Page 108 of Racking Up Penalties
“See you tomorrow, Tessa.” He leans forward to press a swift, tender kiss on my forehead. It’s a fleeting touch, but it sears into my skin, leaving a warmth that lingers long after he pulls away.
“Bye, Tristan.” I watch him retreat, his figure blending with the throngs of departing fans until he disappears entirely.
Alone now, I wrap my arms around myself, a sudden chill creeping up despite the stuffy confines of the arena.
The crowd’s roar has faded into a distant hum, and I’m standing alone by the rink’s exit waiting for Liam and Ethan.
My phone vibrates but it’s just Emma texting to check in. I type a quick response, my thumbs moving mechanically as my mind drifts towards Ethan and Liam.
A sudden shadow looms over me, causing me to pocket my phone and look up. It’s Michael, Ethan and Liam’s dad, and he’s striding toward me with a purpose that sets off alarm bells in my head. His posture is rigid, the lines of his face etched with barely controlled fury.
“Waiting for my sons, are you?” His voice isn’t raised, but there’s a sharpness to it that cuts through the noise around us.
I straighten up, summoning courage I didn’t know I had. “Yes, I am,” I reply, trying to match his directness while keeping my voice steady.
“Of course.” Michael stops an arm’s length away, his expression unreadable, but the air around him practically crackles with tension.
My heart pounds against my ribs, erratic and loud, and I remind myself that I have every right to be here, waiting for Ethan and Liam. He is the one who shouldn’t be here.
“Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Matthews?” I ask, tilting my chin up in defiance—because shrinking back would mean defeat, and Tessa Montgomery doesn’t back down from a challenge, especially not when it involves the people she cares about.
Michael’s eyes narrow, and he leans in just enough to invade my personal space. “You think you can play with their hearts like they’re trinkets for your amusement?” His voice is a low growl, each word deliberate, laced with accusation.
I step back, the coldness in his gaze sending a shiver down my spine. I’m trying to process his words, but they hit like darts, sharp and unexpected. “I would never—” I start.
“Never what? Never toy with them? Or never admit that you are? Whether you think it or not, dating both of them is unfair and disgusting,” He scoffs, and it’s like he’s peeling back layers of my confidence with every syllable.
The heartbeat in my ears is deafening. My fingers tremble slightly at my sides, betraying the composure I’m desperately clinging to. I’ve faced criticism before, but nothing like this—nothing so personal, so charged with hostility.
“Your sons mean everything to me,” I say, forcing the words out. “I respect them too much to ever disgrace them.”
“Respect?” Michael’s laugh is bitter, humorless. “What you call respect looks a lot like shame to me. You think you’re worthy of Ethan? He’s the one I care about.”
The question stings, and I feel exposed like he’s stripped away all pretenses and left me standing bare under a harsh spotlight. A surge of fear washes over me, cold and relentless. I try to summon that inner fire that always seems to burn at the right moment, but doubt is a damp blanket smothering the flames.
“Liam is your son too. You’re unworthy of him,” I snap.
He leans back, crossing his arms as if he’s rendered his final judgment. “We’ll see about that.”
I straighten my spine, the cold arena air bristling against my skin. Michael stands before me like a formidable shadow, but I can’t let his darkness eclipse the light of what I feel for Ethan and Liam. My heart might be racing, but it’s not just with fear—it’s fueled by the love that has become the very beat of its rhythm.
“Michael,” I begin, my voice steadier than I feel. “I don’t know what kind of love you’ve known, but mine isn’t measured by some arbitrary standard of worthiness.” The words tumble out, bold and unapologetic. I see the tightening of Michael’s jaw, the flare of anger in his eyes that I’ve dared to challenge him. But it’s too late to retreat now.
“Love isn’t something you qualify for,” I continue, my voice rising with conviction. “It’s something you give freely, and it’s something I have every right to give to Ethan, Liam, or anyone else.”
Michael steps closer, his height towering over me like a dark cloud ready to burst. The menace wraps around me, a tangible thing, and I feel my fear spike as I realize that my words might have consequences I’m not prepared for.
“Girl, you’re playing with fire,” he growls, his voice low and threatening. A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to let it show.
“Maybe so,” I reply, locking gazes with him. My hands are trembling, but I hide them behind my back. This is where I draw the line, where I claim my power against whatever storm he might bring.
“Your sons are not your possessions,” I assert, the words laced with a strength borrowed from the love I feel. “They’re human beings capable of making their own choices about who they love. And they don’t love you. They want nothing to do with you.”
The air between us crackles with tension, and in the silence that follows, I know I’ve crossed a line I can’t uncross. Michael’s face hardens, his eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
“You think you’re brave?” His voice is a low rumble of thunder. “Bravery won’t protect you from everything, Tessa.”
My throat tightens at the implied threat, but I hold his gaze. I am a woman standing in her truth, no matter how fearsome the opposition.
