Page 147 of Off-Ice Misconduct
And under our orphaned circumstances, I wouldn’t change a fucking thing.
“I know about the fights, Luke,” he says. “I know what you did for me. Why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?”
“I wanted to protect you.”
“I wanted to be your equal.”
“I didn’t want you to be like me.”
“If I were like you, would you stop loving me?”
I shake my head. “Tate?—”
“Sorry, it’s in the genes, bro. We’re too much, we’re commanding and demanding, and while I might have a whole bunch of other issues, that’s not one of them. I like being a force to be reckoned with.”
“Can we start fresh—semi-fresh?” I amend. We can’t go back to square one, but maybe we can build from here.
“I’d like that, plus, I’m always gonna need your help. Wait until you see what we’re gonna have going on next season.”
I scowl.
That’s when Ace strolls in the door. “Wait until you hear what I’ve got to tell you, Daddy—oh god.” His face flames when he sets eyes on Tate. “Uh, hey, Coach.”
Tate smirks. “You’re fine, McKinnon. Daddy, here, is all yours. See ya, bro.”
Ace groans in his wake. “I’m never gonna live that down.
“C’mere, princess. I need your help packing. This desk is coming with me.”
“Packing? Are we going somewhere? Because you don’t go anywhere without me—that’s the fucking rule.”
“Nowhere without you. That’s the rule.”
34
Ace
Iwas barely in the door—still smelling like antiseptic and hospital food—when I returned home last week and was accosted with tea galore.
“Cap, Cap! You fucking missed it while you were gone. Lars tracked down Mrs. Chamberlain. I, uh, urged him to. I knew she was on our side, and I was right. Mrs. Chamberlain found her grandson for us,” Bender said.
Interestingly, Bender didn’t reach out himself. Was Shep still jealous of her? Better question, why did I need to ask? He is. Especially when I’m pretty sure they’re not … stable.
“Where was that little worm?”
“Hiding out like the coward he is at one of his family’s beach houses. Guess what she did to him for what he did to you?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “Spanked his ass, right in front of everyone, southern gramma style. Wooden spoon and everything.”
Yep, she sure did—there are videos.
Shep put his arms around Bender’s neck from behind. Bender leaned into him instead of shrugging him off. “Yeah, she’s one badass bitch.”
Since I’d already told Luke the news about Vancouver, it was finally time to tell the guys. They weren’t mad at me, they were stoked. When Beta Sigma heard, they saw dollar signs, and I told them they could use it. My contract news pushed our views into the stratosphere, and we exceeded our fundraising goals. It was even reposted by both Alderchuck brothers—two of Vancouver’s top offensive players.
I’m gonna play hockey with the fuckingAlderchuckbrothers. Legends. Both of them.
It's a fucking bummer that Luke has to move off campus, but East came up with the idea to have Luke move in with them until the end of the school year. Luke didn’t need to worry about money once the will shit was taken care of, and he could have rented an apartment in town, but I wasn’t over almost losing Dad, and my spare time’s been divided between him and Luke. East thought it would make it easier for me and give us the chance to get to know each other before I was off to the NHL.
I thought Luke would hate it, but he was all for it. “Will it be a tad odd living with your dad? Maybe. But you can’t help the timing, princess. He was in a horrible accident. I get your need to be close to him … before I take you away for most of the year.”
