Spiral (Off the Ice, #2) (62)
“My brother’s in the same year as Sean.”
It’s impossible for me to not glare at him.
Socket’s laugh cuts the tension. “Man, I would have never survived at a boarding school. They would have kicked me out as soon as I started playing hockey in the halls.”
His comment gets a laugh from a few of the guys around us and starts a conversation about reckless things they’ve done in school.
Suddenly, even as the conversation moves on, I can’t sit here any longer. That feeling propels me to walk through the double doors, ignoring Aiden’s call for me, and straight down to where Marcus is retreating into his office.
“Marcus, do you have a second?”
He folds his arms and exhales loudly, but he nods, and I follow him to his office. I might be making things worse, but I need to make an effort to cement my position here.
“Wanted to see me for a final farewell?” Marcus says.
I ignore the pointed jab. “I came here to assure you that I won’t let this opportunity slip away easily. I know tonight’s the final day before the organization’s decision about me, but I won’t give you the chance to sign those trade papers.”
If looks could kill, no one would survive the one he’s giving me.
“And how are you going to do that? Because you haven’t been stepping up to where we need you. You’re a good player, we can see that, but if that doesn’t translate to goals, we have no use for you. Assists are great until there isn’t anyone to assist.”
“But I’m—”
“And whatever damage control you’re trying to do with my niece won’t help your case.” His glare turns lethal. “I trust Sage to make her own decision, but if your reputation interferes with her life, I won’t stand for it. You hurt her, and I’ll make sure your career never recovers.”
The threat should make me cower, but I can’t help but feel relieved that even though Sage doesn’t think so, she has people who have her back. Me included.
“I’d never let my public image affect her. She’s with me because we care about each other, and she knows I’d do anything for her. It’s the reason she’s staying with me.”
“Staying with you?”
Fuck. From his deadly glare, I’m assuming Sage didn’t tell him she’s living with me. First Owen, now this. The girl couldn’t make it any clearer how temporary I am in her life.
He scoffs. “So, in the midst of your career dangling by a thread, you think you can focus on a relationship? You can barely focus on your game. This isn’t the NCAA, where you can get away with your parents signing a check.”
His constant reminders of my family’s wealth, dissolving my skill into a mere favor, tighten my fist. I have to clench my jaw to keep from saying something that might get me kicked out before I can even play the last game I have to prove myself.
“I don’t think you have what it takes to be great, Eli.” Then he goes in for the kill. “And frankly, I don’t think you’re good enough for Sage either.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
SAGE
HOCKEY FANS ARE obnoxious and loud, and I can’t wait to be one of them.
The Scotiabank Arena is bustling with blue and white as I follow the long line through security. After my bag is checked, I make my way to the suite that the team keeps for the players’ families. I’ve sat here a few times with my uncle. But this time, walking in to find a close-knit group of hockey wives and girlfriends makes me feel like a fraud. Before I consciously make the decision, I start back down to the lower sections where the team has a few reserved seats. Since it’s our last regular-season game, it’s not packed, so those seats are often empty.
“We need to talk.” My uncle’s voice cuts through the chaos of the arena, and I wipe the somber look from my face. I’m surprised to find that he isn’t his usual happy self tonight, but I have an inkling of what this is about.
Marcus Smith-Beaumont has been there for Sean and me since we were kids. All my good childhood memories include him. All the ones without him have to do with my absent parents and police ransacking our house when my dad got into illegal narcotics.
When you grow up around chaos, the happy moments are like life rafts. But when I turned eighteen those life rafts no longer felt safe. I worked hard and saved enough money to never lose my brother to the system and show that I could provide a stable life for him. Luckily, I was an adult, which meant I could take on Sean as my dependent. However, when my uncle found out what happened with our parents he offered to adopt him, and I felt threatened. Threatened that another adult in my life was going to take something away from me.
Seeing this, Uncle Marcus immediately took back his offer and assured me that he knew how important it was that I become Sean’s guardian. Since then, he’s been the only adult figure in our life. He’s never overstepped, but that doesn’t prevent him from playing up the uncle card.
“About what?”
He narrows his eyes. “Don’t be a smart-ass. When were you going to tell me you’re living with Westbrook?”
Oh crap. “I’ve been kind of busy ...”
“I asked you to keep me in the loop.”
“You weren’t going to approve.”