Page 65 of Slap Shot at a Second Chance

Yet, he didn’t seem happy about that. My presence was possibly annoying him, but unfortunately for him, there was nothing I could do about that. His parents were my parents as well, and they were Nathaniel’s grandparents, so we were allowed to be here.

The scraping of forks resonated throughout the dining room, and there was no sound of a person’s voice, which was surprising because my mother would always try to make conversation with her son.

Especially now since they were going to play the final seasonal game on Friday, wasn’t she worried about his mental health like she always does when there was a league?

My dad coughed and it felt like everybody’s tense muscles relaxed. The air felt a bit lighter as my mother asked if he wanted a glass of water. He shook his head and I cleared my throat as I looked at Brian, who still hadn’t raised his head.

“Brian, may you please pass the potatoes?” I spoke softly and he looked at me out of the corner of his eyes, slowly looking at the bowl of potato salad that was near him. He nudged it an inch and pointed to it.

“Get it yourself.” He looked back down at his plate, cupping his face as he spread the food around, not eating at all.

I sighed as I got up and reached over the table.I’m not in the mood to fight with him.

As soon as my fingers touched the glass bowl, he pulled it away from me, causing me to stumble a bit. I looked at him shocked as I raised my eyebrow.

“What’s your issue?” I asked as I reached over for the potatoes once again and he pulled them even further away.

“Nothing, I suddenly want the potatoes for myself.” He shrugged as he glared at me and I rolled my eyes, opting for the salt-&-pepper shake, which he grabbed as well and I sighed as I put my hands on my waist, standing up straight.

I really was not in the mood tofuckingargue. I had been feeling sick lately and exhausted, and believe me I got the fact that my brother was angry with me, but this was just downright petty.

“What’s your problem, Brian!” I asked, my voice growing louder with every word. My chest felt constricted as I stared into my brother’s cold eyes, they were the same shade as mine and to see them so cold; crushed me.

“Amber!” I heard my father nervously call for my mother, who was in the kitchen, getting seconds for my father.

“Nothing,” Brian replied, shrugging as he poured out the rest of the salt-&-pepper shake into the potato salad.So fucking childish!

“I was going to eat that,” my father whispered defeatedly as he pointed to the salad that was in my brother’s hands, but neither of us heeded him.

“Something is wrong with you. Why are you acting this way?” I asked, feeling the lump grow in my throat. I also wanted to eat that potato salad and now it was all ruined.

“I’m just like you, Avery. Nothing is wrong,” he said as he dropped the bowl on the table and it clanged loudly, shocking my father and Niel. “It’s just that the difference between us is that you’re sleeping with my best friend,” he bit and my mother gasped as she slammed her hand on the table.

“How da—“ my mother scolded us both as I was about to respond.

“Both of you, outside now!” she said through clenched teeth and I glared at Brian as I grabbed my jacket and followed my mother outside, into the cold veranda before I dropped onto the outdoor couch, crossing my arms over my chest.

She pointed to the couch and Brian sat down as well, grumbling incoherent words as he sat down beside me but scooching to the edge of the couch, leaving ample space between us.

“Don’t come back in until you grow up,” she spoke softly. I could hear the disappointment in her voice as she disappeared back into her house, slamming the kitchen door close.

It’s fucking cold and I’m stuck with this fucking baby.

I clutched my jacket around me, trying to find extra warmth, but my efforts proved to be futile. I pulled my legs on the couch and hugged myself as I looked at the mini farm on the lawn, waiting for our mother to cool down and let us back in.

We sat in silence, both looking away from each other and possibly cursing each other as well. My mother would let us come in any minute now. I looked at the door desperately and Brian sighed as he also crossed his arms over his chest, finally seeming affected by the cold.

Even though his job was centered around the cold, it was impossible for him not to be freezing in such weather.

“She won’t let us in until she sees us talking,” he said as he peered up and looked through the kitchen window. “And she’s not in the kitchen either.”

“Well, I don’t want to talk to you,” I grumbled as I looked at him from the corner of my eye.

“I don’t want to either, but it’s fucking freezing Avery,” he said, his voice coming out harsher and I dropped my legs back on the ground and fully turned to face him.

“Is it my fault that it’s fucking cold? Do I control the fucking weather hmm? Do I Brian?” I shouted and he chuckledhumorlessly under his breath, the mist leaving his lips as he shook his head.

“Well it’s your fault that we’re outside isn’t it!”

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