Page 65 of Hot Puck
And I don’t know how she’d feel if I went all caveman and beat the shit out of her ex.
“Hey.” Casio Lindberg drops into the seat next to me.
I glance around, see only a few other guys have boarded the bus and wonder why he’s chosen to sit beside me. I don’t have to wait long to find out.
“Can I ask you something?”
Putting my phone away, I turn to look at him. “Sure.”
“How do you leave your sisters behind?”
I laugh. “Not easily. And this trip is the first. They’ve been at all our other away games.”
“Hmm…”
“Why do you ask?”
With a sigh, he rubs a hand over his face. “I have a sister. She’s six.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, not something I talk about much. She’s the product of my old man having an affair. My mother acts like Bella doesn’t exist and since my dad is dead, she only has me and her mother.”
“And you’re involved in her life?” I’m not sure why Casio has decided to confide in me but I’m not about to shut him down. I wish I’d had someone to talk to when I’d gotten guardianship of my sisters.
“I am. Was.” He blows out another breath. “Her mom wouldn’t move with me. I’ve offered to support her and Bella, but she refuses. Fuck, my old man never gave her anything but sperm, so I get why she doesn’t want me helping her.”
“But she’s let you spend time with your sister?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s all about that.”
“What’s the age difference?”
“Twenty-four years.”
“You could be her dad.”
“Same as you and yours.” He eyes me. “The baby could be yours.”
“She could.” A lightbulb lights up in my brain. “Ah, that’s why you’re talking to me about this.”
“Yes. I figured you’d have some insight in how to cope with being away from her. We FaceTime and any break I get, I fly to New York to see her.”
“Did you want to come to Baton Rouge?”
“No. And I want out as soon as I can.” He shakes his head. “No, I’m not going to play shit to make them dump me.”
“Never even thought that. Why the hell would you think it?”
“I didn’t. Someone on my old team told me to do it so I can get back to New York.”
“You came from the Knights, right?” At his nod I say, “So you played with Coach.”
“I did. The man was a genius on the ice. He’s one off it. I loved playing with him, love working under his guidance too, but…”
“You miss your sister.”
He nods.
