42
SYLAS
Marc catches the rebound, taking possession of the puck. He skates behind the net, passing it to Matias who passes it to me. I deke the goalie and shoot the puck into the net, earning us our second goal of the night.
“And the Punisher strikes again!” Marc skates straight toward me as do the other guys, and they corral around me, celebrating with me.
In college, while the name wasn’t necessarily my favorite, I went along with it. But now, I couldn’t love it any more. I didn’t realize how much I would miss it and playing with Marc until now.
It was inevitable I’d split ways with Marcello after we left college. And while it was always possible we’d play together again, I didn’t think it’d happen. Not until now, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
The love of my life is back, I’m playing with my best friend, and life just couldn’t be any better.
“I’m not calling him the Punisher. You’re going to give him a complex.” Callan laughs. “Asshole already has one.”
I blow him a kiss as we skate over the bench and slap my gloved hand against my teammates.
“You have to. It’ll fuck everything up if you don’t,” Marc gravely states, taking my second goal of the night as a sign to keep the tradition alive.
He’s superstitious and doesn’t play about anything revolving the game.
Callan seems inconvenienced, almost looks like he’ll dismiss the demand, but not a moment later, he and the rest of the guys are using the moniker.
I laugh and then it dawns on me how much fun I’m having. I take every game seriously, but even I’ll admit I haven’t been playing the way I am now, since coming to Boston.
The lines have changed but we’re both still on the ice. “I missed playing with you.” March exhales a breath, smiling at me.
I return the smile as we get in position, mirroring his enthusiasm. “I know you did.”
He glares at the haughty tone in my voice. I’ve no doubt he’s muttering “asshole” under his breath. Just like old times.
I’m heading home after another win when I get a call from Thea.
The sound of her voice disperses from the speakers inside my car. “Hey. I know you’ve probably not seen it yet, so I thought I’d be the first to tell you before you find out online.” There’s a bite in her voice, but apprehension overrides it.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong? Is everything okay?” My mind immediately darts to Rosie and Anna, but if it had anything to do with them, Maya would have texted me. I gave her my number after she was having a hard time getting up to the condo.
She puffs out a sharp sigh. “They’re saying shit about Anna online, things no one would know but those close to her, or…Mom and Dad.”
Whatever was said, I’ve no doubt it came from our parents. After my conversation with them, and Anna not taking the check, I’m not surprised they retaliated. They do ridiculously petty shit when they don’t get their way.
“What is being said?” Anger rushes through my veins. She hasn’t told me yet, but I know whatever it is, it’s bad if she’s calling me.
“Do you want the long or short version?”
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. “Short.”
“They mentioned that she used you in college when her parents cut her off. They’re saying she stole from Mom and Dad and is using you again, and that you’re blinded by love.”
My palms tighten around the wheel as black clouds my vision. I don’t think I can classify what I’m feeling as rage anymore; I could genuinely kill them and not feel any remorse.
Since we got back from the Cape two days ago, I haven’t been able to go see them. But I’m done. I don’t care that it’s eleven p.m. or that it’ll be a five-hour drive. I was going to wait until this weekend, but I’m done waiting.
“Well, they wanted my attention. Now they have it.”
“Do you not realize what time it is?” Mom scolds before tying the straps of her robe to close it. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming? We could have had breakfast ready.”
The drive alone was good for me. Because it was late, the roads were quiet and clear, so it helped me think. I’m not as angry as I was when I spoke to Thea.
Actually, I’m not angry, I’m just done. And as I look at my mother, the woman who birthed me, who…is alive, I feel a little sad but ready to move on and never look at her or Dad again.
He ambles into the living room, and despite standing in his pajamas, he looks put together as he always does. “What is going on? Why did you show up unannounced like this?”
I know they’re pretending not to know why I’m here at six in the morning. And I know they’ll continue to act oblivious. That’s what they do best, what they’ve always done.
Usually, I’d pretend as though nothing’s happened because it means avoiding the arguments and the threats that I’ll be blacklisted or lose my trust fund. But now neither can happen, and even if there was a possibility, I don’t care.
I won’t pretend I’m perfect. I have flaws; so many, they’re endless. Still, I don’t know what I did wrong, why I’m never enough, why they treat me like they hate me, like I’m an inconvenience, while keeping me at arm’s length.
I’ve tried hard for them, tried to be everything they wanted me to be. I’ve practiced for hours on end to be the player my father wanted me to be. I’ve made myself sick and worked when I was sick. I do and say what they want, always show up on time, and smile like we’re one big happy family.
But the one time I do something for me, they decide they want to take that away, as if I don’t deserve it.
Maybe I don’t deserve Anna, but I will spend the rest of our lives trying to be worthy.
“I need you to leave Anna alone.” I don’t raise my voice. I keep myself composed.
Mom scoffs, folding her arms against her chest. Dad lifts a brow, staring at me blankly.
“Leave Anna alone?” Mom voices, perplexed and condescending. “We’ve done nothing to her.”
“And the check?” I smother the tinge of frustration bubbling up my throat.
Dad yawns, sitting on the couch and staring at me like he’s bored. “We did what we needed to do. You should thank us, and she shouldn’t have been ungrateful.”
“Do you hear yourself?” I inhale and exhale, curling my fingers tight. “You tried to bribe the mother of my child to leave me. To leave with our child. What is the matter with you both? I missed out on almost three years of her life.”
The usual ache that lingers, accompanied with bitterness, doesn’t bide. I stare at them now and feel nothing because they look at me as impassively as they always have.
No matter what I do or say, they’ll never understand. They don’t care.
“I won’t tell you again. Stay away from us. I’m done.” I turn but falter when Mom grabs my arm.
“We were doing what’s best for you.” She’s fuming, rage burning her eyes. “Anna has nothing to offer you.”
I jerk my hand away. “She had my daughter! Your granddaughter!”
“Sylas!” Dad pushes to stand and is by her side in an instant. “We need you to hear yourself. It was all convenient. Her parents abandoned her, and of course she happened to be cleaning for you. Of course she just had to have your child. Of course—”
“She wanted nothing to do with me! I wanted her. She asked me to stay away, but I couldn’t.
I know you know about the money I gave her.
She didn’t even want it, but I practically forced my way into her life.
” I shake my head, taking a few steps back.
“If it had been up to her from the very beginning, we would have never been here and you two wouldn’t be fucking up her life. ”
“Watch your tone,” Dad threatens, lifting his hand.
“What? You’re going to hit me?” I eye his palm and track it as he drops it. “Leave us alone. I’m not going to tell you again.”
Mom’s brow furrows. “I’m trying to protect you. Why can’t you see that?”
“No, you’re ruining my life. I’m serious. Leave us alone. I won’t tell you again.”
Dad chuckles wryly. “What are you going to do?”
I look at them once and say nothing at all as I walk away. I didn’t just come here to tell them that but to look at them one last time before finally closing this draining chapter of my life.
Once I’m in my car, I call Harlow.
“Morning,” she greets me.
“Morning,” I breathe out resignedly.
She’s quiet on the other end for a beat. “If this is what you want to do, I support it. You are in control of your life, not them.”
“Thanks, Harlow. I’m going to talk to Anna, but I think I’m going to do it.”
“It’s been looked over by legal. It’s ready to post whenever you are.”