I nod. “Yeah, I know.”
“Your mom really likes Taylor. So does Chloe. She invited her to the house for Easter dinner.” He drops his hand to his side. “She seems like a nice girl. So does her friend. From what I overheard of their conversation, Bex is the reason Preston started that fight. Don’t let women interfere with your career.”
“My game has improved since I met her.”
“You’re still in the honeymoon period with her. Once real life kicks in, all of that will change.”
“It didn’t for you and mom,” I challenge.
He stuffs his hands into his pockets and shrugs. “Your mom is different. She turned my life around.”
“Taylor has done the same thing for me,” I confess.
“Do you love her?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation.
“Love makes you do stupid things. Look at what Preston just did for Bex.”
“How do you know it was for her? Lehane is a dick. He’s always been an asshole to Preston because he’s the best in the league.”
“Was the best,” my dad growls. “And I know what I heard. So did your mother and Chloe. That fight was over Bex. Just ask Preston.”
Confused, I cock an eyebrow at him.
Now, it all makes sense. Preston would do anything for Bex. Every time he was on the ice with Lehane, the two were going at it. But what does Bex have to do with Lehane?
Does she know him?
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m not planning to start any fights over Taylor.”
She wouldn’t need me to defend her, anyway. My girl can kick some serious ass. She’s better trained than every guy on my team put together.
“We better get over to the hospital and see how Preston’s doing,” he says.
While the rest of us stayed behind to shower, the team doctor drove Preston to the closest hospital. His hand looked broken, covered in blood and a bone popping out of the side.
“I’m gonna ride over with the team. I’ll meet you guys there.”
My dad hugs me again, this time harder than the last before he takes a step back from me. “I miss having you around the house. There’s too much estrogen with your mom and Chloe. I want you to come by sometime this week to hang out.”
“I don’t miss walking in on you and Mom making out in the kitchen,” I joke, though I mean every word.
They’re so damn lovey-dovey it drives me crazy. No kid wants to see their parents tearing off each other’s clothes regularly.
He laughs. “It will just be you and me. Promise.”
I say goodbye to my dad and take out my phone to text Taylor telling her I will meet her at the hospital. I need to see her. It’s only been a few days, and I miss her so fucking much.
My parents insisted I bring Taylor to their house in South Jersey for Easter dinner. We both stayed on campus for the quick break, so it was easy to convince Taylor to come home with me. But now we’re here, and she’s in complete shock over the sheer size of my family’s estate, I’m wondering if I should have told Taylor about this place sooner.
“Holy shit,” Taylor says as I drive through the gates that lead to the main house on the compound. “Is this a mini version of the White House? Jeez, Drake.” Her mouth falls open as she stares out the window in awe. “I knew you were rich but damn…”
“It’s not my money.”
She shifts in her seat to look at me. “Did you get lost in here when you were a kid? I mean, in all seriousness, does this place come with a tour guide or a map?”
Pulling into one of the six covered garages, I laugh at her silliness. Yeah, we’re mega-rich, but I couldn’t care less about the money. None of it belongs to me.
