“It doesn’t matter who told me. What matters is that I had to have been misinformed because there’s no way in hell you’re missing your game tonight for some school yard crush you never managed to get over.”
I see red. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, because I am missing the game tonight. And it’s to be by my wife’s side to take care of her. I know being faithful to your vows isn’t something you take seriously or place importance in, but I meant every word; especially in sickness and in health,” I seethe at him.
My sperm donor apparently can’t comprehend my tone over the phone because he chuckles at that—fucking cackles like we’re shooting the shit. “For fuck’s sake. You were a teenager. No one expects you to uphold those vows.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever hated someone more than I do at this moment. I clench my jaw three times before I finally grind out, “I do. It doesn’t matter how old I was or wasn’t, what matters is I am a man of my word and my mother raised me better than to turn my back on my family.”
“Enough!” he shouts. “You will get your ass to the hockey rink and you will beg your coach not to bench you after missing your morning skate. And while you’re at it, it would be a wise decision to evict all distractions from your home before your hockey career goes to shit.”
A menacing chuckle escapes but honestly I could give a fuck less.
“Get fucked, old man.”
I hang up and smile, feeling proud of myself for finally standing up to the man who considers himself my father when he’s been anything but practically my entire life.
“Jax?” Taevin calls out in question from the bedroom. I leap to my feet the moment I hear the weakness in her voice.
“I’m here, T. What’s up?” I ask, pausing in the doorway when I realize she’s no longer in our bed. That’s when I hear her heaving echo off the walls in the bathroom.
Rushing to her side, I pull her long black locks back with one hand while rubbing her back with the other. Helplessness fillsmy chest mixing with confusion at the relief I feel that I’m able to be by her side right now.
This woman is the most important person in my life. There is no place I’d rather be tonight than right here caring for the girl who stole my heart at eighteen and so graciously never gave it back.
30
Then
Something is wrong.
I don’t know what’s going on with Taevin, but something has definitely been off the past several days since her appointment.
And whenever I ask her about said appointment, she gets cagey and changes the topic. It’s driving me mad watching her distance herself from me for reasons I’m not clued in on.
“Jaxy, what’s good, man? Thanks for hosting again,” Carson greets me, slapping my hand and bringing me in for a quick hug.
“Carse, what’s up? Yeah, of course,” I tell him, looking behind him and only seeing Katie with him.
“Hey, Katie, thanks for coming,” I greet her and bring her in for a side hug. “Are Kenna and Griff coming later?”
“Nah, I think Mack needed some rest after the first week of volleyball and Griff was going to hang out at her dorm with her since they don’t have much time together before he heads to Emery,” Carson explains.
“Right, that makes sense. I’m actually headed to Boston tomorrow afternoon to move into my dorm,” I tell them.
“That’s awesome! Is Taevin leaving tomorrow too?” Katie asks.
I shake my head. “No, her move-in day isn’t for another week so she’ll meet me there next week. I’ve got captain’s practices for hockey starting early next week so they let the freshman athletes move in a week earlier than the rest of the students living on campus,” I answer, looking around the main floor of my parents’ house to see if I can spot Tae.
Katie joins me in looking around. “Where is she? I was hoping to hang out with her tonight.”
“She should be here soon. She passed her driver’s test today so she said she was going to drive herself here.”
“That’s awesome!” Katie squeals in excitement.
“Are you excited for hockey to start?” Carson asks me, and I should probably lie and tell him I’m stoked, but I don’t have it in me.
“I mean, it’ll be weird playing with a full team of guys I don’t know. But I suppose it’ll be nice having Taevin and Griffin in the same city as me.”
Carson shakes his head. “It’s wild how it worked out with the two of you both winding up in Boston. Is Tae excited for Berklee?”
