Page 27 of Lucky Hit

I return to my spot on the couch and risk sending a text to Ava to brag about the fact that I have yet to punch Gracie's boyfriend in the face. What's the worst that can happen? She ignores me again?

After sending the text, I slip my phone back in my pocket and turn my attention to the game once more as the Warriors manage to slip another puck into the opposing team's net.

"Yes! Let's go!" Jacob shouts from the opposite end of the couch. My head snaps up in surprise. When he catches me staring at him, mouth slightly agape, his cheeks flush. I get the idea he hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Chuckling, I decide to ease his embarrassment a bit. "Relax, dude. We're a hockey family. If you don't lose your voice by the end of a game, you weren't loud enough."

He lets out a relieved sigh and nods his head at me. His eyes dart around the room awkwardly. "Um, I just wanted to say that you're a legend in the locker room, man. My buddies were so jealous when I told them I was going to meet you."

I nod my head at him. "Appreciate it. Thanks."

"Do you think you could like... sign something for me? For once you're in the big leagues?" His face is bright red. I would be lying if I said I wasn't sincerely flattered by his question.

"Yeah, sure. Did you bring anything with you?"

Jacobs's face lights up before he frowns. "Shit. No. I didn't think that I would get this far. Everyone says that you're a serious hard-ass."

"Don't let tonight fool you. I am, just not as much when I'm around my family," I tell him firmly. "I keep all of my old sticks in the basement. Will that work?" His mouth falls open before he nods fervently. "I'll make sure you get one before you leave tonight."

Our conversation is interrupted when Mom comes prancing into the room. She does a double-take at the view in front of her, shock written all over her features. I guess I would be shocked too. Sharing a couch and watching a game with my sister's boyfriend is entirely out of character for me, let alone having a civil conversation with the poor bastard.

Jacob shoots out of his seat when he notices Mom and goes around the couch to stand in front of her. Poor guy is so unprepared for what's coming next.

Holding his hand out in front of him as I had done not long ago, he introduces himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hutton. I'm Jacob."

A huge smile spreads across her face, and she grabs him tightly in a bear hug. I chuckle to myself as he relaxes in her grip. "We're a hugging family over here! And please, call me Anne."

The ding of my phone distracts me from the awkward situation in front of me. Glancing at the screen, I see a message from Ava. My chest tightens. "Can I call you? Please."

I let Mom know that I'll be in my room and head up the stairs. As soon as my door clicks shut behind me, I dial Ava’s number.

She answers on the first ring, "You didn't have to call me if you're busy, I understand."

There's something off in her voice. Gone is the cheerful tone I've become accustomed to. It's been replaced by a dull, vacant one—one that makes my stomach ache.

"I'm not busy. What's wrong?" Moments pass before I hear anything other than her quiet breathing. "Ava? I'm right here. You can talk to me."

A few more seconds pass by until her voice—wavering and cautious—cuts through the silence. "I... I didn't know who else to call. I could have called Morgan, but she's with Matt, and I just didn't..." she trails off. Her soft cries seem to slice through both my phone and my erratically beating heart.

"Octavia, listen to me. It's okay. Where are you? Are you at home? Tell me what happened." I don't know how much more of this silence I can take. I want to be there helping her.

"I'm at home. My mom called me—well, actually, my foster mom called me ..." she breaks off, and I find myself getting more confused as the conversation goes on. "I was going to tell you soon. I just didn't know if you were going to stick around. I still don't. But I guess that I don't have a choice now."

"I'm not going anywhere, okay? Please tell me what's going on. I'm going crazy over here."

Ava sighs and begins to tell me everything.

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