47. Jake
This was a short trip; we had only two away games—one in Chicago yesterday, and one in Detroit tonight. We won both, and Lachy had a shutout in Detroit. But despite our achievements, I feel wretched on the flight back to LA, and not because it’s late. The mood on the plane is celebratory. The guys are all laughing and horsing around, but I’m too anxious to join them. I can’t wait to get home and see June.
But I haven’t forgotten the conversation I had with my father prior to this trip. If the price to keep playing hockey is signing with the Bobcats, I’d rather retire. Still, I can’t put Lachy’s and Ryan’s careers at risk too. Bluff or not, my father will find a way to ruin their lives as punishment for me not obeying him.
You’d think that a grown man wouldn’t be bound by his parents, but when you have a rich, narcissistic son of a bitch for a father, the chains are thick.
Lachy takes the empty seat next to mine, stretching his legs and crowding me. “What’s on yer mind, lad? You’ve been brooding more than usual.” His accent is thick thanks to all the beers he’s had.
I shake my head. “It’s nothing.”
“Horse shite. Are you still thinking about yer father?”
At first, I clench my jaw and stare out the window. But I can’t escape Lachy’s intense stare, burning a hole through my face. “I don’t want to drag you into my family drama.”
He snorts. “Yer not dragging me into anything. Yer my brother, Jake. You and the other pest.”
I chuckle. “That’s right. You are my brothers. That’s why I put up with you two.”
“That’s bloody right. When I was a kid, I always dreamed I’d get adopted by a family with lots of kids. I didn’t care if they were boys or girls. I just wanted many siblings. I never got my wish then, but I got it now.”
Lachy’s voice is filled with emotion. When I glance at him, he seems far away. He’s never tried to hide that he grew up in the foster system. The fraying blankie he still holds on to is the only thing he has left from his parents. My heart becomes small and heavy. I’d do everything for him and Ryan.
He turns to me, his blue eyes more intense than usual. “Go on then. Tell me what that arsehole wanted with you.”
I release a heavy sigh, knowing it’s pointless to keep anything from him. “He wants me to play for the Bobcats.”
Lachy snorts. “Is he delusional?”
“No, just an arrogant son of bitch who thinks he owns the world. I told him not a chance in hell.”
“He’s the royal admiral of arseholery,” Lachy mutters.
“He’s threatening to leak what he did for me to the press.”
Knowing exactly what I’m talking about, Lachy furrows his brows. “I thought those records were sealed.”
“They are, but that doesn’t stop him from using them to blackmail me.”
“You did nothing wrong. That piece of shite deserved what he got.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s all about perception, and with my current reputation of being a hothead, you know the media will eviscerate me. I might get fired.”
“I won’t let that happen. I’ll walk if they let you go.”
The barbed wire around my heart tightens. That’s exactly what I can’t allow to happen.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but you know I can’t let you do that.”
“Yes, cause you’re a bloody martyr.” He cracks a smile. “Then we change the narrative before yer father has the chance to fuck things up.”
“What do you mean?”
“You clean up your image.”
I laugh without humor. “I don’t know how I’ll erase a reputation I cultivated for years in just a few weeks.”
“We’ll think of something. Don’t worry. I got your back.”
Arching my brow, I give him a double take. “Who are you and what have you done to Lachlan?”
His eyes widen. “What?”
“You’re the most pessimistic person I know.”
He focuses on the TV screen in front of his seat. “People can change.”
“Yes, some people can. But you’re not people. You’re an immovable mountain.”
He snickers. “Listen to yourself. You sound like Ryan.”
I clench my jaw, trying to think of a retort, but nothing comes to me. “Whatever. What are you watching?”
“Castlevania.”
I wrinkle my nose. “What is it? A cute cartoon about vampires?”
Smirking, Lachy puts his show on my TV screen as well. “Sure. Very cute. You’ll love it.”
It doesn’t take long for me to realize this animated series wasn’t meant for kids. It’s violent and gory, and I do love it.
I’m super into it when the plane drops suddenly, and my stomach goes with it.
“Bloody hell. What was that?” Lachy asks, his voice mixing with our teammates’ murmurs.
The fasten-seatbelt light turns on.
“I don’t know. Maybe we hit a patch of turbulence.” I watch the flight attendant rush down the aisle toward the cockpit. She looks worried.
Then we all hear a loud pop before another drop lifts my ass from my seat. There are shouts and nervous cursing. My pulse accelerates. We’ve traveled through turbulence before, but this feels different.
A second later, the pilot makes an announcement that freezes the blood in my veins. We’ve lost one engine and need to prepare for an emergency landing.
“Motherfucker.” Lachy glances at me, his eyes round with fear.
I grab his hand and squeeze it tight. “We’re gonna be okay, buddy.”
The front of the plane dips at a sharp angle. We’re nosediving out of the sky.
I thought I had reached a point in my life that, if I died, I would have no regrets. But that was before June came along. I close my eyes and pray—something I’ve never done before. I want the chance to tell that sweet and sexy girl how much she means to me.