“It’s about you not accepting help! It's about you working every weekend. You have a team you barely use…”
“That’s not true, Dad,” Penny chimed in with a sigh. “He doesn’t do everything alone. Just because he doesn’t listen to you doesn’t mean he doesn’t listen toanyone. He talks to the coach, to Lyle, to me — even his damn assistant. The people whoknow the ropes, that is. And he just asked me to take some work off his hands, so…”
Her father blinked in confusion before squaring his shoulders and nodding. “Well, okay. But Devreaux’s sum is still ridiculous! He didn’t play as well last season as he did before. He’s on the decline, and…”
“Because his brother was dying,” Gareth said quietly. “He barely played because he had to take care of him. The whole industry knows his contract is up and he’s desperate to leave town, so everyone wants the chance to sign him. That’s why his price is so damn high! Because he’ll be brilliant once he gets back on track.”
“What? Why didn’t I hear about his brother?” her father asked, confused.
“Because you’re retired, not as involved with the NHL anymore, and don’t use social media,” Penny replied softly.
Gareth nodded, exhausted.
“But why didn’t you just explain that to me?” his father fumed. “If you’d told me…”
“It’s not my damn job to prove to you that I know what I’m doing!” he snapped, because yelling at his father felt good. “I can do my work however I want, I…”
He paused and closed his eyes, cursing, Hazel’s voice in his ear:
Your goal has always been to do what you want on your terms, and to no longer have to prove to anyone that you’re more than merely your surname.
She was right. Leading the Hawks hadn’t been his goal. His goal was to get the respect he deserved and live the life he’d worked so hard for. That was the underlying reason Hazel had broken up with him back then.
But he’d never achieve that goal if he wasn’t more honest and told his father – the one he needed respect from so much – exactly that.
Shit. How many more awkward conversations did he have to have today?
“Dad,” he said quietly, lowering his gaze. “You need to stop constantly looking over my shoulder at work. You’re putting pressure on me and making me feel like you don’t trust me or my decisions. Penny and I don’t need you anymore; we have everything under control. You can…step back.”
He promptly stiffened again. “Step back from your lives, you mean.”
Gareth forced his gaze up. “What?”
His father frowned and crossed his arms. “If I don’t come see you at the office, I won’t see you at all!”
Perplexed, he opened his mouth. “Well, I…so…”
“You canceled the dinner with your girlfriend.”
“That was Lacey’s fault, not mine…”
“You ignore my emails.”
“Because they’re full of criticism!” He ran both hands through his hair. “God, what are we even discussing here? If you don’t trust me to lead the team, then why the hell did you leave it to me?”
“You sound like Ms. Barrow. Was she right? You actually believe I think you’re incompetent?”
Gareth laughed mirthlessly. “A little, yes!”
“Oh, don’t be silly,” his father said sternly. “Of course I trust you to do your job well! You do everything well that you set out to do.”
Gareth opened his mouth in disbelief. “Then what the hell is the problem? Why do you meddle in everything when you…”
“I’ll lose you if I don’t, Gareth!” his dad thundered, turning his face away. “Work is the only thing that’s ever connectedus, and if I can’t support you in that, what will be left of our relationship?”
Gareth blinked, perplexed. It seemed his heart had stopped beating, probably because it was as overwhelmed by the situation as his mind. “Wait,” he said harshly. “Are you telling me that youannoyme every day because you love me?”
“Oh, Dad,” Penny whispered, sighing heavily.
