Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
“Everything okay there?” Tristan asks.
“She’s having a hard time forgiving her dad for not making her a priority,” I confide.
“But you make her one.” Tristan side-eyes me.
Vander Zee and I have similar schedules, but I make time for Tally. He’s failing at coming through, and all it does is fuel her anger with him. “I won’t let her down the way he has, but I know I need to find the balance, too.” I grab my towel. “I don’t want to make her a target with my poor on-ice performance.”
“We still won the game,” he reminds me.
“This time. I have to play better when all eyes are on me.”
We shower and change, and I head up to Vander Zee’s office. He’s sitting behind his desk looking exhausted. I half wonder if he sleeps here some nights, whether on purpose or by accident. I knock on his door, and he startles.
“Flip. Come on in.” He motions to the chair across from him.
“Sorry I phoned it in tonight. I know how important every game is between now and the playoffs. It won’t happen again.” It’s not just me and the team it affects anymore.
“We still pulled out a win.” He raps on the desk. “I, uh, I wanted to ask about Tally.”
“She’s pretty focused on exams and her final showcase.”
He runs his tongue along his teeth. “But you see her?”
“We make time for each other.” When I don’t have a game, and I’m in Toronto, we’re together.
“I’m worried about how much she’s pulling away,” he confides.
I grip the armrest so I don’t rub my chin or run my hand through my hair. If ever Tally needed me to go to bat for her, it’s now. “From you, you mean?”
He swallows thickly and nods.
“Her whole life is a sea of change.” I choose my words carefully. “Between me, your family circumstances, and the end of university, she has a lot on her plate”—I rap on the arm of my chair—“but she’s working through it.”
He rubs his stubbled chin. “She talks to you about this?”
“In confidence, yes,” I reply.
He nods a few times, the hope on his face hard to deal with. “Maybe you could suggest she come for family dinner? Her mom is bringing her brother and sister over this weekend. It would be nice if Tally would join us.”
Well, this is fucking awkward. “I can mention it to her.”
“Thanks, Flip. I appreciate it.”
“Can I make a suggestion, though, Coach?”
“Of course.”
“Tally needs you to show up for her like you do for your team. It’s all she wants from you. Just to feel like she matters as much as we do.”
“She’s my daughter, of course she matters.”
“She needs to hear it and she needs you to show her with actions.” I can’t make him change, but I can point him in the right direction.
“Right. Yeah.” He opens his drawer and pulls out a bag of dropjes. “I got her some study treats. Maybe you could pass them along?”
“I could, but maybe you should hold on to them and give them to her yourself.”
He nods and sighs. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
“She’s my world, sir. I’d do anything for her.”
CHAPTER 42
TALLY
Ipull into the underground lot of my dad’s building. It’s the first time I’ve been here since he moved in. I can’t keep avoiding reality. My parents are really over, and I need to come to terms with that.
I find a spot in visitors, park, and pull my phone out of my purse. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Phillip. I’d made a thousand excuses not to attend, and he sat me down and asked the hard questions. I told him everything I was afraid of. He held me and promised it would get easier, but I couldn’t keep running away from the people I love, because it was just causing me more pain. He was right. But now I’m anxious and I need something to look forward to post-dinner.
Tally
I feel like I was hoodwinked into this.
By your dick.
Flip
I mean, if the dick fits...
Tally
That was a dirty trick.
Flip
I know.
But seriously, I’ll be waiting for you with a bubble bath and cherry chip cake when you get home, and whatever else you need to relax.
Tally
You better say and do filthy things to me tonight.
Flip
We will check something off your fantasy list.
Tally
Promise?
Flip
Cross my heart. The filthier the better. Maybe a fic related one
Tally
I told you the spice was spicing. Okay. I’m going in.
Flip
Great. Maybe erase the messages that will result in me being buried in an unmarked grave.
Tally
On it.
Flip
I smile as I delete all the messages that would make me boyfriend-less and my dad a murderer. I wanted to invite Flip today, but I also didn’t want the first time my mom and siblings meet him to be tense and awkward.
I check my other messages, pulling up new ones from a few minutes ago.