Page 146 of The Offside Rule
Her brows lifted pointedly. “Cole.”
“Sometimes they do,” she said calmly. “Not every relationship begins in the neat, approved way parents hope for their children.”
Dad muttered something under his breath.
Hunter stepped forward slightly. “I know I should’ve come to you sooner,” he said. “The secrecy made it worse. But I care about Catherine, and we were trying to figure out what this was before we hurt anyone.”
Dad’s gaze snapped to him. “You were hoping for more time with my daughter?”
Hunter absorbed that like a hit. “Yes.”
Dad’s nostrils flared. “I hate that answer.”
“I know,” Hunter said and bowed his head.
Tears slipped down my cheeks. “I care about Hunter. I didn’t want to hurt you. I love you both so much. But this became bigger than I knew how to handle.”
Dad turned to me, and I almost wished he hadn’t because he looked so deeply wounded.
“I know this looks bad,” I continued. “I know it’s complicated. But he treats me well. He listens to me. He cares about me. I’ve never felt like this before.”
Mom’s face softened.
Dad saw it and looked betrayed all over again. “Do not soften Holland.”
“I’m listening to our daughter,” Mom said, which gave me a slight reprieve from the tension in my chest.
“I’m listening too,” Dad replied.
“No, you’re imagining ways to hide Hunter’s body,” Mom countered.
Dad pointed at Hunter without looking away from Mom. “He’s standing too close to my daughter.”
Hunter immediately stepped back. I almost laughed, but it came out as a sob.
Mom sighed. “Everyone come sit.”
“No,” Dad said.
“Cole,” Mom said in her I-mean-business tone.
Somehow, we ended up in the living room. Dad sat on the edge of the armchair like the couch had personally offended him. Mom sat beside me. Hunter took the opposite end of the couch, leaving space between us.
Mom folded her hands in her lap. “How long has this been going on?”
Hunter looked at me before answering. I nodded because I could not find my voice.
“Just over a month,” he said.
Dad made a sound. Mom shot him a look.
“I’ve had feelings for him longer,” I admitted.
Dad’s head turned slowly toward me.
I wiped my cheek. “Since I was a teenager.”
Dad closed his eyes. “Wonderful. So, this is a teenage crush.”
