Page 39 of Ruthless Game

Sure enough, the garage door was sliding up and my parents’ hatchback was pulling in. Before he could panic more, or I could, I threaded our fingers together, and put my other hand on top of his to keep us extra connected. Max put his hand over mine, so we waited for them like that, legs touching, seat swinging gently, our hands wrapped around each other like no one could tear us apart.

Instead of going into the house from the inside door, my parents strode out of the garage and toward the front porch and us, my dad carrying Jeffrey’s hockey bag, who trailed after them, eyes narrowed on mine and Max’s hands.

“So,” my dad said when they reached us, looking at our hands, too. “Is there something you need to tell us?”

“Sir,” Max began, only to choke on a cough. “We …” he coughed again. “That is, I mean, I …” more coughing.

I rolled my eyes. Boys. Always acted so tough until they were faced with an actual obstacle. Then they needed a girl to step in to save the day.

“We’re together, Dad,” I said. “We love each other, and we’re dating, and it’s real.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And you were going to tell us when?”

Max coughed again. His face was red. Was he actually choking?

“I’m going to go get Lawson some water,” my mom said. “He should at least survive long enough to find out how much trouble you two are in.”

At that, Max coughed even harder, and Mom, shaking her head, disappeared inside the house. My dad was still shaking his head when she came back out and handed it to Max, who released my top hand with his and took it, immediately gulping it down. Water splashed all over his shirt.

“Careful, son,” my dad said mildly. “I’d rather not have you die on my porch.”

Done with his water, Max handed it back to my mom and exhaled. “I love your daughter, Mr. Schwartz. I have since …” he cut himself off. “For a long time. I know you might be concerned because we’re living in the same house⁠—”

“That’s exactly my concern,” my father interrupted. “But not for the reason you think.”

I gaped at him. I was sure it had everything to do with us making out or even having sex because we had such easy access to each other. Not that we were having sex, but our makeout sessions had gotten pretty heated lately. There had even been some over the shirt action, not that I’d tell my dad that.

“Then what is the reason? Because we aren’t having sex,” I clarified.

Beside me, Max groaned.

“You’re both responsible kids. And your mother and I were having sex at your age,” my dad said.

“Ew,” I pointed out.

My dad waved it off. “I trust that, if and when you have sex, you’ll be safe and caring with each other. No, I’m worried because living together only intensifies a relationship, and things can move too quickly in other ways. You two are teenagers, you should be exploring and having fun, not falling in love and making serious commitments.”

“We did,” my mom said dryly.

“Yeah, and we both made sacrifices because of it,” my dad said. “There’s a lot of life neither of us got to experience because we settled down so soon. I don’t want that for Emma. Or you, David. You both should get to experience all life has to offer.”

Max cleared his throat, squeezing my hands even tighter in his. “Excuse me, sir, but you’re wrong. I’ve experienced a lot of what life has to offer, already, and forgive my language, but it sucks. People hurt you and abandon you. Life is a struggle, and you’re alone for a lot of it. Even if you’re with people, they can be the type to make you feel lonely. I’m really lucky, because even after experiencing all of that, I found my person. Your daughter. I don’t need to go out and meet other people to know she’s the best that’s out there. The best that’s there for me. And vice versa. I love Emma, Mr. Schwartz, Mrs. Schwartz. I know I’m not good enough, but I’ll do everything to make up for it.”

My mom’s face, which had been mostly amused, softened.

“Lawson, who ever said you weren’t good enough?”

His dad, I wanted to say, but it would just make Max upset. I’d tried, over and over, to tell Lawson he was good enough for me. Good enough, period. I hadn’t been sure he believed me, and hearing him say it out loud … it made my stomach hurt, but it also made me determined to shower him with so much love, affection, and support, he would realize how good he actually was.

That was my life’s mission. That and nothing else.

My dad sighed. “Okay. I wish you had told us earlier, but I’m glad you’re saying something now. There are going to be a number of ground rules in place, which include no sleeping in each other’s beds at night, no closed doors when you’re together, and schoolwork—and hockey—can’t suffer. You both have big goals in your life, and I don’t want to see either of you hold the other back. Got me?”

Max and I both nodded.

A smile crinkled my dad’s eyes. He took my mom’s hand.

“For your first boyfriend, you aren’t doing too badly,” my mom remarked.