“Let’s go, Angie.”

“But, Dad—”

“I won’t say it again, kid,” he reprimanded and Lucy snapped.

“Don’t take out your anger for me on her,” she yelled and Rick glared, shaking his head.

“Goodbye, Lucy. Let’s go, Angie.”

“Wait—”

“Wait?” he seethed. “For what? You trying to not let me take her? ’Cause we can call the cops.”

She scrunched up her face. “What the heck? I’m trying to talk to you!”

“Well, I don’t want to talk to you. Now say bye to her so we can leave, Angie. Heidi and Nina are waiting.”

Angie looked to her mother, fear in her eyes, and Lucy’s heart dropped. This was such bullshit. “Hey, no worries, come here,” she said, bringing Angie into her arms. “I’ll see you in the morning. Call me if he can’t bring you. I’ll come get you. Okay?” Angie nodded, but she was on the verge of tears. “Hey, don’t worry. You’re good. Have fun, okay? Call me if you need anything.”

Rick let out a frustrated breath, and Lucy kissed Angie’s cheek hard. Lucy didn’t want to give Angie to him. She felt in her soul it was a bad idea, but she had no choice. She wanted him to honor the parenting plan, which meant she had to too. Kissing Angie once more, she hugged her and then let her go, even though Angie kept holding on to her.

Rick had already started walking away when Angie looked up to her and asked, “Do I have to go?”

Lucy’s heart just broke.

“Yeah, baby, I’m sorry,” she said, her voice cracking as she hugged her tightly.

“But what if he won’t bring me?”

“Then call me. I’ll come get you.”

“But what if he won’t let me? Just take me home now.”

“Honey, I can’t. It’s his weekend. It’s fine. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Angie only nodded as Rick called, “Come on. Now.”

Looking up at her, Angie pleaded with her eyes, but what was Lucy supposed to do?

She had to let her go.

Tapping gloves with his teammates as the Assassins gathered in the locker room, Benji went to his locker and sat down, a grin on his face. What a way to start the night. With a win. After kicking some Penguins’ ass where Tate got a shutout, Benji was feeling good. He hadn’t scored but he had four assists for the night, highest of his career. Which was freaking awesome. He was killing it, and he and Jayden were clicking better on the ice. Things were good.

Next stop, late dinner with his girlfriend and then a long night of sex.

Yes, Benji was a happy man.

“Great game, Paxton,” Sinclair said, tapping his glove as he sat.

Benji nodded, feeling on top of the world as he threw his gloves to the glove collector to dry them. “Thanks, man. Great game.”

Sinclair grinned as he leaned back, sucking in a long breath as Coach came in to do his end of game speech. When he singled out Benji, he beamed, feeling real good. He listened intently as Coach stressed how they needed to play like they had tonight for the next two weeks on the road trip. They were facing some tough competition during the road trip, but Benji had no worries. They were going to kick some ass.

But first, he was going to spend the weekend with Lucy. Man, he couldn’t wait to see her. He was pretty sure he played so well because he knew she was there. Watching him. He still owed her a goal, but he had done well tonight. Hopefully, she enjoyed herself. When Coach clapped his hands, they all joined in as he walked out, fist-pumping in unison with them. Leaning back, Benji was all smiles as he exhaled a breath, reaching for his phone to text Lucy that he’d be out soon.

Peering over at him from his locker, Jayden asked, “Hey, bro, where we going to eat?”

But Benji wasn’t listening. No, his shoulders had slumped as he read a text from Lucy.

Lucy: I’m so sorry. I won’t be at the game and I’m really not in the mood for dinner. Text me when you are on your way home and, if you want, I’ll come over. I really would like to come over. I got into it with Rick.

“I guess nowhere,” he said and Jayden’s face twisted.

“I thought we were going out?”

“Yeah, I guess Lucy and Rick got into it. She doesn’t want to go out. Wasn’t even here tonight.”

Jayden’s face changed to concern. “Is she okay?”

Benji shrugged as he hit Lucy’s name to call her. “Not sure.”

Jayden let out a long breath, falling back into his locker. “I hate that dude.”

“Hey,” she answered and he leaned on his legs. “Sorry I’m not there.”

“No worries, are you okay?”

She hesitated for a second, and he could hear the pain in her voice as she said, “Not really. I’ve eaten four boxes of Girl Scout cookies I had hidden away, but they aren’t helping.”

“Okay, I’m leaving in about thirty. Want to meet me at the house?”

“Yeah, I would really like that.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

“I’m really sorry, Benji.”

“Don’t be. It’s fine,” he said and he wasn’t lying. So she didn’t come and they wouldn’t go to dinner. That was all trivial to the fact that she was upset. “Is Angie okay?”

Her voice broke and it gutted him as she whispered, “I think so.”