Chapter One: Tigerlily
“Shit, Elle.” I grab onto her wrist and show her the texts from my dad. Her eyes were glued to the hockey game a second ago, but now they widen.
Dad:Found your location.
Dad:Get your ass out here right fucking now.
Dad:I swear to God, Tigerlily.
Elle looks at me as my stomach sinks. My phone vibrates now. Shit, he’s calling.
“What am I supposed to do?” I tremble, holding onto her wrist.
Every vibration feels like a physical hit.
She places her other hand on mine. “It’s going to be okay.”
I look into her eyes, wishing that into existence, but that’d make me an idiot. She genuinely believes her own words. And that’s the issue with someone who has good parents. They don’t understand the weight in being physically hit, they don’t understand the manipulation or the mental load of dealing with an abusive parent.
I blink, trying to figure out what I’m going to do. He can’t come in here without a ticket, but I have to leave eventually. I glance around, questioning if I should wait it out, or… My phone buzzes, reminding me that he’s right outside and there’s no avoiding the inevitable.
“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks.
I immediately shake my head. “No. No, you’re right. I’ll be fine.” I force a smile. I have to make her believe I’ll be okay. I can’t drag her into this mess.
I bite my lip and gather my belongings. Just my purse with a pink labubu I absolutely hate and my black jacket.
She grins as I wave goodbye, and then suddenly a player slams against the boards and the crowd shouts, “Oh!”
I walk down the steps, watching as the players crash on the ground with flying fists. I wish I could be as excited about violence as the crowd is. There are groups of men shouting so loud, I almost forget where I’m going.
“Kick his ass!”
“Yeah!”
“Fuck yeah!”
I take a left, leaving the chaos behind me as my phone buzzes again. I don’t even fucking like hockey, and I’m about to get my ass kicked for being here. I throw on my jacket and tie my hair into a bun. The best thing I can do is deal with my dad and apologize.
The staff member standing at the entrance tells me to have a good night.
If only.
As soon as I exit the glass doors, my dad is standing near the pillar to the far right. And the look on his face makes my stomach turn.
The second I’m at his side, he grabs onto my arm and yanks me in the direction I’m assuming his car is in.
“What the fuck, Tigerlily!”
“Dad,” I whisper, afraid to be seen by the staff. “There are people around.”
He leans in and says, “I don’t give a flying fuck! Do you think I’m fucking stupid? Huh? You must think you’re so fucking smart, Lily.”
He throws me forward, sending me in front of him. I cross my arms and keep walking, terrified of what’s going to happen next.
“You must take me for a fucking fool. Look at you dressed like a whore at this––” He throws his hand towards the building. “A fucking hockey game, Lily? Are you fucking serious? You lied to go to a fucking hockey game?”
I keep my arms crossed, hugging myself. The best thing I can do is stay quiet.
