Page 70 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

I can practically hear the phone cracking in his hand. I know the best and worst part of all this is that I’m not wrong.

For too many years, I’ve let my father live his hockey dreams vicariously through me. But I’m done with that. If he wants me to be in his life, he’s going to have to change.

“If your mother was here—“

“She would have told you off for saying any of that shit to me,” I cut in. “You criticize, but I’m the one making my dreams come true, not you. So, here’s what’s going to happen. Either you get with the program and realize you can’t talk to me that way ever again, or I’m out and we can consider our relationship severed for good. The choice is yours.”

Before he can say anything more, I hang up the phone and toss it on the kitchen counter.

The adrenaline rushing through me causes my breath to come out faster than normal.

I know this is a conversation that’s long overdue, and holy shit if it doesn’t feel weird finally telling my father to fuck off.

I stare at the phone, my father’s words echoing in my head. ‘You need to step up, or you’ll never get anywhere.’ He has no idea. Stepping up isn’t just about hockey anymore. It’s about Aurora, about this potential kid. And I have no fucking clue how to do that.

I hear the rustle of fabric, and I turn to see Aurora in the doorway. I straighten up, looking around.

Fuck, here we go.

“Did you need to use the kitchen?”

She shakes her head. “No, I just…” Her voice trails off, but before I can ask her what’s wrong, she’s already moving, coming at me with surprising speed. When her arms wrap around my shoulders, I instinctively wrap mine around her waist.

“I’m so proud of you for standing up to your dad.”

Her words have me letting out a deep breath, and I feel my body relaxing for the first time in a long time. “Thanks.”

When Aurora pulls back, her eyes are shiny with unshed tears, but her lips are split in a wide smile.

It’s strange to see her crying and yet so happy, and even stranger to believe that it’s all for me.

I don’t deserve kindness like this—but fuck if I’m not tired of denying myself the one thing I want almost more than anything.

Her.

But then reality crashes back in. The text. The pharmacy. I swallow hard, steeling myself. “Well?” I manage to croak out.

Aurora’s smile falters. “You figured it out, huh?” She sighs. “The box says it’s best to test first thing in the morning for a more accurate read.”

My heart pounds in my chest. “Aurora, I... I can’t do a baby right now. I’m just getting my shot at a real career. A kid would...” I trail off, seeing the hurt flash in her eyes.

“Ruin everything?” she finishes, her voice flat. “Got it.”

Before I can say anything else, she’s out of my arms and heading for the door. “Aurora, wait—“

But she’s already gone, leaving me alone in the kitchen with the weight of what I’ve just said crushing down on me.

Chapter thirty

Aurora

My hand hovers overthe doorknob, my heart racing like I’ve just finished a marathon. The pregnancy tests are in my room sitting on my dresser like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. I’ve finally admitted to myself that I have feelings for Aiden—big, terrifying feelings—but add in a possible baby? That’s a whole new level of complicated.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever awaits inside. When I open the front door, I’m hit by the sound of Aiden’s voice —rough, angry, and unmistakably talking to his father. I can’t help but wince at some of the language coming from his dad. I’ve only met the man a couple of times, but none of those times left me feeling any love for the guy, especially when Aiden always seems so upset after their conversations.

I might not be very confrontational, but I’m good at holding grudges, and the one I have against that man is as deep as the Mariana Trench.

‘Either you get with the program and realize you can’t talk to me that way anymore, or I’m out, and we can consider our relationship severed for good. The choice is yours.’

---