My one goal in life was making it into the NHL, and I would’ve done everything in my power to get there. And luck seemed to be on my side for once, because when a scout from Riverside State came to a game, he offered me a full ride hockey scholarship—board, room, and everything else included. I couldn’t believe that my luck had finally taken a turn.
Everything was going great, I loved being a Riverside Dragon and playing on a team with so many potential future NHL stars. But I still felt this uneasy feeling of not belonging and wanting to know moreabout who I was as a person.
Which then had me looking into my files when I was drunk one night in freshman year, and that’s how I found out about Sebastian. Of course, that then led to me searching him up on the internet. Millionaire with several hotel chains scattered around the country, forty-three years old, single—but was married for many years, the reason for the divorce with his now ex-wife wasn’t specified, but whatwasspecified was the two sons they shared together.
But this is where the story gets hilarious, the oldest, which is technically his middle child, was born the dayafterme. Imagine my surprise when I found that out. So not only was Sebastian a cheat, but when he found out about me, he chose to throw one three-year-old to the wolves while the other lived a life of luxury and stability—guess who pulled the short straw on that one.
The day after, a very hungover, and still very seething Greyson stupidly decided to go to one of his hotels and demanded to see him. Luckily—if you could even call it that—he was there. I stared at him for what felt like hours realizing I got his nose, eyes, and even his cheek bones.
I was fuming, pissed even. I remember standing up from the chair in his office to walk away, I don’t even know why I was there in the first place. Maybe to take a look at the face of the man who decided I wasn’t worth it.
But then my name on his lips stopped me in my tracks. I turned around so fast that I got whiplash, turns out he knew who I was, and apparently, he’d been “taking care” of me for years. The allowance I got in the group home, that was actually his money. He said he feltbad when he found out that I was jumping from foster home to foster home, so he decided to be a “father” and give money. Because that’s what rich folks do, isn’t it? Just give a check and hope everything will be okay.
Ha.Fuck off.
He knew I was jumping from home to home, yet he did nothing to get me out of the situation. Instead choosing to throw money in my direction, hoping I’d be fine.
And for the most part, I was fine.
I am fine.
I didn’t want his “guilty” money, so I ended up bringing my wallet out and slamming bills down on the table and telling him he’d get the rest soon before storming out of there more pissed than I was when I arrived.
And now we’re all caught up, for the most part anyway.
“Grey?” Chase, one of my best friends and the one I lean on the most knocks me from my thoughts as he skates up to me.
“Huh?” I blink, glancing around to make sure I haven’t missed anything important while I spaced out.
He scrunches his eyebrows together, searching my face. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I nod, to which he gives me a pointed look letting me know he doesn’t believe me. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Is this about that away game?” He asks, glancing around the rink.
Yes. “No, it’s nothing.” I shake my head.
“You know I’m here for you, right?” He leans against the goal.
“Uh-huh.” I nod.
“And you also know that I know you insideout,right?” He cocks a brow.
Of course he does. Out of my three best friends, he’s the one I lean on the most. I don’t know why I gravitate toward him, maybe it’s because he’s always been there for me—for all of us—and maybe it’s because he has no issue sitting down and listening to any of us rant for hours on end about our problems.
He’ll sit there, listen, and give the best fucking advice ever. How he does it? I don’t know. I always joke with him that he should be a therapist if hockey doesn’t work out for him because he’d be a good one.
“Yes, it’s about the away game.” I finally give in.
There’s no point lying to Chase, he always gets the truth out eventually.
He gives a soft smile. “We’ll all be there, okay? If shit happens, I’ve got your back,” he glances over to where our friends, who are pushing each other around the ice. “We all do.”
I give a weak smile. “I appreciate it.”
“Great practice guys!” Coach shouts from the side.
“Let’s go, Montgomery.” Chase lightly smacks my shoulder before skating away.
