“Yes, her! You two seemed to be hitting it off at the last banquet.”
“I don’t think we were at the same banquet if that’s what you think,” I laugh.
“And even if they were,” Brinley shoots daggers at me with her eyes, “Declan’s seeing someone.”
And there she goes revealing a topic I wasn’t planning on bringing up.
“You are?” My mom gasps. I feel bad that she didn’t hear it from me, but I would’ve told her about Ember eventually… just not with him around.
“Yeah.” I smile.
My brain instantly goes to Ember, and I feel my cheeks flush. Until I think about her back home with her parents and hate that I can’t be there to help her get through it.
“My best friend,” she adds. “I know what you’re thinking Mom, and I told him it was okay.”
“She practically forced us together.”
“Can I see a picture?” she asks, and I pull out my phone to show her one.
It was the day after everyone learned about us, and Maia forced Ember to officially take me by the diner. She had to give me theIf you hurt my best friend, I’ll kill youtalk and ended up taking my favorite photo of us.
While waiting for our food, Ember showed me photos of her, Cam, and Maia when they were younger. I pulled her onto my lap and wrapped my arms around her waist as she swiped through the pictures. And at some point, Maia took a photo of us. We were laughing at something and had the brightest smiles on our faces. The moment I saw it, it became my favorite photo ever.
I turn my phone to my mom, and her face lights up.
“You look so happy,” she says, and I know it hurts her that the reason I haven’t been happy for so long is sitting right next to her.
“Thanks, Mom.” I swipe through a few more photos before I find another one. This one’s just Ember after I broke down that first wall, but I was still annoying her every chance I got.
She’s fighting a smile while flipping me off. I think this is the day it all changed for me.
I think that’s why I kept this photo.
My mom reaches out and grabs my hand, but I can feel my dad staring at me.
“What?” I snap.
“I didn’t say anything,” he argues.
“Your face says it all.” I cross my arms. “What?”
“Nothing,” he adds. “She just isn’t anything special. If you’re gonna ruin your hockey career for a girl, at least choose a looker. Like any of those sorority girls who go to your games. Like Mollie.”
I want to say, “Sounds like you’re a little too interested in Mollie yourself, Dad.” But Brinley’s whisper cuts me off. “Declan.”
“Brin, can you please grab the pie from the fridge outside,” I respond. “Take your time.”
She doesn’t say anything; she just silently heads toward the garage.
“What would you know about special?” I wonder the second I hear the door shut. “Mom’s the most special person in the world, and you threw that away. Brinley’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met, but you don’t care because she doesn’t have a hockey stick in her hand.”
“Don’t try to tell me I don’t care about my family!”
“Is that why you were fucking someone else?” My jaw clenches. “Because you love your family so much.”
“Your mother forgave me, Declan.” The words leave his lips, and it feels like a knife in my back. “You should too. I’m still your father and won’t tolerate this disrespect.”
“Talk about my girlfriend like that, and it won’t just be words you get out of me.” I stand up, slamming my hands against the table. He does the same, trying to stand taller, but that’s one advantage I’ve always had over him.
