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“I have to go after Brandon,” he says. “We have to at least finish the game.”
“That’s not necessary,” I tell him. “I think he needs a few minutes alone. He’s just a kid after all.”
"Regardless. I think this is supposed to be a teaching moment for him. Yes, things are unfair and things don’t always work out how you want them to but that doesn’t mean you can throw a tantrum and walk off. You can call a time-out while I go get him.”
“Ok. Let me know if you need anything,” I tell him, and he nods as he heads around the rink to the break room.
The game is still ongoing even with one player down, but nothing has been scored yet. I gesture to Luke, making a time-out sign and he cocks an eyebrow and mouths,why would I?
I roll my eyes. Of course, he would make even this difficult.
I wonder if that’s why he started coaching his team in the first place. Just to mess with me. I wouldn’t put it past him. While most billionaires seem content with traveling the world and enjoying exclusive experiences Luke seems to draw the most pleasure from making me mad.
I refuse to entertain him today and just call out, "Time out guys. Let’s take a breather.”
The boys on my team stop immediately but the other team is still playing, skating with the puck. They look back to Luke for confirmation and only start moving toward the bleachers when he nods.
Chase, my son, head straight to me. He’s wearing the same morose expression on his face as all the other boys, but I paste a smile on mine for him. “How are you doing, champ?”
“Feel like a loser,” he mutters, and it breaks my heart because he’s so far from that. I feel the same intense anger that Arthur has. Chase has worked so hard for this, and Luke, with his cheating ways, is taking it away from him.
“You're not a loser baby,” I tell him. “Never.”
“Well, wearelosing, and my feet hurt.” He gestures to his skates and guilt pounds through me. I was supposed to get him new skates. He grows out of them so fast, and money’s been tight lately.
“Alright,” I tell him. “We’ll buy new skates after this is done.” I’ll find the money somehow.
“It won’t help unless they’re like those,” he gestures to the other team’s shiny skates, courtesy of their coach.
"The game's not over yet” I tell him. “Just do your best, ok?”
My son sighs but he doesn't tear his eyes away from the other team for a long minute. They're gathered around Luke listening intently to his every word.
“You think we can still turn this around?” he asks.
“Of course," I say, and he risks a tiny smile.
Sometimes hope is the best and worst thing you can give someone. Even after the game resumes when Brandon comes back, it’s still tough. The boys manage to eke out 1 more goal, but the other team levels it out with two.
My nerves are in my throat, the more I watch and pray for a miracle. There are only a few minutes left in the game, and I want to stick it out, but my famously finicky bladder doesn’t let me. I leave my co-coach, James, in charge, and hurry around the rink, down the hallway searching for a bathroom.
“Looking for something?”
I spin around. Luke is standing behind me. He’s so large his frame blocks the light from behind him and I have to crane my neck as he walks closer.
“I’m just going to the bathroom,” I say.
“Oh," he responds, voice as silky as his gaze. “And here I thought you were up to something more interesting, like a planned rendezvous with your lover.”
“A what?”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice the way the two of you were making googly eyes at each other the entire game," he says smirking. "I gotta say I'm a little disappointed. I thought Billy meant more to you than that."
I bite back a sharp response as the full weight of his insinuation floods me with anger. My lover? Is he talking about James? Does he think something is going on between the two of us?
Where on earth did he get that idea?
And about Billy...well, that's simpler to explain. Luke thinks I'm still together with my ex. I haven't corrected that assumption because for now, it's better for me to let him believe that.
