I heard him stand and take several steps back. “I don’t know why you need what’s ours when the city could have built you your very own.”
I folded my arms over my chest. “Do you say this shit to the NWHL players?”
He was dead silent.
“Yeah. Three guesses why, and the first two don’t fucking count.”
“I don’t know what you mean?—”
I didn’t let him finish. I shoulder checked him out of the way and followed the path we’d taken down the hall until the left side opened up to a room. I could hear the TV and the sound of my dad snoring. So at least there was that.
Leaning my shoulder against the wall, I pulled out my phone and began to scroll my favorites for Tucker. He was going to be pissed as fuck that I was missing this game, and I was definitely going to get in trouble, but what else could I do?
“Are you calling an Uber?”
“No, dickhead,” I snarled. “I’m calling my fucking coach because apparently, my mom wasn’t content to just run along to the goddamn UK to find herself. She also had to make sure it would wreck my life and my ability to go to work.”
He was silent for a moment, then, “Why are you skipping your game?”
I turned to face him, my mouth slightly open in shock. “You want me to leave my dad here like this? Alone?”
“That’s what you’vebeendoing.”
My chest puffed out with rage. “I didn’t. Fucking. Know. You have no idea how—” I stopped. “You know what? I don’t owe you an explanation.” I hit Tucker’s name, and it rang so long I thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“Bro,” he finally said. “If you don’t get your ass down here in the next five minutes, I’m going to take you over my knee and spank you.”
“Amedeo would kill you.”
“He’d join. This isn’t a joke, Jonah.”
“I know. Fuck, I know. It’s just…I’m?—”
Before I could get the words out, the dickhead next to me snatched my phone. “He’s going to be late.”
“Who the fuck is this now?” I heard Tucker screeching through the speaker.
“I’m Alexio Zeki.”
“Alex—wait. Zeki? Like…”
“Yes,” Alexio said, not letting Tucker finish. “I was helping him with a problem. He’s going to be late, but he’ll be there.”
“I—whatever. Just tell him to hurry his ass up before I have to paint it red. I have a goddamn paddle with his name on it. Inbraille!”
Then there was silence.
“He said?—”
“I fucking heard him,” I snarled, holding my hand out. When Alexio did nothing, I growled. “Phone!”
It was slapped against my palm, and I squeezed it so hard I was surprised the screen didn’t crack. “What fucking game are you playing, dude? I can’t go tonight.”
“Do you like being spanked?”
“I—dude.” I swallowed heavily. That feeling was back, and oh god. I didn’t like it. I think. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and tried to find my calm. “I can’t leave my dad like this.”
“I’m aware of that. I’ll stay.”
