Fifteen Years Old
“I don’t wantto go to boarding school.”
As my father weaves the car through the Back Bay of Boston, I glare at the dashboard. Why the hell is he so determined to make this my new home? I know nothing about this area.
“That’s why this is the perfect solution. You can come home whenever you want, but this gives you the freedom to focus on school and hockey while your mother and I focus on her illness. You know her; if it weren’t absolutely necessary, she wouldn’t have agreed, but you can’t miss this chance, and I—” His voice cracks.
I squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve looked up to my dad my entire life. He’s a great businessman but an even better dad. And I’ve seen him break down more times than I can count in the last few weeks. He’s always been emotional when it comes to us. He loves hard. Especially Mom. Their love story is an epic one. The kind that makes it impossible to believe it could ever come to an end.
He missed out on the first decade of my older sister’s life and it’s always killed him, so I understand that he isn’t taking any of this lightly. My younger brother James left for boarding school last week.It’s in London, and Dad’s brother Garreth will be nearby if James needs him.
And since Chloe is in Paris working for our family’s magazine, it’s just me they have to worry about.
Me and my hockey schedule.
It’d be impossible to keep up with it while Mom is in treatment.
If I went to boarding school, I would have to skip this season. And after all the work I’ve done to get here, my mother would be devastated if I gave it up.
This is the right answer. They’re doing the best they can. I just wish I could be there for themandplay hockey.
That I wasn’t a chore. That I could help.
“I know. I’m sorry,” I say, head hanging.
In my periphery, he swipes a stray tear and nods. “It’s going to be okay. Finn is thrilled to have another boy in the house, and Beckett will get you to practice and games. It’ll be easy since Addie has to be there too.”
I plaster on a smile, not wanting to worry him more. “Yeah, it’ll be cool hanging with Finn.”
“And Addie?” He side-eyes me, his brows raised.
Frowning, I sit back. Why is he looking at me like that? Adeline is my friend. And a goalie like me. On the ice, she’s my competition. And she’s damn good. This season, there are three of us on the elite team. She’s the only girl. Period. She’s got to be used to it by now. All the other girls we played with as kids have either moved into girls’ hockey or they’ve quit. At this level, it’s hard for them to keep up. Adeline has never had that problem.
I shrug. “Sure.”
Dad’s responding chuckle is dry, but it’s still good to see him smile. “Right.”
Not understanding what he’s insinuating, I turn toward the window and focus on the brick buildings we pass.
Soon we’re easing down an unfamiliar street, passing brownstone after brownstone. Dad says that Brooks and Aiden Langfield live on the street too, so maybe it won’t be so bad. Brooks is one of the best goalies to ever play, and now that he’s retired, he’s always down totrain with Adeline—and me by extension. I guess I’ll get even more of that now that I’m living with her. That certainly doesn’t suck.
My father pulls into the driveway of a brownstone about five doors from the corner, and Beckett comes into view, with a massive dog at his side.
“If I don’t get a chance to say it before leaving, I’m so incredibly proud of you, and I’m only a phone call away. If you need me, I’ll be here.” My father chokes on his words, his blue eyes glassy with tears. “And I’ll come to as many games as I can.”
Lips quivering, I suck in hard. I don’t want to break down and give him something else to worry about. “I know, Dad.”
He leans across the center console and pulls me in for a long hug. “I love you so much, Jonathan. You and your siblings are everything we ever wanted. I hope I’m not fucking you up too much.”
I shake my head against my dad’s shoulder, a strangled sob breaking free. “Never. Love you too.”
As we pull apart, my father laughs. “Fuck, shit, I forgot to tell you—they don’t curse here.”
Frowning, I survey the large house. “What?”
“Beckett—” Dad shakes his head. “They use duck instead of cuss words. Just—” He rolls his eyes. “It’s an expensive lesson, so try hard to use duck.”
“I’ll fucking watch my language before I use the word duck.”
