Page 80 of Icebound

He winces like he always does when I call him Morgan instead of Dad but plasters on a fake smile. Another ritual.

My father leans in, hugging me to his chest. “It was good to see you play today, Rhode. You’re a beauty on the ice. Whenever you want to get lunch, all you have to do is call, and I’ll be there.”

I pull away, give Wyn a goodbye hug, and stride out into the parking lot with Nina at my side. We get in my Range Rover, and I blast the air conditioning since we’re in the middle of a heat wave. The engine roars to life.

Nina shifts in the passenger seat. “Do you want to talk about that?”

“What? The sex?”

The sex I can’t stop thinking about.

From the passenger seat, she twists her thumbs in my periphery. “No, I mean, we should, but I meant what happened with your dad after the game. Seems like there’s some drama there, and you know…” She points to her head. “Big ears and all.”

My mouth curls up. “You’ve actually got really small ears.”

“You know what I mean. You can talk to me. I’ll listen.”

I blow out a breath, saying the words like a rehearsed media speech. “My dad’s a sports broadcaster, and he left my mom for a younger woman a while back. Just packed a bag and walked out on us. My sister doesn’t remember it because she was so young, but I never forgot hearing my mom begging him to stay when she caught him leaving in the middle of the night. Never even said goodbye.”

She reaches out to grip my thigh, and the heat of her hand sears through my pants like a burn that’ll take weeks to heal. “I’m so sorry, Rhode. That’s really hard.”

My fingers tighten on the leather wheel. “Yeah, it was. I didn’t get to be a teenager after that since I was too busy with hockey and helping out with Wyn, which I guess is why I went a little wild in my twenties when I got into the League.”

“That’s understandable, but it seems like your dad’s trying to make an effort now?”

Irritation sparks in my body, but I push away the feeling. Nina doesn’t know much about my past, and she always stands up for the underdog, so I won’t hold that against her.

“Yeah, he’s been trying for a while now.” Flicking on my blinker, I turn onto a side street and slow to fifteen under the limit because I’m not ready to say goodbye. “Even though he left, he always supported us. Paid for my hockey gear. Sent birthday cards, but it wasn’t the same as having a dad around, you know? Wyn barely remembers, it, but I do.”

She squeezes my thigh. “At least he tried to stay connected. That counts for something, right?”

That flare of annoyance grows into a flame. No father should walk out on their family, and Morgan doesn’t deserve Nina’s sympathy.

“Yeah, I guess.” I shift on the leather seat. “He came back and begged my mom for another chance, and she gave it to him. He hasn’t left her side since. Makes her breakfast every Sunday and never forgets flowers for an anniversary. Mom got him back, Wyn got a dad, and I got fucked. They forgive him, but someone needs to hold him accountable for his mistakes, and that’s on me. He’s the one who ruined our relationship when he left.”

She’s quiet for a while. We’re pulling up to her brownstone when she finally speaks. “Have you ever thought about forgiving him?”

My teeth grind. “Why would I ever forgive him for leaving?”

“I don’t know.” She twists her thumbs in her lap. “Because he came back? Because he’s trying? People deserve second chances if they’re trying to make things right.”

Years of pent-up resentment make anger spike in my blood. I jerk the car to the curb. “I don’t mean for this to sound harsh, but you weren’t there when I held my mom as she cried over the sink. You didn’t see all the hockey practices I almost missed because I had to pick up Wyn from school. My dad left and forced me to step into his shoes because he was a selfish prick.” I scoff. “Maybe you’re just too young to understand.”

Fuck. I shouldn’t have said that.

She lets out a derisive snort, and her fingers fumble with the seat belt to free herself. “Trust me, I understand everything you’re saying, but all I saw in that hallway was a father who wanted to hug his son and a son who refused to hug him back. People should be allowed to change. Do you know who I’d be if everyone still treated me like the girl I was? I’d be this depressed shell of a person, but—”

“You’re not a shell of a person. Who said that?” I almost shout, suddenly pissed off for a whole different reason. “You’re the most vibrant person I know.”

That stumps her for a second, and I’m somewhat stunned I just blurted those words.

She jerks her head. “That’s because I worked hard to be better, and it’s not fair to hold someone accountable to a past version of themselves when they’re trying, but you’re right.” She mimics my scoff, getting out of the car. “Maybe I’m just ‘too young to understand.’”

She slams the car door hard enough to rattle the glass.

Guilt strikes me like a swift punch, almost making me lightheaded. This can’t be our last conversation. Swinging open the door, I bolt from the car, closing the distance between us with determined steps.

She doesn’t even make it to the front door before I’m reaching for her arm. “Nina, wait! I’m sorry. Please, don’t walk away from me. I didn’t mean that. I was just pissed. I’m sorry.”