“Avery Rose?” Markus asks. “That’s her name?”

“Apparently.” I click on her Facebook, but her shit is locked down. “Damn, I can’t look at anything.”

“Stalker.”

“Loser,” I call back before hitting Add Friend. “Now, we wait.”

“For?”

“Her to be my friend.”

“Yeah, would have been helpful before you slept with her. You do know that when you sleep with someone, you aren’t supposed to get hung up, right?”

“Yes, I know that, and I’ve done that. But it was different.”

His brow furrows before he shakes his head. “I don’t understand how sex can be different with someone.”

“It just is, okay? Like, with Delanie, it was great, hot, and yeah, good. But with Avery, it was right. Like angels were singing and shit.”

When my statement is met with silence, I glance over to see Markus looking at me like I’m twenty kinds of crazy, and I probably am. But I can’t help it. That girl put a spell on me or something. Drugged me, because I’m begging for my next hit from her. I don’t understand it, nor do I want to. I just want to see her again.

“You are in full pussy-Jayden mode, just to let you know. What’s next? You gonna start carving her name in the ice to show how much you love her?”

“Whoa. No one said love, dude. Don’t rush me.”

“Whatever. You might as well tattoo her name across your neck.”

“What the hell?” I ask, laughing. “Overreacting much? I’m sprung; I’m not asking her to marry me tomorrow.”

“Gotta ask for her phone number first,” he supplies and I glare.

“Fuck off,” I say just as my phone goes off with a text, and his laughter fills the room. Seeing that it’s from my dad, my grin disappears while I click his name and read the text.

Dad: I deposited that money in your account.

Me: Awesome, thanx.

Dad: 5k should last you a good bit, but if you need more, ask. Also I put an extra k in there for that stick and skates you need.

Me: Wow, thanks, Dad.

Dad: np. I see it as an investment in your future. Did it for your brothers and look at them.

With no help from him. Well, except for money, but he wasn’t supportive. More like an asshole. Without the coaches we had growing up, we might have not gotten to where we are. Oh, and my mom. She was awesome. Always the best at pushing us to greatness. I love my mom. Maybe I should call her. Before I can, my phone dings with another text.

Dad: Hoping you can join me and Ellen for dinner this week?

Shit. No way in hell do I want to go to dinner with him and his whore.

Me: Hey, thanks. I’ll have to get back to you. Classes are kicking my ass and I have to train hard since the season is starting.

Dad: Sure. Just let me know. When is the first game?

Damn it. Jude and Jayden are supposed to come to my first game, and of course, my mom and Lucy. I’ll get so much shit if they know I invited him, but what am I supposed to do? He just gave me money.

“Fuck.”

“What?” Markus asks as I look up to find him staring at me, confused. I tell him my situation and he shakes his head. “Yo, Jude and Jayden told you to cut it off with him.”

“He’s my dad, Markus.”

“Yeah, but he’s a douche, and you know it. You just like the money he throws at you.”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“Hey, I’m not hating. I’m just saying if you want to play with fire, be prepared to burn. ’Cause if he does come, your brothers are gonna murder you and your mom is gonna be crushed.”

“Yeah.” I look back down at my phone.

Me: Mom, Jude, Jayden, and Lucy will be there.

I don’t have to wait long for his response.

Dad: Okay? You’re my son. If I want to watch you play, I can.

After I read the text to Markus, he shakes his head in disgust. “Just ignore him.”

When my phone signals another text, I glance down at my phone to see it’s him again.

Dad: If I run into them, I’ll say that Ralph invited me.

Well, that solves my issue. They wouldn’t question his friend, who is also my agent, inviting him. But when I tell this to Markus, he doesn’t look convinced.

“Sure, that covers your ass. But do you want your mom to be upset?”

“No,” I say almost immediately. “But you know, he probably won’t make it.”

But Markus rolls his eyes, leaning back in his bed as I look back down at my phone. “You do you, homie, but I think it’s a bad idea.”

“I hear you.”

And I do, but this way may work and it will cover my bases. I won’t feel like a dick because he just gave me money, and my mom won’t ever know.

So why do I feel so guilty?

Dad: Jace?

Me: Yeah, sorry, it’s the 3rd.

Dad: I’ll be there. Let me know if you need anything.

Me: Will do.

“He said he’s gonna come, but I doubt it.” Markus shakes his head. “What?”

“It’s shitty, dude. Your mom doesn’t need to be dealing with that.”

Shame washes over me because he’s right. But what was I supposed to do? I don’t want to work right now, not when the season is starting and I am trying to holler at Avery. My time is going to be completely taken up between hockey and her. I don’t have time for a job, but I like to have money. Last year, I didn’t have anything except for my scholarship money, and that didn’t last me all year. I had to work all summer because it wasn’t like my mom could give me anything or support me. She was struggling to get by herself. It’s hard watching your mom struggle, so of course, I threw money her way. She didn’t like it, but she’s my mom. I’d leave twenties on the counter or in her purse. I had to support her.

I had to do my part, but when my dad offered to send me money at the beginning of August, I didn’t turn him down. I needed a new stick and skates and had planned on buying them, but I needed books first. Then the money just kept coming, followed by the car. Yeah, it pissed my mom off, I could tell. But I miss not having to worry about money. It’s nice, and if he wants to support me until I get into the NHL, then I’m going to let him. I just have to figure out how to do it without it coming back and hurting my mom.