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Her father looked confused. “The Bruisers offered her an incredible package.”
“What? When?”
“Same day as the Montreal offer.”
I leaned back in my chair. It was like a blow to the chest. A part of her life she hadn’t shared with me. “She didn’t tell me.”
Her father lifted a shoulder, and his expression slid right between my ribs like a blade.
Why doesn’t she trust you?
Because I told her she had to leave. I felt sick to my stomach.
“I can’t tell if you’re upset or relieved,” he told me.
I couldn’t tell either.
My phone buzzed and I took it out of my back pocket. Coach McKay, but I wasn’t ready to pick up yet. I’d texted him from the urgent care that Liv was okay. So this call was about me refusing to play. I was probably in violation of my own contract. No doubt my agent would be hounding me next.
I declined the call and put the phone back in my pocket.
“None of this was supposed to happen,” I muttered.
“I assume you’re talking about getting involved with my daughter. Olivia hasn’t told us anything about you, but it’s obvious you have some kind of relationship.”
My laughter had no humor behind it. “We knew it was a bad idea. But it was like…it was like we didn’t have a choice.”
From the second I saw her on the ice, we had seemed inevitable. Undeniable.
“Hmm. That’s the crazy thing about love. You can’t plan for it, it happens on its own schedule.”
“This isn’t love,” I said, shaking my head.
Miguel didn’t flinch. Just pushed his glasses up his nose and sipped on his coffee.
“No?”
“No, sir. I’m sorry. Your daughter doesn’t love me, she deserves someone who puts her first and that’s not me. Not right now. A man can only have one love at a time, and for me that’s hockey. I only have so many years left and I’m giving it everything I have for as long as I can. Relationships are a distraction. Liv and I have proven that. I can’t think straight when she’s not around. I can’t think straight when she is. I can’t focus like I need to.”
“Oh, I see. Well, thenclearlyit’s not love.”
“We were a mistake. From the very beginning. It would have been better if we’d never met.”
Behind me, I heard a gasp. Miguel lifted his eyebrows, his expression clear:You’ve stepped in it now, son.
Slowly, I turned to face Caroline, Bill and Liv.
“Liv-”
She held her hand up to stop me.
“I heard you,” she said. “Loud and clear.” Her eyes were swollen, her throat sounded raw. Her cheek was starting to bruise. She looked beaten down. It broke my fucking heart. “I just came for a Frappuccino. Mom, can you get that for me and bring it back to the apartment?”
“Yes, honey. Of course.”
She left the store, striding past the window with her chin up and her back straight. A fighter, every step of the way.
I stood up to follow her, but her brother stepped in front of me.
