Page 26 of Breaking Point

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Fuck.

I’m pretty sure I curse out loud because a small sound comes over the line.

Fucking Foster.

Doubling down, I push out, “I haven’t been playing well. I have extra sessions to make up for what I’m lacking.”

“Why aren’t you playing well, honey?”

Her sweet voice is almost my undoing, almost the thing that makes me scream,Because I killed my brother and I can’t allow myself to breathe when he can’t!

I decide to settle on a half-truth. “Because my best friend isn’t here to help me anymore.”

My voice cracks at the end, igniting a chain reaction that has my mom sniffling on the other line. After a sharp inhale, my mom’s muffled voice, tinged with emotion, fills the room. “Please let me see you, Grayson. Please. This is killing me.”

For the second time in my life, I make the most catastrophic choice and choose to be selfish.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper gutturally before hanging up the phone.

ICEHAWKS

ASHER O’CONNOR

Who the fuck put a dead fish in my car?

THEO IRVING

Why do you automatically assume it’s us?

JACK LEWIS

Poor form O'Connor

ASHER O’CONNOR

Did anyone see which fucker put the fish in my car?

LOGAN JOHNSON

It was Irving

THEO IRVING

Traitor! Next time you need me to take a crazy puck bunny off your ass I’ll turn a blind eye

JACK LEWIS

very happy to report I was not involved in this one

JACK LEWIS

I’d like a formal apology for the assumption, O’Connor

ASHER O’CONNOR

There’s still glitter in my carpet from the last prank you pulled, dipshit. Pay my cleaning bill

Jack Lewis has left the chat.

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