Page 6 of Puck Drop
“Yes,” I exclaim, happy that he gave me something to fight with. “And we are allowed to do and see whomever we want.”
He ignores me, though, and turns his eyes back to Logan.
“You signed a contract with the New York Sliders,” he starts.
Logan nods in agreement. “Yes, sir.”
“That contract contained a morality close,” my father continues. “And I know for a fact that all terms were spelled out to you clearly prior to you putting the pen to the paper and signing.” A brief and dramatic pause ensues. “Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir,” Logan rushes to confirm once again.
“The morality clause included any fraternization with the staff…”
I hop up and down as I interrupt him. “I’m not employed by the Sliders,” I yell and point at him. “Ha!”
He doesn’t pay me any attention before addressing Logan again. “Or anyone deemed inappropriate by the New York Sliders organization.”
That part completely knocks the wind out of me. “That could be anyone, daddy.”
I hate how whinny my voice comes out. I do sound like the high school kid he accused me of being like.
“That could be anyone,” my father agrees, this time finally looking at me. “And that includes you.”
“What are you saying?” I argue back. “That Logan is forbidden from being with me? What is this, the Dark Ages?”
“What I am saying is thatLogan,” he enunciates his name when he says it, “should’ve known better.” His voice is stronger now, leaving no room for further arguments.
Logan takes a step forward, getting closer to me. I don’t know if I should be grateful for it, or if I should push him back and force him to save himself at the risk of sacrificing me.
“Sir,” he addresses my father. “With all due respect, I love Elizabeth.”
My heart grows in my chest at hearing his words.
“None of this was deliberate,” he continues. “We didn’t know who the other was when we first met.”
I see the urge on my father’s face to roll his eyes at that last part. It’s obvious he doesn’t believe Logan.
“And when we realized it, we tried to come up with a way to make it work.”
“How long exactly has it been?” My father snaps at him.
Logan stands up straighter, looking taller than ever. “Six months, sir.”
“Six months,” my father repeats in disbelief. “And you haven’t found the time to come forward with this insix months?”
“Daddy, we wanted to be sure first,” I try to interfere.
“Sure of what?” He looks at me with pure fury. “That I’d learn about it when I found you both naked in the arena locker room? Because let me tell you, Elizabeth.” He points a finger at me. “Finding my daughter naked with a man was not on my fucking bingo card for this year, or for the rest of my fucking life, for that matter!”
I flinch at his tone of voice. I’ve always been a daddy’s girl through and through. He never raised his voice at me like this, and he’s never dropped the F bombs on me either. I am at a loss on how to proceed, but I am still hopeful that things will work out in the end.
I am so into my own head, I almost miss what he says next when he addresses Logan.
“Meeting tomorrow morning, seven o’clock, sharp,” he barks at him. “If you have an agent, I advise you to bring him or her with.”
“Sir, I urge you to reconsider letting me go,” Logan is quick to respond. “I am a great goalie, and I…”
“Third string goalies are a dime a dozen, son,” my father sneers at him. “I can fill an entire arena with them before midnight tonight. This is a professional hockey league, you’re not billeting in the middle of nowhere in Canada. You should’ve thought of where you wanted your life to go when you decided that a contract with the Sliders didn’t mean anything to you.”
