Chapter 32
Scotty
Game day arrived, and my insides churned with a nauseating cocktail of dread and anticipation that made it impossible to sit still.
I finally got to see Hunter and Ryder again and tell them I was ready to commit. All in. No more running or mixed signals and no more second-guessing.
Though if they wanted to chase me around a little, I wouldn’t exactly complain…
Ugh, focus, Scotty. This isn’t the time for horny thoughts.
It took an embarrassing amount of emotional support eating and several pep talks from Millie and Ella for me to admit my feelings out loud. Millie even threatened to physically haul me to the arena if I even thought about ghosting the two Alphas who had quite literally said please let us love you.
I was still kinda pissed they said it over text.
Somewhere between my second carb heavy breakdown and Ella gently pointing out that fear was not actually a personality trait, I realized something pretty obvious.
Somewhere between my second carb heavy breakdown and Ella gently pointing out that fear was not actually a personality trait, I realized something pretty obvious.
Yeah things might go badly. But, hiding behind my fear would definitely guarantee that I’d never have the future that could be waiting for me.
.. If I was simply just brave enough to reach for it.
So I stopped acting like a frightened little opossum and decided to dive headfirst into whatever waited for me on the other side of fear.
Dad would just have to deal. If my being in love with Hunter and Ryder didn’t fit into whatever neat little future he wanted, that was his issue.
And if Hunter and Ryder ended up being just another beautiful disaster waiting to happen... Well, Millie and Ella would be there with ice cream and shoulders to cry on.
My brain was completely hijacked by Hunter and Ryder all week, so I completely blanked on the worst part about today’s game.
Ken.
Tonight’s game pitted the Wolves against the Blackridge Vipers, whose starting goalie’s injury earlier this week promoted Ken to backup position. The chances of him actually playing were slim, but knowing he would be there made my skin crawl.
I still had him blocked, but I woke up to three missed calls from an unknown number that morning, and I was pretty sure it wasn’t someone trying to sell me something.
Fuck, if Ken tried to talk to me at the arena today, there was a very real chance I might throw up on him.
Or punch him.
Probably both.
I rode to the arena with Dad like I usually did on game days. To my surprise, he didn’t say a single thing about the brand-new convertible sitting in the driveway. Either Ryder told him some extremely convincing story, or Dad was too focused on the game to care.
It was a relief, since I wasn’t exactly ready to explain that two of his players bought me a car as a courting gift.
Dad vanished into the pregame chaos while I navigated to my usual spot in the stands. The minutes dragged as I kept checking my phone, willing Millie and Ella to hurry up and rescue me from my thoughts.
The stands were still only half full when someone slipped into the seat next to me. I turned slightly, expecting to see Millie or Ella, but instead found myself face-to-face with Morgan.
“Hey, Scotty,” she greeted, giving me a warm smile. “Mind if I join you until your friends get here?”
I froze for half a second before my manners kicked in. “Uh, sure.”
“How are you holding up?” Morgan asked as she looked down toward the ice. “Is it nice being back home?”
I nodded, picking at a loose thread on my sleeve. “I missed Dad. And my friends.”
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “We’re glad you’re home.”
The way she said home hit me square in the chest.
Morgan leaned closer, like she was about to let me in on a secret. “I’ve been hoping we could all become a real family,” she said, her smile genuine as she tapped my arm lightly. “It’s so nice to see you getting along with Hunter and Ryder.”
Oh, sweet Jesus.
If she only knew how well.
I kept my face neutral, while my mind unhelpfully flashed to intimate moments with her son and his boyfriend that would mortify us all if she knew. Morgan continued her friendly chatter, mercifully content with my minimal responses.
“Your dad loves you so much, Scotty. He’s very proud of you.”
A disbelieving laugh escaped me before I could swallow it back. “You could’ve fooled me. You heard him at dinner.”
She smiled sympathetically and squeezed my knee. “He’s just worried about you, I think. He doesn’t want you to be alone.”
“Being alone is better than staying with someone who hurt you,” I muttered.
“Isn’t that the truth?” she sighed. “Men can be idiots sometimes. Your father included.”
I smirked at her. “Did Ryder drive you insane growing up?”
She laughed. “You have no fucking idea.”
That tracked.
“I always wished I had a daughter,” she said after a moment. “But life had other plans.” Her blue eyes—exactly like Ryder’s—looked at me carefully. “I hope we can be friends someday, Scotty.”
I looked away quickly and pretended to be extremely invested in the passing drill happening on the ice. The puck snapped back and forth along the blue line while players shouted to each other, and I watched it like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
“Your dad is a wonderful man,” Morgan continued quietly beside me. “But before him… let’s just say I’ve had a couple of Kens in my life. If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”
That got my attention. I glanced at her and found sincerity there.
“I know he’ll always love your mom,” she added softly. “That’s exactly how it should be. I’m not trying to replace her. I just want to make him happy. And I’d like the chance to know you too.”
Tears pricked at my eyes before I could stop them.
I looked at Morgan with new appreciation for easing the fear of my mom’s memory disappearing.
Before I could figure out how to respond without crying in the middle of a hockey arena, I spotted Millie and Ella heading down the stairs toward our section.
“I’ll leave you with your friends.” Morgan rose from her seat, but my hand shot out to catch her wrist before she could walk away.
“Don’t go,” I said quickly. “We have an extra seat, and my friends really like you.”
It wasn’t a huge gesture.
And I wasn’t ready to admit that I liked her.
But the way Morgan’s face lit up when I invited her to stay made me really glad I did.