“I know. But.” He gestures at Tate. “Desperate times. I’ll get the locks changed for you if you’d like?”
I nibble on my bottom lip. “Maybe. Wait until we’re out the other side of this.”
He nods and stands, patting me on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The donuts.” He smiles. “And for settling him every night this week. He told us you call him, talk to him, read to him. He also told us your history.” His face turns sad, and I can’t bear the ache in my chest.
“I’m sorry about your father. If there’s anything I can do for him, please let me know.”
It takes me a split second to think of something. “Do you mean that?”
Ares nods. “My battle with addiction is public knowledge. I know how hard it can be, how hard it is to choose sobriety every day. I’ve seen friends and colleagues injured, go through rehab, lose their careers. Not long ago we just saw Raffi walk away from the game he loved before it killed him.” The emotion in his voice brings tears to my eyes.
“We all play a game we love. But every time we step out onto the ice we risk our lives. I’ve seen the hit on your dad, it wasn’t good. It’s not surprising it ended his career, nor that the grief of that loss drove him to seek comfort in other places.” He nods. “So yes, if there’s something you can think of that I could do to help him, please say. Because I’ve been there. Except in my case, my father’s wealth got me the best medical treatment and rehab. Not everyone has that luxury.”
Ares knows way more about me and my life than I’m comfortable with right now, but the fact he’s leveling with me like this feels a bit... cathartic?
I don’t know when I started crying. It’s becoming a habit, and I don’t like it, but he hands me a tissue from the box on Tate’s table.
“He’s working as a janitor in the hospital. And while there’s nothing wrong with being a janitor, I know it’s not for him. He’s a math major, with a minor in computer science, Ares. The man is a freakin’ math nerd. I mean, who the fuck studies math for fun? And all the way through college?”
I shudder, which makes Ares chuckle.
“I know your father has a lot of employees, and I know you, your brothers, and Athena have your own companies in various states of growth, but if you come across anything that might bemore suitable to him, I’d appreciate it.” I heave out a sigh. “I’m concerned about him doing so much manual labor. It’s not good for his injuries. Even all this time later, he still suffers. And he really does love math.”
Ares squeezes my shoulder. “Leave it with me, okay? We’ll figure something out for him.” He turns to leave, pauses, and looks back at me like he wants to add something else. But there’s guilt on his face. I swear, if this fucker was hunting through my delicates drawer I’ll strangle him with one of my thongs.
“What is it?” I sound like a mom waiting for their naughty kid to make a confession.
“We, uh, well, we already did something.”
“We?”
He nods. “The twins and me.”
“You all went through my underwear? I’m going to fucking kill you, Ares. I’ll skin you alive and drape your skin on your hockey stick. Andthenstand your stick body in the crease of your own net.”
His mouth hangs open. “Loca.”
I know what that word means.
“You’re savage.” He says this like I didn’t furniture wrap Tate’s car to a pole in the parking lot of their rink.
“This can’t be news.” I snort.
“It’s not about your underwear. Though your reaction makes me wonder what treasure is buried in that drawer that you don’t want us to see.”
My face flames. Thank fuck it’s not bright in here.
“We paid his bills.”
It takes a few deep breaths before what Ares says lands with me. They... paid my Dad’s bills? “His medical bills?”
Ares nods. “His finances...” He shrugs. “Those bills were crippling. I know you lost your home because of his surgeries and the addiction.” Another shrug. “We did what we could. Hehad a lot of credit card debt from paying medical bills, and that shit spirals like crazy with interest.”
I’m all-out sobbing now. “A-Ares.”
