudly, he smashes the bottle of whiskey against a tree trunk.
I flinch as glass shards fly everywhere, showering over Hayden.
For a moment, Hayden’s father just stands there, breathing hard, his eyes wild with fury. Then, as if the fight has drained out of him, he mutters something under his breath and walks away.
Hayden’s crumpled body lies on the ground. A cold breeze blows dry leaves all over him but he doesn’t move.
I can’t believe what that man just did. He left his son without a care and walked away.
A sob escapes me, breaking whatever spell had me standing frozen in my spot. My legs move and I’m finally running toward Hayden.
My knees hit the frozen ground as I kneel beside him.
“Hayden,” I sob, too scared to even touch him. “Hayden, can you hear me?”
His eyes flutter open but they don’t focus on me immediately. When his gaze finally meets mine, he lets out a groan. “Liam?”
My heart breaks at the sight of his bruised lips. A thin stream of blood trickles down his chin. How could someone hurt him so cruelly? Was that man truly his father?
A weak chuckle escapes him. “This is embarrassing,” he rasps, his voice choked with pain.
“Shut up,” I say, my voice cracking. “Just shut up and don’t say a thing!” Bent forward, I sob hard.
“Liam,” he says in a quiet voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t know,” I say, impatiently brushing my tears away. “I just had this feeling you weren’t okay. I had to find you and make sure you were all right.”
“You shouldn’t be worried about me.”
I grab his face gently with both my hands, making him look at me. Tears continue streaming down my cheeks as I stare at him.
“Why are you crying, silly?” he says, raising a hand to wipe them. “You should just go home. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“I’m not going anywhere without you!” I say fiercely. “Forget about everything I’ve told you. It doesn’t even matter what I told myself. I’m not leaving you again.” A painful emotion chokes me. “I just need to make sure you’re safe.”
A lost look descends into Hayden’s eyes. His expression looks painfully familiar.
