Page 66 of Play Maker

“My cup?” I pointed to my dick.

“Hockey, Jace. THE cup.”

“Fine. I swear on THE cup.”

That was serious shit right there.

Axel rubbed a hand over his face. “He hates me because I’m…I’m actually his half brother. And I guess, his cousin.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“I’m a Lund, but the father I grew up with isn’t my bio dad. His brother, my uncle, is my real dad.”

For the first time in my life, I had absolutely nothing to say.

“Yeah, it’s fucked up,” Axel muttered and ran a hand over his jaw. “I told you.”

“You mean your mom and her brother-in-law?—”

Axel nodded.

“Holy shit.”

“I found out a year ago. I always felt different, but I finally knew why. They don’t want it public though. That would sully their reputation.”

“Oh my God,” I whispered. “No wonder you wanted to get out of Redgewick.”

He nodded. “My family didn’t want me to come here but when I told them I knew about my real father, well, let’s just say it bought me time. I get access to my trust fund when I turn twenty-one. Nothing they can do after that. And they can’t touch that money. My grandfather put it in place when I was born.”

“Why would they need to touch it? Don’t they have enough?”

He sighed. “Not anymore. I mean, yes, when I was growing up. But they’re spending more than they make. They have lots of houses and cars and expensive vacations but it’s all for show. Most on borrowed money. They’ve got massive debt and it’s getting worse.”

“How do you know that?”

“They were arguing about it last year. Thankfully, I have enough money to pay for my tuition until I graduate. My grades weren’t good enough for a scholarship to any school.”

“I don’t know what to say. It’s like something out of a TV drama.”

“Unfortunately, for me, it’s all too real.”

“Reality sucks sometimes.”

His phone buzzed.

Axel picked his phone up and swore.

“What is it?”

“I have to take my meds.”

“Oh.”

“I’m on antidepressants. Have been since I was fifteen. It’s not a cure, but it helps.”

“Do you see a therapist?”

“For a while I did,” Axel admitted. “He was okay, but then my mom slept with him, and I really didn’t respect him after that.”

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