I want to kiss her worries away, promise her that no matter what, it’ll be okay.
She trembles slightly. It would be unnoticeable to most, but I feel it. I hold her tighter, resting my chin on her shoulder, my breath against her neck.
Bristol inhales sharply.
Kyler’s brow is furrowed as he stares at his daughter. “I’m having a press conference tomorrow with the team. I’m not giving up the Ice Dragons. I’m moving them to Montana at the end of the season.”
That was the big announcement?
Bristol’s shoulders instantly relax, and she expels a heavy breath of air. “You could have led with that, Dad!”
“It’s a big change,” Kyler says. “You grew up in New York; my brother lives there.”
“I haven’t seen Uncle Jasper in like two years. You punished him for visiting after he bought me alcohol my senior year of high school. He actually made my graduation party fun!”
“He wasn’t being a responsible adult,” Kyler grits. “You and your friends were underage. Until your uncle apologizes?—”
“You’re never going to speak with him again?” Bristol laughs and runs a hand through her hair, annoyance growing into irritation. “News flash, Dad, I’m an adult. If Uncle Jasper and Aunt Amber want to visit, then great. I’m going to see them!”
Kyler’s nostrils flare. “I didn’t invite you and your boyfriend over for dinner to discuss your Uncle Jasper.”
Bristol snorts. “Could have fooled me. Moving the Ice Dragons seems like a dick move, even for you, Dad.”
“Bristol!” Emerson scolds.
She shifts on the chair, turning to face me. My hand is around her shoulder, still offering her support. I would have thought her father moving to Breckenridge would have been good news.
“What? It’s true.” Bristol stands and brushes past me, heading into the kitchen. I’m not sure if she’s planning on going toe-to-toe with her father or just restless and can’t sit still.
She opens the freezer, grabbing a pint of ice cream and a spoon. She doesn’t even grab a bowl, she just digs into the untouched sweet treat and sulks.
I watch with fascination as she takes a bite of the chocolate brownie concoction, and I cautiously follow her into the kitchen. It seems like she’s in need of some support. I’m just not sure why she’s upset.
Does it have to do with her Uncle Jasper or her father moving here?
“I thought you’d be happy that I’m moving closer to you,” Kyler says. His tone is even, and there’s obvious concern on his face. “Is that not what you want?”
“I came out here to go to college away from home!” Bristol shouts. “And first Mom moves out here. I can’t fault her because her job is technically here, but I didn’t realize until recently she asked to be transferred.” She scowls at her mother.
Emerson is quiet, taking it all in as she seems to realize speaking up now probably won’t help matters.
“And you!” She takes a mouthful of ice cream, waits a moment while it melts in her mouth and she swallows it, cleaning the spoon with her tongue. She points the empty spoon at her father. “You need to learn to let go. I’m not a little kid anymore.”
Bristol storms off, taking the carton of ice cream with her as I stand dumbfounded in the kitchen.
What the hell just happened? I rub the back of my neck, awkward as fuck with her parents staring from each other to me.
“I’ll go talk to her,” I say, deciding their silence is too much and I just hope that Bristol wants my company right now.
“Stay.” Kyler points at me. He glances at Emerson and nods for her to get up and talk to their daughter.
A heavy breath spills past my lips. I’m not sure I want to stay, but I do as I’m told. I’m not sure why.
“Sit.”
There he goes again, shooting off orders.
I stalk around to the counter and grab the chair where Emerson had been seated earlier, closest to the hallway. Maybe I can get up and run if I need an escape.
