Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 656(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
I grimace, and my body stiffens. The idea of having to talk about my private life in such a public forum fills me with fury. What I do with my dick and my heart has nothing to do with my ability to play hockey. But this is the world we live in. People in the public eye can’t have private lives. We have to be willing to sacrifice our privacy for the sake of optics. I fucking hate forfeiting that on Riley’s behalf.
We have to talk to her before this happens. Without her agreement, we can’t do shit.
Through gritted teeth, I say, “Okay, Coach,” and that’s the end of the conversation for now.
***
Riley won’t pick up the phone, so we drive to her place. Hayes shows us the way, admitting to going over without telling us, undermining the unity I thought this relationship was fostering between us. It takes all my strength not to interrogate him about his actions because we need to be united right now, and visiting Riley with anger between us isn’t going to help our cause.
A man’s voice comes over the intercom when we press the buzzer, standing close to the door. “Hello.”
“Mr. Johnstone,” I say. “It’s Jacob, Shawn, and Hayes. We’re here to see you and Riley.”
There’s a pause, which goes on forever as we wait for Riley’s dad to accept our visit to his home. Then the door hums and clicks, and Hayes yanks it open and leads the way.
Tom Johnstone is waiting at the door, looking the same, if a little grayer around the temples. When we were kids, his eyes were always warm, and his mouth smiling. Now, he assesses us steadily, with a grim slash for a mouth. “Come in.”
He holds the door open, and as we step inside, I notice how much we’ve grown. Riley’s standing in the den, tired, bruised swipes of purple beneath her eyes and a pained, watery expression. It’s like she’s on the brink of tears but doesn’t want to show her emotions. I can’t take my eyes off her to look around at this place she calls home. When she sinks into a chair, it’s like all the strength has left her, and my instinct is to go to her and offer comfort, but this is another man’s home, and although she might have shared my bed, she’s under the protection of her father here.
His presence looms over us as we all hesitate.
“Sit,” Mr. Johnstone says, his tone clipped.
Hayes moves first, settling onto the couch without hesitation. Shawn follows, though his pained expression mutes his usual swagger. I’m last, lowering myself into the corner of the couch, careful to hold my posture steady and calm. The last thing we need is for Riley’s father to think we’re here to pick a fight or to bend to his will. If he’s going to tell us we can’t see Riley anymore, I need him to know we’re ready for the fight.
“So,” Mr. Johnstone says, leaning against the wall, maintaining the dominant position. “You’ve come here to say something. I suggest you get to it.”
I glance at Hayes, who looks ready to take the lead, but I need to take on this burden. I clear my throat, forcing my voice to steady, and meet his gaze head-on. “We want to make things right for Riley, for all of us.”
His expression doesn’t change, but he raises an eyebrow. “And what exactly does ‘make things right’ look like?”
Shawn leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “It means owning up to the situation, being honest about our feelings, and standing by Riley no matter what. We’re not going to let her face this alone.”
Mr. Johnstone’s gaze shifts to Shawn, and for a moment, the silence is deafening. Then he nods slowly, almost like he’s impressed. “You were the one who made this public knowledge without consulting Riley.”
Shawn nods, his expression so serious he almost doesn’t look like himself. “It was a mistake. One I regret. I hope Riley will be able to forgive me.”
Mr. Johnstone doesn’t wait for Riley to confirm or deny her forgiveness but turns to Hayes.
“And you? What do you have to say for yourself?”
Hayes’s jaw tightens, and for a second, I fear he’ll clam up like he sometimes does. But then he exhales and says, “Riley means everything to us. I can’t speak for how this looks to other people, but I can tell you that we’re committed to her. All of us. We know it’s unconventional, and people will have questions about it, but we won’t let her down.”
It’s a good, steady, thoughtful answer, but it still doesn’t erase the tension hanging over the room.
Mr. Johnstone shifts his attention back to me. “And you, Jacob? Do you think this is sustainable? Three men in a relationship with my daughter? You’re already causing her more stress than she can handle. Can you honestly say this is what’s best for her?”