Page 114 of Grasp The Moment

Dad has no words, but I’ve got plenty.

“I’m not coming to the wedding.”

I’m drained. Today was a lot with the show, but my mind has mentally faded.

Richard—Dadnods. He doesn’t say anything, only nods, and I think that sums up our relationship now.

“I’m going to make it big in this industry, and I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you for what you did to Mom, but I want you to know that I don’t forgive you right now. I don’t want to speak to you, Dad. And no, I don’t care about how any of this makes you feel. You are disgusting, entitled, and most of all… a man. Only a man would do the things you did. I don’t want to be like you,” I spit, and he flinches.

Good.

He deserves nothing less.

“I raised you.”

I scoff, “And somehow, you fucked someonefive yearsolder than me.” I shrug, plopping down on the couch behind me.

He doesn’t move, doesn’t say anything. He stares at what he’s created: a twenty-something man-hater.

With a sigh, he plops down on the couch next to me.

We’re silent, neither of us having anything to say to the other, and it feels like the past again. Only now I know that he’s capable of leaving his family—of leaving me.

“I love you, Georgia.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Silence.

“Look, I?—”

I suck in a breath. “I don’t want to hear it. My husband has been waiting long enough. We have to put our daughter to bed before our flight tomorrow. Thank you for coming.”

He gives me a small smile and nods. “I’ll see you soon, Peach."

"No, you won’t.”

42.Derek

“C’mon… Come to Mama,”I whisper, my eyes are like an eagle, sharp and unmoving as I track the puck across the ice. We’ve gone into overtime, tying three-three. Sweat beads at my temples; it’s hot, and my legs are aching, but I can’t break focus.

Not now, not ever.

My girls and family are here to support me. Everyone, including my cousins, flew to Saint Louis for this. We need to win; there’s no other option.

Blake is a cannon on the ice with Jace working overtime to taunt the other team whilst keeping his eye on the puck and our center.

The boys are moving fast, but my eyes are locked on the prize, prepared for whatever happens next. I take a deep breath, feeling my surroundings. They’re coming my way, battling for dominance of the puck. The Oregon Panthers’ center shoots the puck toward my goal, but miscalculates, sending it to the backboard.

In an instant, I leave my net. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.I’m like a piston, slamming my stick against the puck and shooting it back down the ice toward Blake. He moves like a well-oiled machine, skating circles around Oregon before reeling back and slap-shotting the puck clean into their goal.

The arena goes silent. No one dares to move an inch as the puck lands inside. The red of the goal light goes off, and the buzzer rings.

My eyes find her in the crowd, her blonde locks bouncing as she jumps, the smile on her face bright. My daughter stands right next to her atop a seat, wearing a matching jersey, cheering as the team pours onto the ice. I’m in the middle of the fray as sticks and helmets litter the air and the ice.

The guys, my team, all cheer as we win the greatest accomplishment in college hockey.

When I roll out of the last press conference and interview with Blake, Jace, and our coaches. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders when I see my girls at the end of the hall waiting for me.