“It’s really heartening to see people stand up for what’s right,” I say quietly.
He looks at me and gives me a soft smile, then kisses my forehead.
“I know it doesn’t change things with my standing on the team,” Nick says. “But it feels good to be supported. It feels good to know that so many people have my back.”
I wrap my arms around him and hug him tight.
Just then, my phone rings. When I see it’s my dad calling, I roll my eyes and silence it.
“What’s wrong?” Nick asks.
“Nothing. Just my dad trying to call me. After the way he treated you at Thanksgiving dinner, I told him not to reach out to me.”
Nick slinks his arm around me, hugging me tight. He kisses my temple.
A minute later, I get a text. When I read it, my jaw falls to the floor. No way.
Chapter 54
Poppy
Istare at the text my dad just sent me, in utter disbelief.
I just saw the news about Nick defending you. I owe you both an apology. Will you please call me?
“You okay?” Nick asks.
I show him the text from my dad.
“Oh…” Nick’s brow lifts. He turns to me. “That’s a good thing, right?”
I start to nod, but the guarded part of me knows better.
“I don’t know,” I say. “My dad has never, ever apologized to me for anything in my life. It’s hard to know what to feel right now. He could just be saying this to get me to talk to him.”
I let out a heavy sigh, feeling conflicted. Nick scoops my hand in his.
“Maybe that’s the case. Or maybe he’s being honest.” He kisses my temple again. “I think you should hear him out.”
I look up at him. “Really?”
He nods. I stare at him, in disbelief at how kind he’s being. My dad treated him like crap, and he’s kind enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll call him right now.”
“Want me to leave?”
I shake my head and squeeze his hand. “Stay. Please.”
He kisses me. “Of course I will.”
I take a breath and call my dad. He answers on the first ring.
“Poppy. You called.” I’m caught off guard at how he sounds relieved to hear from me.
“I got your text,” I say, then put the call on speaker phone. “What is it that you want to say? You’re on speaker, by the way. Nick is sitting next to me.”
My dad clears his throat. “Your mother and I saw what Nick did. It was all over the local news. We saw the way he protected you at his hockey game last night.”
