* * *
“We’re really just goingto wing it?” Violet asks as we walk through the sports complex. There are people here, but it’s by no means busy.
My shoulders slack. “I guess. Is there a good way to say, ‘Hey buddy, I’m seeing your sister, and that’s been happening for a while now. By the way, she gives amazing head’?” While I’m serious, it’s only on the surface. Sheisamazing but for so many reasons not even related to her talents in bed.
She playfully nudges my arm. “I feel like we should have prepared ourselves for this a little more. Oh well, I see him up ahead by the entrance to the ice.” Violet now seems a little anxious, but I think it’s more because she’s been waiting all week for us to do this, not so much because she’s worried for Ford’s reaction.
We both assess the scene and notice that Ford has his arms crossed as he watches his son on the ice.
Connor brakes with his skates. “Is that better?”
Ford narrows his eyes at his son. “Connor, I don’t care how you play today, not every moment is about preparing for a hockey career. I’m more concerned that you’re tired, and I’m wondering if you were really home in your room at midnight last night.”
“You’re always on my case,” Connor rebuffs and begins to toss the puck side to side with his stick.
“Because you threw a party,” Ford exclaims, with his hands coming out.
“That was weeks ago!” Connor counters before he skates away.
Violet and I approach Ford with caution. “All good?” Violent touches Ford’s shoulder. “I thought we were past the timeline for party punishment.”
He sighs. “Oh, we were. That was until I discovered he borrowed my Jaguar when I was sleeping the other weekend.” Ford gives us a forced smile. “What brings you two here? Did you run into one another on the way in?” he wonders.
Ford and I look out on the ice and see Connor make a sharp swing with his stick, and the puck lands in the net. Damn, that guy is fast and sharp.
Connor skates back to us. “Look what we have here.” He waves sheepishly as his eyes bounce between Violet and me.
Violet isn’t having it, and she rolls her eyes. “Heard you’ve been giving your dad a hard time.” She gives her nephew a knowing glare in a fun sort of way. He knows she loves him like crazy.
“Dad’s being unreasonable.”
I reach out to nudge his arm in comfort. “It’s his job,” I reiterate the obvious. “Good move out there. You should try coming a little more from the left.”
Connor fumes, and his face turns hard. “I don’t need your critique.”
Violet interjects. “Cool down, he was giving you a compliment and a pointer.”
Ford shakes his head at Connor. “I don’t know what’s up with you, but I think we’ll wrap up this session,” he suggests, circling his finger in the air and huffing a breath.
Connor throws his stick on purpose.
“Why don’t you skate it off and let your dad have a moment,” I suggest.
Biggest fucking mistake ever.
Connor drives his sight to Ford. “Dad.” He grabs his attention. “Declan and Aunt Violet are hooking up.”
Violet’s face drops, and I shake my head that this is how this is going to unravel.
“What?” Ford stammers.
“Yeah, and Declan threatened my career,” Connor proudly announces before skating off.
Violet puffs out a long breath before she drops her head to hands. “That’s not… not what Declan did.”
My jaw clenches side to side as I take in the fact that a hormonal teenager just outed us.
Ford’s fists form balls as they hang by his sides, and he turns his gaze sharply to me. “What the hell is my son talking about?”
