Shit, it’s my dad.

“Hey.”

“Hey, are you in class?”

“No, just woke up. Had to work early.”

He pauses. “You’re working?”

“Yeah, at the coffee shop.”

“Why?” he asks, and I can tell he’s confused. “Do you need more money?”

“No,” I say quickly. “I’m just bored.”

“So focus on hockey. You don’t need to work. I’ll support you.”

“I know, but I need to—”

“You’ve been talking to your brothers, I’m guessing, and they are the ones pushing this?”

“No,” I say even though they kind of are, but I agree with them. I’m not a spoiled brat anymore—I’m a man. Or at least, a man-child who is too insanely spoiled by my mommy. Not that I would ever admit that to anyone else. “I like it.”

“You like it?”

“Yeah.”

“Your main goal is the NHL. Focus on that. Don’t let your brothers outdo you.”

I pause, pressing my lips together. This isn’t a competition with Jude and Jayden. No one is better than anyone. Yeah, we tease and pick at each other, but we just want each other to live our dreams. My dad, he doesn’t get that. He’s mad they don’t want anything to do with him, but that’s not my problem. It’s his. “I’m good.”

“Okay, fine,” he barks, and I don’t miss the frustration in his voice. “Just quit the damn job, okay? I’ll give you whatever you want.”

I don’t know why, but I don’t trust him.

Maybe it has to do with the fact he’s a cheating whore who lied to us all?

Not sure, but I just shrug. “Sure.”

But I’m not quitting. I do like it. It’s fun, and Chase is a cool dude to work for. I like that the money I make goes to whatever the hell I want it to, and I don’t feel bad that it’s someone else’s money. Plus, I get to see Avery perform all the time and she comes in and hangs often. It works for me. I didn’t think it would, but it just does.

“Okay, good. Now, the reason I’m calling…” he says and I hear as he shuffles through papers. “I sent that demo you sent me to Stu Waters, my buddy who I do work with. He needs her number. You didn’t give that to me.”

“Oh, here,” I say, spitting out Avery’s number. When Avery burned her demos to sell at her gigs, I snatched one up and gave it to my dad. I know he has connections in the music industry, and anything to help Avery further her career, I’m doing. Especially when I—or really, my dad—have the connections he does. I want to help. She’s doing everything she can, and I want her to succeed just as much as she does. Just last night, we celebrated the fact she was hired as an intern at Empress Records. She doesn’t start that until January, but we are both so excited. She got her foot in the door, but this could help even more. Stu is a cool dude.

“Cool, I’ll get this over to him. He liked her, wants to talk to her.”

“Awesome,” I say with a grin. “Did you listen to it?”

“I did. She’s good.”

“She is. Amazing.”

“Well, be smart. Don’t get involved with someone when you have things to do.”

Yeah, little too late there, Dad, I think as I nod. “I hear ya.”

“Okay, well, I’ll get this to Stu, and I’ll see you Friday?

I pause. Shit, I was hoping he forgot. “You’re coming?”

“I told you I would.”

“Oh, okay.”

“It’s gonna be fine. Relax. Have you talked to Ralph?”

“Yeah, I have an interview with the Wings organization next week.”

“That’s good. Are they coming to the game?”

“Yeah, and someone from the Sabres and the ’Canes.”

“Wow, Ralph is getting it done.”

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

I really am. Things are going great. People want to watch me play, and I guess somewhere deep inside, I had been nervous about that. After my injury last year, I worried everyone would write me off, but they haven’t. Their interest is still as strong as it was last year. I’m excited. I’m ready.

“Good. All right, I’ll see you in a couple days.”

That doesn’t feel right, but I nod. “All right, talk to you later.”

I hang up and lean back, sucking in a deep breath. Man, why do I feel so guilty? Fuck. Rolling to my side, I kick the blankets off and look at my phone. I should call my mom, tell her that he is coming, but I can’t handle the distress in her voice. I don’t want to upset her. But wouldn’t it be worse if he just showed up and no one knew? I guess I could call Jude, but he would be livid with me. So would Jayden. Fuck me.

I need to tell someone, though, and Avery’s in class.

I hit my sister’s name on my phone, and she answers after the first ring.

“No shit, I was just about to call you.”

I smile. “Miss your baby brother?”

“Hardly,” she laughs and I grin. “Listen, I need a huge favor.”

“Yeah?”

“Come get Angie for me. I have a meeting, and she’s out of school today for some teacher day or some shit. I didn’t know, and Mom is at work and I planned this and I need—”

“No problem,” I say, cutting her off. “What time?”

“I love you, I do. And believe me, you’re my favorite.”

I grin. “Duh, I’m the best.”

“Whoa, calm down. Can you get here by one?”

“Yeah, no problem.”

“Cool… But what did you need? You called me.”

I pause, biting my lip. “Can I ask you something, and you promise you won’t rip me a new one?”

She scoffs. “No, I cannot.”

“Asshole.”

“Brat. What is it?”

“Dad called me.”

“Ah fuck, Jace. What did he want?”

I close my eyes, biting the inside of my lip. “He’s coming to the game.”

When she groans, I squeeze my eyes closed tighter. Lucy isn’t one to hide her feelings. That chick wears them like armor, and everyone knows what she is feeling at all times. But there is something about hearing it in her voice that really hits me in the gut. “Jace, that’s gonna be bad. Especially when Jude is coming in for the game. Really?”