Page 1 of Puck'n Bully
1
Hayden
The wind howls against my face as I wade deeper into the churning waves of the sea. Cold water drenches my jeans, chilling my skin. The rolling clouds overhead let out a thunderous roar, reverberating through me, warning me not to take another step toward the oncoming waves.
Would it be so bad if I let the sea claim my soul?I wonder as a huge wave crashes over me, drenching me fully.
Tears seep from my closed eyelids as my heart squeezes, sending waves of cold through my chest. I drove this far out to escape my father and his relentless obsession with my performance as the center of my team but even here, his words haunt me.
Your team won but it wasn’t because of you. So what if you scored three goals, you still let those bastards knock you down on your ass, his seething voice, louder than the thunder, hisses in my head.It’s your fault you couldn’t score another goal for the rest of the game.
He’d slapped me in the end, the impact so hard, it smashed my lip and left it bleeding. The cut stings in the freezing wind, reminding me of his abuse.
My fingers curl into fists as I stare out at the raging sea.
A step forward and the weight of everything on my shoulder would disappear. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I wonder if I’ll dare to risk it or just turn back and continue to let my fears and uncertainties burden me.
The wind howls around me, waiting...
And then—
“Don’t you dare.”
A male voice cuts through the storm, sharp as a blade, shaking with something raw and desperate. The sound of thrashing water erupts close behind me, alerting me of a stranger’s presence.
Before I can turn around to face him, strong fingers grip my wrist. The force of the pounding waves nearly thrashes me against the stranger’s chest.
He’s so warm, my mind whispers even as I try to get my footing on the rolling sand under my feet. A fork of lightning lights up the sky and the atmosphere around me, illuminating the man’s face momentarily.
He seems to be a few years younger than me, maybe he’s a freshman at college. His wide eyes reflect the dark clouds overhead while his soft blond curls wave and thrash around his face.
“You can’t do this,” he says in a strong voice, his eyes boring into me. “You don’t get to leave. You don’t get to run. At least...not like this.”
I want to tell him it’s not what it seems like.
Even though I contemplated for a moment whether to end it all, I came out here to escape the storm in my heart. Not to kill myself.
“Even if you feel lost, there’s always a solution,” he says, unknowingly speaking to my shattered soul. “There’s always a way out of the deepest hell if you’re just willing to fight.” A fury that could challenge the wild storm rages in his eyes as his grip tightens on my wrist. “Ineedyou to fight.”
I almost nod at his ferocious war cry.
Surprise sparks in the hollow darkness within my chest. Why am I reacting so strongly to this strange kid?
Anguish mars the soft beauty of his face as he takes a step toward me. His warm breath fans over my chest, a whisper of warmth against the drenched, cold fabric of my shirt. “Do you really believe this is the answer to all your problems?” he asks, staring right into my soul. “Do you believe it’ll all end if you disappear?”
I remain silent, as something bright flickers in the dark, bottomless pit of my heart. This stranger is stirring emotions inside me that I’ve long buried. He almost makes me crave someone who’d be on my side and fight for me.
He’s starting to make me cravehim.
A shudder reverberates through me. I can’t let myself think this way about another man. If my father knew of these feelings, he’d unleash his inner monster on me.
A wave of rage and hatred crashes over me.
Even now, in this very moment, when I’m suspended between hope and despair, my thoughts go to the man who’s been ruling my life since I was born.
A sharp tug on my wrist brings me back to the present moment. My gaze falls on the guy in front of me, erasing all thoughts from my head.
“Do you want to live?” he asks.
