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“Which makes me ask again, why the change of heart?” I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him, but that was because I’d seen how he treated his own son. There was something new in his eyes as he stared down at Mom. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what the expression meant.
Joseph smacked his lips together in thought and a grimace passed over his face. “Nothing’s changed, but I might have come to a realization.”
I held in the snort that threatened to escape. A man like him didn’tcome to a realizationas he claimed. Everything he did was calculated and precise. Maybe I was angry because I was in pain, both emotionally and physically, but I didn’t believe a word he was saying.
The reality was slowly starting to hit me—I wouldn’t be able to play hockey all season. I was benched. I’d gone from being captain, the fastest man on the team, and a pretty damned good scorer, to nothing.Zip. Zilch.I would soon be forgotten because that was how quickly the hockey world moved.
“Hockey is fun and it can be a career, but it isn’t worth anyone’s health.” Joseph’s attention switched to me and burned holes into my face. “You have next year.”
I shook my head. “Get out.”
“Wystan.” Mom squeezed my hand, but I ripped it out of her hold.
“All of you. Get out.” I crossed my arms and stared around the room. Thane and Boss moved first, leaving quickly at my order. They’d never seen me this way, and I probably terrified them. It wasn’t often I got this mad. “Now.”
Mom’s bottom lip wobbled as if she was going to cry and she stepped away from me, almost running from the room. Guilt gnawed at me, twisting low in my stomach, and I rubbed my abs because I felt so fucking horrible about it. Joseph followed her without a backward glance, which only left Atlas in the room.
He gave me a long, hard stare. “You didn’t have to act like an ass.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, wishing I could slip out of the bed and shove him. I couldn’t do that, not with a fucked-up knee and especially now that I didn’t have a title in our hockey team. I was nothing. A nobody. I’d workedhardfor this, for me and Mom, and now it’d been taken away from me in one game. Anger and bitterness rose in my throat, making it hard to swallow. No one would look at me with this type of injury. My futurefree agentstatus was dust.
“Get out.”
“No.” Atlas raised his chin and crossed his arms. “I’m not going anywhere. You can bitch and throw things at me if you want, but I’m not leaving.”
“Fuck off,At Last. I don’t need you in here. You got what you wanted, now go.”
“No,” he said.
Tears burned my eyes and I hated them. The reality hit me harder than Fairborn from St. Loren. It was done.Iwas done. “Are you happy?”
“No.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not.”
I didn’t believe him. I wiped at my eyes angrily because I was a fucking adult. I couldn’t cry. I wouldn’t. “I’m not gone the entire season. I’m not.”
“You are, Wy. You need to recover, and they gave your scholarship to someone else.” He sounded as disappointed as I felt, and when he shifted closer, I shook my head, giving him a sharp warning to stay away.
“They can’t do that. They’re not allowed. Ijusthad surgery. They don’t know what I’m capable of.” I’d proven people wrong before. I clenched my hand into a fist at my thigh, anxiety throbbing in my chest. It was nothing compared to the pain that had begun in my knee again, and even though I knew I needed more meds, I refused to reach for the button and call someone. No, I was stronger than that.
“They can and they did. Coach Hill called and told your mom.”
More betrayal and from someone I trusted. Coach knew what it was like to get injured, to have his entire career gone in a freak accident, but instead of defending me, he sold me out. Anger burned in my guts, fire sizzling on ice. “He’s a fucking coward. A traitor.”
“He wouldn’t have had much of a choice.” Atlas sighed and got to his feet. “You know what hockey’s like, Birdy. It’s a cutthroat sport. If you’re injured, they’ll find a replacement the minute you’re out, and that’s what they did.”
“Who are they using?” I snapped my gaze toward him.
Atlas winced because he knew he’d fucked up by mentioning it. He pressed his lips together, and I never hated him more than I did now.
“Who are they starting? Who areyoustarting, captain my captain?” The name came out as sarcastic as I’d meant it, and he blasted me with an irritated stare.
“It doesn’t matter who. It’s been decided. You rest and recover. Do PT so we can get you back on the ice next year. Coach wants you back out there.”
“Who says I’ll stay with the Storms?” I wished I had something to throw at him, but there wasn’t anything close enough for me to reach without getting into serious trouble. I couldn’t possibly throw the IV stand at him. Well, I could, but I wouldn’t. “Who says I won’t pack my shit up and move to a rival team?”
“Would you, though?” Atlas pulled a face and his mouth twisted in displeasure. His brown eyes grew dark and there was something new lingering in them. Hurt. Betrayal.
I snorted. Now he knew how it felt. “Yes. Fuck yes.” I pointed a finger at him. “Because that’s how fast you turned your back on me.”
