Page 251 of Skating the Pucking Line

Huxley rolls his eyes, but Ryker keeps his attention on me. It’s unnerving being watched so closely by a child, but I guess it’s his way of figuring out whether to trust me or not.

I really fucking hope he decides on the former, because I feel like Ryker needs as many people in his corner as he can get right now.

“I hope you both know how proud your big brother is of you. He talks about you all the time. If he could, he’d be here for every single one of your games.”

Huxley beams at my words, and I swear Ryker’s lips twitch at the corners, but the movement is so fast I can’t be completely sure.

Any happiness I can see in their eyes is immediately wiped out when their father snaps, “Boys, let’s go.”

“B-but we’re going with Cooper,” Huxley argues, much to their father’s annoyance, if the throbbing vein at his temple is anything to go by.

“No, you’re coming home to get changed, seeing as Ryker forgot his clothes.”

“But we can just⁠—”

“Go and get in the car. Both of you,” Wayne says, giving them no room to argue.

The boys look at each other before scurrying off.

“We’ll see you back at the house,” Wayne adds before spinning around and stalking off.

“Fucking hell,” Cooper mutters once he’s out of earshot. “I never should have brought you here. It’s fucking embarrassing.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I assure him. “I can’t wait to get to know your brothers better.”

A smile pulls at Cooper’s lips at the thought of us taking them out for the rest of the day and leaving their father behind.

Despite him wanting to head out and get his brothers as soon as possible, Cooper is called over by their coach, and he has little choice but to engage in conversation. Then, some of the loitering families ask for an autograph.

It’s almost forty-five minutes later when we make it back to the rental to go and grab his brothers.

Cooper’s anxiety is through the roof, but I don’t know what to say to make it better. Instead, I stay quiet, hold his hand, and hope it’s enough.

It’s a short drive from the rink to the impressive house his father owns.

It’s so different to the home Sienna and I were brought up in. This might not have been Cooper’s childhood home, but I can only imagine it was similar. We really did grow up differently.

I try to remember that Cooper’s life wasn’t always like this. For the first eighteen years, he had his mom. And from what he’s said, she was an angel. Unfortunately, Huxley and Ryker don’t have that. All they’re going to remember of their childhood is Wayne.

Cooper pulls the car to a stop beside his father’s, and this time, he doesn’t waste a second in turning the engine off and climbing out. He’s too impatient to get to his brothers to worry about how he’s feeling right now.

I race behind him, half expecting him to have to knock on the front door.

I’m shocked when he doesn’t and just throws it open. But not as shocked as I am to hear the booming, angry voice that echoes through the house.

“He’s probably not coming because he’s embarrassed,” Wayne bellows.

“Dad, no,” a little voice cries. Huxley, if I had to guess.

“Your team lost today because of you. You allowed that breakaway, and then you let yourself hit the ice. You should have caught yourself. Or at the very least, you should have gotten up and started playing again.”

Pain cuts through my chest, and I can only imagine how Cooper is feeling, hearing this.

Cooper moves faster than I’ve ever seen before, racing ahead of me and through the house. I follow, more than ready to get involved to protect those little boys.

Our feet slam against the wooden floors, but it’s not enough to alert Wayne that we’re coming.

“You’re worthless, boy. Worthless. It’s about time I taught you a lesson that will make you think next time⁠—”