I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut when pain detonated, making me nauseous. “I was driving. The roads were slick, but nothing unusual for the time of year…” I shrugged.
“So you just slid off the road…”
“No. Some douche was weaving all over the road. I swerved to keep him from hitting me head-on. He had to be drunk.”
“Thank fuck, you’re okay.”
“I doubt I can…”
Alex stood, hovering over me, our foreheads pressed together, his nose brushing mine. “Forget the game. You’re what matters, baby boy.”
Tears pricked my eyes. This man… he made me feel seen and loved. Treasured. Curling my hand around the back of Alex’s neck, I pulled his mouth to mine. Alex took my mouth, his usual ferocity and passion replaced with sweetness and tenderness.
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you, too, Aiden.”
“What am I gonna do? I can’t miss…”
“It’s early in the season. Dr. Amos said she didn’t think you’d be out long…”
“Oh God! Like more than the weekend?”
“Aiden, calm down. Getting riled up isn’t going to help the concussion. Yes, you will be out for a bit, but your health is…
“No one’s gonna want a head case.”
“They definitely won’t if you ignore it and refuse to take care of yourself. Baby boy…” he paused, taking a deep breath. “You have so many fucking games ahead of you. How you take care of yourself… that’s just as important to any prospective team. They need to know you can do what’s needed on and off the ice.”
I knew in my gut he told me the truth, but losing my shot at being drafted and securing a contract… in my mind, it all hinged on playing every game better than the last.
“Besides… that’s not what you and I need to worry about?”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t tell me your dad is my best friend.”
“What? How?”
“How do I know who your parents are?”
“They called me worried sick about their kid who’d been in an accident, and they wouldn’t be here for hours.”
“Tata and Mama called you?”
“How did you think I found out you were in the hospital?”
“I don’t know. I assumed the hospital called you, what with you being the coach and all.”
“Yeah, no. The police called the registered owner of the Jeep to make sure you hadn’t stolen it since you don’t share a last name.”
“Sometimes I think I’m an idiot for being so adamant that I make it on my own.”
“I get wanting to make your way in the world, I do…”
“I hear a but in there and not the one I like hearing from you,” I grumbled.
“There’s my bratty boy.”
