30. Presley
Principal Sturges’ name lights up my phone on my lunch break, and my stomach instantly twists.
It’s been a while since he’s had to reach out to me. The bullies have left Avery alone, as far as I know. Maybe this call is for a good thing, for once.
“Hi, Mr. Sturges. Everything okay?”
“Hi, Ms. King. Sorry to disturb you at work, but Avery got into a fight at lunch today. I’d like for you to come in and pick him up.”
My heart sinks. “Is he okay? What happened?”
“He’s okay.” He pauses, and his voice lowers. “He, uh, started the fight.”
My eyebrows hit my hairline. “He what ?”
“I’ll explain everything when you get here.”
I let out a long sigh. “Let me talk to my boss, and see if I can leave early.”
“I understand. Take your time.”
I click on Avery’s name and type out a text to him:
Me
What’s this I hear about you starting a fight?
Avery
I punched Austin in his stupid face.
Me
Why would you do that? I thought everything had calmed down with those boys.
Avery
He called you a whore.
Avery
I had to stick up for you.
I cover my mouth with my hand and squeeze my eyes shut as I read the disgusting five-letter word my nephew had to hear because of me.
God damnit.
This is getting worse.
The last thing I wanted was for the kids to suffer because of my choices.
Me:
I’m sorry I put you in that position. You should’ve just ignored him.
Avery
He had it coming.
I let out a small chuckle. That little shithead really did have it coming.
Me
Did he hit you back?
Avery
Nope. I knocked him on the floor with one punch.
Avery
Can’t wait to tell Chance.
Me
I hate to say this but I’m proud of you, kid.
Me
I just wish you didn’t have to feel the need to defend me. It’s supposed to be the other way around.
Avery
We’re family. We defend each other.
Me
I love you.
Avery
Love you too, Aunt Pres.
I pick up the phone in the library and dial my boss’ extension.
“Hey, Presley. What’s up?”
“Avery got into a fight at school. Any way I can leave a little early today?”
“Oh, no. Is he okay?”
I rub my temple with my fingers. “Yeah, he’s okay.”
“Hmm, let me see your schedule.” I hear the faint sound of his computer mouse clicking in the background. “I can switch your free period at one-thirty, and you can leave at two-thirty. Does that work?”
“Absolutely. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.”
“Of course.”
I hang up, and prepare for my next class. Being a school librarian isn’t my dream job, but it allows me to have the same schedule as the kids. When I was presented with the opportunity, I jumped at the chance. This school paid for me to get my master’s degree in order to take this position, and I was able to take online classes. It wasn’t easy while simultaneously juggling two children full-time, and dealing with the loss of my sister—all while grieving my own broken heart after leaving the two loves of my life in college. Looking back, I don’t know how I made it through that sad, stressful time. But these kids mean everything to me, and I was determined to make it work.
I might not love this job, but I need it. And the fact that Molly is trying to come for it is personal. She’s trying to take food out of my niece and nephew’s mouths, and I won’t stand for it. Ideas have been bouncing around my mind all week. I want to do more than create a book display in this library. I want to create something that will help bridge the gap between children and the LGBTQ community. I want to teach kids about kindness, and diversity, and acceptance.
With the support of my school, my friends, and my men, I’m going to make sure Molly knows that there’s no place in this town for her hatred and discrimination. The same goes for Avery’s bullies.
It seems everyone needs to be taught a lesson, and punching people in the face isn’t going to cut it.
Much to my dismay.
Dominique snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Hey, you with me?”
“Sorry. I’ve been in my own head a lot lately.”
“Thinking about what? Not wasting your time on Miserable Molly, I hope.”
I chuckle. “No, not at all. I’ve actually been thinking about starting some kind of group for children where they can experience people in the LGBTQ community—kind of like how Drag Queens were reading books to kids in Manhattan—just to have them be in an inclusive and accepting safe space together.”
Dominique’s eyes widen. “I love that. Let’s do it.”
My smile widens. Whenever I want to do something, Dominique always says let’s , as if it’s an automatic given that she’s going to do whatever it is with me. I’m never alone, and she’s always by my side.
“I love you, Dom.” I cover her hand with mine. “Thank you for being my friend.”
“Pfft. You know I’m only in this for the pro hockey fame.”
I toss my head back and laugh. “You bitch. I was trying to have a nice moment, and you ruined it.”
“Sorry, wait—I’ll do better. Try it again.”
I toss a piece of bread at her. “Too late. The moment has passed.”
“Damnit.”
The sound of pounding feet has our heads jerking up to the ceiling.
“Why does it always have to sound like this when the kids play together?” Dominique scrunches her nose. “I swear, one of them is going to come through the ceiling one day.”
“They better fucking not.” I take a sip of wine. “I’ll kill them if I have to spackle one more hole in the wall. Did I tell you that Alyssa put a hole in the fence outside the other day?”
Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline. “The vinyl fence?”
“The vinyl fence that costs two-hundred-dollars per slat to fix? Yep. That one.”
“How the hell did she manage that?”
“She shot the field hockey ball right into it.” I let out a humorless laugh. “I didn’t realize how strong that little shit is.”
“She really is a beast.” Dominique grins. “I love her.”
Affection warms my chest. “Me too.”
“Avery seems different lately. I love that he has positive male role models to look up to.”
I nod. “His confidence has really grown since Chance took him under his wing. He’s smiling more too. He’s growing up right in front of my eyes.”
“Any luck on getting Sturges to show you the surveillance footage of Avery knocking out that shithead Austin?”
I laugh. “He said it’s against school policy.”
She scoffs. “Did you slip him a twenty like I told you?”
“I’m not bribing the kid’s principal, Dom.”
“You have not one but two hockey players in your back pocket. You should be using that to your advantage more often.”
I shake my head. “You’re crazy.”
My phone vibrates on the table, Chance’s name lighting up the screen. I grab it and dart to the stairs. “Avery, he’s calling!”
Avery bounds down the stairs and rips the phone out of my hand. “Hi, Chance. How was your game tonight?”
I strain to listen as he takes my phone into the kitchen, wanting to give him space but also dying to hear Chance’s reaction. I love the way he is around Avery. It’s a softer side of him I don’t get to see often.
Dominique clutches her chest. “He’s so excited to talk to him.”
Emotion clogs my throat. “I know. I love it. I just wish the kids at school weren’t such assholes. I know it’s not common for a woman to be in a relationship with two men, but they don’t have to be so cruel. I hate that I’m bringing this added stress to Avery’s life. He has enough issues with them; he didn’t need this on top of it.”
“Look, kids are going to be assholes no matter what. But it’s making him a stronger person. A little adversity is okay.”
I shoot her a dubious look. “He has a dead mother, he doesn’t know who his father is, and he likes art instead of sports. I think he had enough adversity before I added polyamory to his plate.”
Dominique squeezes my shoulder. “You’re showing him what a healthy, loving relationship looks like. Don’t focus on the negativity. Look at all the good that’s happening here.”
“I know you’re right, but it’s hard to not feel like I’m messing up these kids’ lives.”
“All good parents feel that way, Pres. You’re doing an amazing job. Trust me.”
I lean my head on her shoulder as we listen to Avery finish his conversation with Chance.
Then he comes into the dining room and hands me the phone. “Chance wants to talk to you.”
I ruffle his hair as I take the phone and smile down at Chance’s handsome face. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.” He’s sitting against the headboard in the bed of his hotel room. “You okay?”
I nod. “I wish he didn’t have to resort to violence, but I’m proud of him for standing up for himself.”
His lush lips twist into a smirk. “That’s my boy.”
Affection wraps around my heart. “He really looks up to you. I appreciate your help so much.”
“He’s a great kid. He had an amazing mom, and an incredible aunt to make him that way. I just taught him how to throw a punch.”
Tears well behind my lids. “You’ve done more than that, Grumpy Man.”
That’s Chance. Always selling himself short.
“How is everything there? Molly and the paparazzi...?”
This past week has been a whirlwind. Molly took her bullshit elsewhere after we shut her down, mainly keeping to social media to try to slander my name wherever she can. She has a small following, but more people have spoken out in support than not, and I’m shocked to see who has my back here.
The paparazzi are annoying as fuck, but the frenzy has died down a bit. Life is as normal as it can be when dating two professional hockey players.
“It’s fine. Seems to be calming down.” I look into his concerned eyes. “I can’t wait for you to come home.”
He bites his bottom lip. “I can’t wait to fu?—”
“Dominique is here!” I cut him off before he can finish his sentence.
“Oh, come on” Dominique whines. “It was just about to get good.”
Chance chuckles. “Hi, Dom.”
“Hi, handsome. Don’t worry about your girl. Everything is fine here.”
“Thanks for keeping her company for me.” He shoots me a wink. “See you tomorrow, rebel.”
Desire has my thighs clenching together. “Goodnight, Grumpy Man.”
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.