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She lays her needles down. “Your reaction, for one, but you’ve never been able to lie to me. You’ve turned almost completely red.”
I almost slap myself across the face—betrayed by my own cheeks.
“I could say the same to you,” I reply, knowing it’s a bitter tactic, but I’m not ready to tell yet. They can’t make me. Gosh, I’m being juvenile. “You know who those men were. The one in the cowboy hat and the hairy one with the tattoos. I know you know them.”
Mom scowls. “You can’t turn this around on me.”
“I’m nineteen. I can stay wherever I want.”
“As long as you’re behaving responsibly and are not in any danger. Yes, of course, but Ithinkyou’d understand why I’m worried!”
Her voice breaks, and I realize I can addterrible daughtertimes two to my list of failures. She’s probably been talking with Miss Hariss about what happened, imagining me in Chrissy’s position. I put my laptop aside, walk across the living room, and sit beside her.
“Of course, Mom,” I whisper. “I’m safe. Nothing bad is going to happen to me. I won’t be drinking any alcohol. Consuming any drugs. Nothing like that.”
“So, where are you going?” she asks.
The tension is almost painful. I let out a sigh. “To see my boyfriend.”
“Yourboyfriend?” Mom says, eyes snapping open widely. “Why on earth does that have to be a secret? That’s excellent news!”
“Mom, please,” I say quickly before she starts yelling in excitement and brings Dad in here. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“What? How?”
“He has a girlfriend!” I blurt, the only deranged thing that comes to my mind. “He wants to leave her, but she’s got issues. She’s fragile. They’re working through it.”
It’s like sitting at the keyboard, typing out a story. The disappointment on Mom’s face threatens to shatter me. It reminds me of what will happen if I tell her theactualtruth.
“He should break up with her before beginning a relationship with you,” Mom says sternly. “I’d rather you found somebody who didn’t start a relationship while already in one. It doesn’t bode well for the future.”
I couldn’t agree more with Mom. Infidelity makes me sick. There’s no excuse for it. “I know, Mom. It’s… complicated.”
“You’ve already said it’s complicated, but I don’t like the thought of this boy taking advantage of you or humiliating his girlfriend. Oryoubeing any part of it.”
“I’m not in any danger. That’s what you wanted to know, right?”
“Yes, but I almost wished I hadn’t asked.”
“What if I ask about those men, Mom? The ones who made Dad look the most scared I’ve ever seen him.”
“I love you, Emma. I love you so, so much, but there are some things parents have to handle alone.”
“Well, there are some things daughters have to handle alone, too, it turns out. And I love you too.” After a pause, I ask, “Are you going to tell Dad or Eric?”
“Of course not. It’s not their business, but please be careful.”
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
Logan
I do pushups in the hotel room, mentally replaying the game I just watched. The joke of a defense we put up. The simple tricks on the ice the other team pulled. Feint shots, quick passing, things we should’ve been all over. Basics we’ve drilled countless times.
“You’re not just a defenseman,” Chuck says down the phone as I reach my forty-second rep, my technique not yet affected. “You’re the Ice Demon. You have a presence out there. You help people play their best. Your tackles inspire others. I’m not trying to stroke your ego here. This isn’t even Tremblay talking through me, but trust me. He’s furious.”
“I can imagine,” I grunt, sinking into another rep. “That was a pitiful defense.”
“Some others are talking, Logan, and wondering if you’re moving to another team. Is this sabotage? Tremblay was even talking about contracts earlier. You’re in breach, technically. They could dock your salary.”
