Page 160 of Breakaway Hearts

He kisses me, lifting me up in his arms, and I feel it down to my toes.

“I love you so fucking much,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head while our idiot friends whoop.

“I told the girls what happened. I was going to wait on your porch, but Jason wasn’t leaving my side and Miss Mabel made snacks.”

“She’s the best.” He smiles, not taking his eyes off me.

“What happened with you and your coach?”

“I don’t know. But tomorrow’s another day, and if you don’t mind, tonight I just want to go upstairs and hold you in my arms for as long as you’ll have me.”

Always, I want to say, but instead I take his hand and follow him to the house, letting the girls know I’ll see them tomorrow, and nodding to tell Jason I’m really okay.

Chapter Seventy-Three

Owen

Then don’t

Practice isn’t for a couple of hours, so there aren’t many people at the arena. Which is good, I tell myself. I wouldn’t want anyone to witness what I know is coming. Maddie wanted to come with me and so did the guys, for support, but I don’t want to put her through that, and I have the feeling one person looking at me with disappointment, like I’m letting down the team, is more than enough.

I’m early, so as much as I want to ignore it when my dad calls, I answer. Better to get it over with, right?

“How did it go?” he asks as soon as the pleasantries are out of the way.

“Starts in ten minutes,” I remind him.

“Are you nervous?”

I’m sweating fucking bricks, but that doesn’t make a difference.

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him, wanting to believe it, but I’m not great at disappointing people. Or taking responsibility, I’ve recently discovered. Not like I don’t own up to it, I just don’t usually have to pay the consequences that maybe I should have. No matter what Milligan did, me punching him didn’t help Maddie. I wasn’t defending her, it was vengeance no one asked for, that just hurt the person I was trying to protect.

“You have a right to a lawyer. Haylie’s⁠—”

“In Montreal with her family,” I argue. “And this isn’t a trial, it’s Coach telling me his and the NCAA’s decision, if they have one.”

“I want to help you, Owen, but it’s hard when you won’t even try to defend yourself.”

“I’m not being wrongfully accused, though. I need to own up to my mistakes and pay for them. I just hope the team doesn’t suffer for it.” Or hate me.

“I can send another lawyer if you don’t want to bother Haylie,” he offers.

“I’m good, Dad.”

“I’m sure when you tell your Coach whatever this guy said, he’ll have your back.”

I haven’t told him a thing, so this is my dad’s blind faith in me. Which means the world to me, but in light of Maddie’s previous accusation…makes me think she might have had a point.

“I’ve got to go, but I’ll call you later to let you know how it goes.”

“I love you, Owen,” he tells me. “Let me know if there’s anything we can do.”

“Love you, too.”

Coach opens his door before I get the chance to knock, looking surprised that I’m here alone.

“Take a seat,” he tells me.