AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I nod, smirking. “It’s a good choice.”
“Well,” the dad says as he gives his son a little shove. “Go on then.”
“H-hey,” the kid stammers. “It’s awesome you’re back in Boston. You’re the best left wing they’ve ever had.”
He can’t be more than fifteen, so I don’t know if he’s the expert on the history of the Druids roster, but with the way his eyes are filled with admiration, I don’t think it’s my place to question the compliment.
“I really appreciate that, man,” I tell him. I point to the jersey he’s wearing—my jersey. “I could sign that for you, if you want?”
His entire face lights up. “Shit, really?”
“Blake,” the dad scolds, lightly smacking his son on the back of the head. “Language.”
I chuckle as I take the marker the dad has already dug out of his pocket, gesturing for the kid to turn around and kneel down so I can sign my name and a little message on the white fabric where my number is. I cap the marker and hand it back to the kid’s dad after, feeling a swelling warmth in my chest at the obvious excitement the kid is experiencing from something so simple.
“Thanks, Mr. Chase,” he gushes. “Thank you so much!”
“Ian, please,” I tell him.
The kid, Blake, looks like he might throw up a pile of emoji hearts at any second, he’s so happy. “Right. Ian. Wow. Okay. Thanks, Ian.”
“Really cool of you, Ian,” the dad says. “We’re all really glad you’re home. I bet your old man is thrilled to have you back on the team, yeah?”
I do my best not to let any emotions show on my face, forcing a tight grin instead. “Yeah, he and my mom are stoked.”
Jack asks him a question I barely hear with the blood rushing in my ears, and they chat for a second about his recovery time, telling him he can’t wait to see him play again, and they both give us a pleasant goodbye as they stride further down the other side of the railing.
“You good?”
I nod, shaking off my irritation. “Yeah, it’s not his fault my dad is a prick.”
“Still. Sucks that you have to pretend he’s not a tool.”
I wish that I could say that after all these years, I still don’t feel the weight of his expectations, that I still don’t hear his voice in my head whenever I make even the slightest mistake, but it would be a lie. Bradley Chase is many things, but easily forgettable is not one of them. He’d never allow that to happen.
“Gotta keep the legacy alive,” I mutter bitterly.
It’s the only thing he’s ever cared about, after all.
“But hey, see?” Jack says with a wide smile. “I told you people were excited you were back.”
“Most people,” I mutter.
Jack waves me off with his good hand. “Fuck those dicks on social media. They just want something to gossip about. They’ll get bored.”
“Not a minute too soon.”
Jack must notice my creeping melancholy at the mention of all the people still clamoring about my supposed villainy online, giving my shoulder a light shove with his good hand.
“You notice he didn’t ask me to sign his jersey?” he pouts, changing the subject.
I smirk back at him. “Probably didn’t want to lower the value of it.”
“Now who’s a dick?”
“I learn from the best.”
Jack scowls at his sling. “I can’t wait to get this fucking thing off.”
