Page 108 of Boots & Scars

Everly's voice wavered with confusion. "My father? You knew him?"

"I'm Cooper's father," he announced, as if it were a badge of honor instead of a mark of shame.

Her eyes widened in shock. Without warning, she walked around me, her movements purposeful and swift. Before I could react, she stood in front of him and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the empty rink, a harsh punctuation to the tension in the air.

"I know violence is never the answer," she said, her voice trembling but strong. "But after what you did to Cooper, even I can admit you deserved that."

My eyes widened in disbelief. Everly, the biggest Pacifist I knew, had just struck my father. For me.

I looked at her in awe. My little killer was fiercer than I ever realized. My chest tightened with an emotion I couldn't quite name.

I still didn’t know what I did to deserve her.

"Having said that…"Everly cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I wasn't sure I'd ever meet you, sir. But now that I have, I just wanted to apologize for my father's behavior?—"

"Don't do that, sugar," I cut in, keeping my eyes locked on my father. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault your father was unfaithful."

"My son is right," my father said tightly, his jaw clenched. "The choices they made were their own. I don't hold you accountable. Though, I'd think twice about welcoming him back into your life."

"I think you're the last person to give her advice,Dad," I drawled, a bitter edge to my voice.

"Now," my father said. "I'm not sure what you heard about what happened —"

"Oh, I'll tell her again," I said, a dark grin stretching across my face. "It's my favorite memory."

"Cooper," my father growled, his voice low and dangerous. He turned to Everly, attempting to soften his tone. "I'm sorry for my son. He's going through a lot right now. His ex-fiancée has come out with cheating and abuse allegations, and truth be told, I wouldn't be surprised if they're true. He has quite the tem?—"

"They're not," she interrupted, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

I stilled, every muscle in my body tensing as I processed her words.

"I'm sorry?" My father’s voice was incredulous.

"They're not true," she repeated firmly. "I know your son. And he's none of those things. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she recanted what she said about him." She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving his. "And of course he has a temper. His family fell apart, and when he was trying to help you, to tell you the truth, you punished him for it."

"Excuse me?" My father’s tone grew sharper, more dangerous.

"Don't talk to her in that tone," I snapped, stepping closer to her as if to shield her from his venom.

"You're a bad father," she declared, her eyes widening in surprise at her own words but refusing to back down. She pressed on, determination hardening her voice. "I know I don't have experience with fathers, but what you did to Cooper is unfathomable."

"You don't know what you're talking about," he growled back.

"I don't know a lot of things," she agreed softly. "But now that I know what I don't know, it's my job to figure it out. And it's your job as his father to support him. To see the best in him."

"How do you want me to do that when he has this anger in him he can't control, huh?" My father's sneer cut through the air like ice. "Even now, I have to come here. He's dragging my good name through the mud, and he needs to stop."

"Where do you think he got that anger, sir?" Everly countered. "You punished him for something he didn't do. You might not blame me for your family falling apart, but you certainly blamed him, and he has to live with that for the rest of his life. You're supposed to protect him."

"What," he spat with disdain, "lock my son away from the world like your mother did to you?"

Everly flinched, and my hands curled into fists. The sight of her recoiling under his words stoked a fire in my chest.

"My mother was wrong too," she said, her voice wavering but steady. "I can't defend her actions. She wanted to protect me too much, and you didn't protect Cooper enough. Sir, your son is a talented hockey player, which I'm sure he got from you. But more than that, he's a good man. And the fact that you can't see that is you choosing to believe the worst in him."

"Oh, I see," my father said, sliding his eyes over to me. "This is how you get your revenge? You sleep with his daughter? Does that make you feel good? Taking advantage of her?"

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