Page 60 of Ruthless Blade

As I got into my pose, the lights completely shut off.

What the hell?

“Dylan? Hazel?” I skated carefully, trying to make it to the barrier. There’s no way Hazel was here, and if Dylan forgot something, he wouldn’t have turned off the lights.

Someone was in the rink with me.

I made it to the barrier, holding onto the railing, trying not to fall. I couldn’t see anything except for the dim glow of the parking lot lights outside.

Suddenly, someone pulled me off the ice, grabbed my hair, and I let out a scream.

Chapter Thirty-One

KAYDEN

Dad’s house looked the same as it always did when I pulled into the driveway, except the plants and flowers that Nora had planted were gone.

That’s weird. The garage door was open and his BMW was the only car sitting there. Wow, her 4Runner is missing.

I came here, hoping we could air our shit out. Maybe being honest with him and telling him how fucked off I was about everything, that things might get better. After our short chat at the rink, I had hoped that maybe the conversation could go somewhere. With the draft looming around the corner, it wouldn’t take long before I’d be shipped off to another state, only being able to see him on holidays or once a year visits.

I let myself in; the door was unlocked like usual. He was in the kitchen, going through mail at the island, still in his work clothes.

He looked up and frowned. “I didn’t know you were coming. Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine.”

He set the mail down, giving me his full attention. “Then, not to be rude son, why are you here?”

I pulled out the stool and sat down. “I have to be honest with you. You and Lexi’s Mom dating has caused a real problem for me.”

He raised a brow, “How so?”

I took a deep breath, not believing I was about to say it out loud. “I have feelings for Lexi.”

That seemed to get his attention. “Why now? Because we announced we were dating?”

I folded my hands in front of me. He’s going to make this really fucking difficult.

“I’ve had...” I swallowed, “feelings for her for a while.”

He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “Bullshit.”

My brows creased, “What?”

“I call bullshit. If you’ve had feelings for her like you said, you have a funny way of showing it.”

I shook my head, getting ready to leave. I don’t need this. I should’ve known he would do this shit.

“I don’t need this...”

He rolled his eyes, “Shut up and stop being so damn hot headed. You don’t need to worry, Nora and I broke up.”

I didn’t say anything and he continued; “We decided that we needed to put our kids first. We’ll remain friends, which I think we were always better at to begin with. Plus, I think she still needs to heal. They both do.”

I nodded, but it wouldn’t be that easy. Grieving took months, even years. Healing wasn’t going to be an easy process for them.

My eyes roamed over him, wondering where this was coming from. His clothes were wrinkly, and he had bags under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. “Are you okay, Dad?”