Page 108 of No Pucks

“A ton. You look good. Strong, but not like your father.” She winks.

I smile and hug her again. “Is Mother still awake?”

It’s not that late, but my mother is an early riser.

“Yes, she’s reading in the solarium.” She gives me another squeeze before demanding my coat and sending me off.

I slip in to the solarium, and Mother looks up, a slight frown forming on her lips.

“Is everything okay?” She puts a bookmark in her novel and sets it aside.

With no idea how to start, I sink into a seat next to her. “I have something to tell you, and it may involve having misled you in the past. I know you dealt with a lot with Dad coming out in the media before you knew, and I don’t want to do that with you.” I find the words, knowing it’s the right thing to do even if she’s upset with me.

Her frown deepens. “I appreciate you coming to me.”

“Try to keep an open mind. Please.”

She searches my face. “Of course.”

I sigh. She has been through so much hurt this year. The last thing I want to do is hurt her more. The words stick in my throat, and I know I have to figure out how to do this, but I don’t know how.

My mother slides her hand into mine. “Whatever you have to tell me, know I will always love you. There is nothing you can say to me that would make me stop. I know you’ve gone through a lot telling me about your father, and I will never forgive him for putting you two in the middle.”

My eyes water, and I fight it, squeezing her hand. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”

“Kids lie sometimes. Lying differs from betraying trust. Neither is good, but you didn’t make a commitment to me.” She sits back, tucking her legs under her. “What’s bothering you so much?”

“I’m kind of dating my hockey coach.” I cringe, waiting for the bomb to process, but she doesn’t react the way I expect.

She pats my cheek. “You think I can’t tell when my oldest, my heart, is in love? I knew the minute you brought that man here, my love. Well, the minute after I confirmed you weren’t trying to set him up with me. Once that was off the table, I had to wonder why you were bringing him around, and then I figured it out.”

My mouth falls open. “How?!”

“The way you look at him. What do you kids say? With heart eyes?”

I give her a flat look. “I don’t have fucking heart eyes.”

“Sure, darling.” She pats my cheek again.

“So you’re not mad?”

“Heavens, no. You’ve always preferred older men. Your coach might not be the best choice, but the heart wants what it wants. I know that. Why did you feel the need to tell me at—” She lifts her wrist to check her watch. “Nine pm?”

I exhale heavily. “Dad. He’s been causing issues since Grandpa fired him, but it’s getting worse since we beat the Monsters. He’s trying to get Anthony fired.”

“He’s always been so petty. I’m not surprised. They aren’t listening to him, are they?”

“It seems like they are. I offered to quit the team, but Anthony doesn’t want me to, so I’m trying something else. I can’t see him get fired. Nothing will make me quit hockey faster. There’s a risk it could all backfire, though, and if it all comes out, I wanted you to hear it from me first and not read it.” I feel better about it already, just getting this off my chest.

“Don’t quit hockey. Even your grandfather is impressed with your playing this year, and you know nothing impresses him!”

“He is?”

She nods emphatically. “Very. He’s been to every game.”

“I know, but it’s Grandfather.”

She smiles. “I know he and your father gave a lot of attention to Evander, but you mean the world to him too. He wants you to take over the team when he dies.”

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