Page 72 of Full Tilt
I shrug and watch the game as it plays out the final two minutes. “I don’t get why you’re asking. It’s just a regular father-son relationship.”
Sawyer shakes his head. “Nah, what I have with my son is a regular father-son relationship. Why isn’t he here? Alex was an asshole through and through, but one thing he did love was hockey. So, why isn’t he here, cheering on his son? You’re a carbon copy of him, and I figured his ego would love that.”
“I’m nothing like him.” Just like that time with Jenna, my subconscious controls my mouth. My words are cold and callous and serve as a window to the truth of why Alex Schneider is never seen at his son’s games.
Only the noise in the arena sits between us for what feels like an eternity.
“He isn’t really your dad, is he?”
My eyes snap to Sawyer. “Are you calling me a liar?”
He shakes his head slowly, one hand raised in surrender. “No. You’re jumping to conclusions and assuming the worst in people again. What I’m saying is, he isn’t actually a dad. He didn’t take on responsibility for you, did he? You might wear his name and possess his DNA, but that’s as far as your connection runs.”
I’m ready to empty the contents of my stomach out onto the floor beneath me.
“You’re wrong,” I lie. “He just has a lot going on in his life, and with the way his career ended, he doesn’t love hockey anymore.” I blow out a breath. “And I can’t say that I blame him. He was cast out of the NHL for doing his job on the ice.”
“He nearly killed someone.” Sawyer’s voice is incredulous. “And why are you defending him when you don’t really mean a word you’re saying?”
Yeah, why are you defending him, Tommy?
I look up at the Jumbotron, desperate for the game to end and the buzzer to save me. Thirty seconds feels like the longest time.
“And why are you trying to be him, Tommy? Trying to fool everyone into thinking that you’re the same beyond the way you skate and look?”
The final question from Sawyer hits me like the punch I threw at Ethan that night.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I bite out. “I’m more talented than he could ever be. My name will be remembered long after my career is finished.”
At this point, I’m spouting shit and contradicting myself at every turn. Sawyer has me wrapped around his finger and cornered like a wild animal being hunted.
He just chuckles at that. Although it’s dark and not at all amused. “You want to know how you’re going to save your career and stay on the team?”
I don’t respond.
“Accept the fact that you are nothing like your estranged dad and everything like the Tommy Williams you used to be.”
I guess it wasn’t hard to find my former last name—the press reported my name change when I signed for Detroit.
“I’m done talking now,” I croak out. Swiping the fastest hand across my eyes.
Jesus Christ, I hope nobody caught that shit on camera.
Sawyer rests a strong palm on my shoulder just as the buzzer finally fucking goes.
“Yeah, Tommy, I know you are. Just … give what I said some thought instead, okay?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
JENNA
I’m portioning out pasta into separate containers ahead of the playoff games we have this week when my cell lights up with a text from Tommy.
Asswipe
So … apparently, you’re nice enough to make captain now?
I haven’t heard from him at all on his away series, but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t watch the Blades games.
