Page 61 of Cheap Shot

“Really? It lives on?”

“Oh yeah, the same coach is there and he tells them about it every year when they go to play that team, but it’s never been found again. I have a feeling it shut down.”

“Here are those waters.” Our waitress set two glasses in front of us. “Are you ready to order?”

Haley cringed. “Sorry, I haven’t even looked yet. Do you have any recommendations?”

She cocked her head and tapped her pen on the small notepad in her other hand. “Most people order the spaghetti and meatballs or the chicken parm.”

Haley nodded. “I think I’ll go with the spaghetti and meatballs.”

“I’ll get the baked ziti with meatballs.” I handed our untouched menus back to the waitress, and she gave us a smile.

“I’ll get those right out.”

I leaned forward, feeling the need to be quiet even if we were basically alone. “I’m really sorry about what happened with your friends. As the older brother, I’ve never had to worry about being known as someone’s little brother, but I worry about Jake going through that.”

She took a sip of water before meeting my eyes. “How does he handle it?”

I laughed. “He doesn’t have to worry about it. He’s better than I was at his age, and if anyone compares him to me, it’s usually to prove that point.”

She laughed. “Good for him.”

“I know. He deserves all the praise and attention he gets. He’s got more natural talent than anyone I’ve met. Combine that with his work ethic, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be unstoppable once he’s in college or the NHL. Once he has the chance to be with other players that are at his level to push him.”

Her eyes softened. “I really like how you talk about him.”

I shrugged. “He’s a punk and makes some stupid decisions, like flying out here without telling anyone, but he’s a good kid.”

“The last time I spoke to Ethan, he called me stupid and said I was an embarrassment to him and our family. Oh, and myself of course.”

My jaw clenched. What was wrong with him? I knew something was going on and he was acting differently lately, but that was no excuse to talk to anyone, let alone his sister, like that.

“I can’t believe that. Haley, I’m so sorry.”

She waved me off like it didn’t matter, but I could clearly see the pain in her eyes. “It’s fine. It wasn’t anything I haven’t heard before.”

“From who?” How could anyone else say something so hurtful to her?

Her chest rose and fell slowly. “My parents.”

They were really that cruel to her? I couldn’t believe it. I’d seen her parents around Ethan plenty of times over the years and they were nothing but doting and supportive. Did that not extend to Haley too?

“They’ve always preferred him. He’s the golden child, while I’m the disappointment.”

Never in a million years would I ever have thought that about her. I might not know her backstory or her grades, but they couldn’t be that terrible.

“My parents are hard on me, and even with Jake outperforming me, I don’t think they would ever consider me a disappointment.” I shook my head. “No one should ever be made to feel like that.”

She nodded, staring down at her water like it had all the answers she needed.

“Oh,” I said.

Her eyes flicked up to mine. “Oh?”

“I just realized how much this situation must suck for you. When I heard you were transferring here, it made sense. Ethan was here, so of course you wanted to be closer. But you’re not like me and Jake. You didn’t come here to be near him.

Her shoulders slumped. “It was the lesser of two evils. I’d rather deal with him than living under the same roof as my parents.”