Page 121 of Bad Wolf

“I’m…”

I don’t hear the rest. By the grace of God, I find my last shred of restraint and head into Scott’s room. I dial his number and he picks up straight away,

“Man, you are like a feral—”

“Get back here, Scott. Her dad just showed up and I’m two seconds away from beating him to death with your blocker. Five minutes or you better call an ambulance. I’m about to fucking blow.”

“Oh, shit. We’re coming.”

I pace. I pace and I pace and I pace but it does nothing. I can’t quell the need to end this guy. What he’s done! What he keeps doing to her.

The room closes in. The voices beyond the door get further away. I can’t see straight. I can hardly breath. He’s going to take her away from me again. Force her hand, make her choose. I just can’t—

My fist hits something hard but still cushiony enough to absorb the blow.

“Ooof,” Jason says as he doubles over. I don’t think I’ve ever hit anything as hard as I did then.

He lifts up, gasping for air as Wren pushes through the door, while I just stand there mute, shaking out my hand.

“Jason, are you okay? Fuck, Knox, what is the matter with you?”

“I’m fine. I’m fine,” he says as his breathing evens out. “Just caught me off guard and winded me for a second.”

They both blink back at me as I try to calm my racing mind. Did I just nearly hit a door? Did I just nearly rage out two days before the playoffs and break my own hand? That would be the epitome of stupid, right?

I finally snap out of my tailspin and address Jason.

“I’m really sorry, dude.”

He holds up his hand. “It’s fine. Jesus, that was some punch. You put your whole body into that one then, huh?”

Casey and Scott come to join us.

“What the hell just happened?” Casey says, eyes wide.

“Knox punched Jason,” Wren tells them without breaking eye contact with me.

“Accidentally,” I say quickly.

Wren shakes her head. “I need to go talk to Dad. This is ridiculous.”

“He’s gone. We asked him to leave.” Scott shrugs, folding his arms across his chest.

“You did?”

Scott nods. “Yep. Told him you would catch up with him later.”

“No. I need to talk to him, find out what’s going on.”

My head spins and it’s all too much, too fast. I take a seat on the edge of the bed, my head too heavy all of a sudden.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Jason says, placing a calming hand on my shoulder.

“Oh, Ace.” Wren breathes out a heavy sigh and lowers herself to kneel in front of me. Clasping my hands with hers.

“I’m, okay. I think…fuck…” I trail off.

“How can I help you? Do you want a drink? Maybe some food—”

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