Page 42 of The Pucking Coach's Daughter

“I’ve called nine-one-one,” she cries.

I stride forward and snatch it, ending the call. I’m going to fucking hold on to her phone and get to the bottom of who decided to hurt Sydney. But not right now. Now, Andi scrambles back. Except there’s nowhere for her to go. I grab her by her throat and haul her out of bed.

My face is obscured by a ski mask, but she can see my eyes. She grasps at my hands, trying to pry my fingers away. I squeeze. Her feet kick, but she’s petite. At this angle, she can’t reach the floor.

“Sydney is off-limits,” I say. “Say yes.”

Andi’s face reddens. It’s obvious even in the dark.

We stare at each other, until finally she lets out a croaking, “Yes!”

Good enough.

I throw her onto the bed and turn away. The sirens in the distance make me tilt my head. I look down at her.

“I’m sure you have some pretty nasty texts,” I say, sliding her phone back out of my pocket. “Talking shit about people, maybe a few secrets you hold close or let slip…”

Her jaw works. She’s afraid and defiant.

I’d be into that if I didn’t already have Sydney.

“This didn’t happen. A lot of embarrassing shit about you will come out if you tell anyone. Say yes if you understand.”

She glowers and finally mutters, “Yes.”

I turn on my heel. I slip out the way I came and move between the buildings. I peel the ski mask from my head and toss it in a bin in the alley. My gloves go in my pockets. Whether she’s actually going to call the police is anyone’s guess.

In a matter of minutes, I’m back outside Sydney’s apartment.

She needs to be better looked after. She has no one else… no one but me.

I rotate in a small circle. Hockey seems like a lifetime away. My whole life at St. James does. The guilt of not being able to stop the avalanche that buried Sydney consumes me. It has since the summer…

But this is next level.

This street is filled with brownstones. My attention snags on a small sign in the window of one across the street. Apartments for rent.

A phone number.

Maybe the best way to keep Sydney safe is to be so close to her I’ll practically be her shadow.

thirteen

sydney

Me

Have you ever thought about running away?

L.

Like, out of state?

Maybe out of the country

I have not considered it. Where would you go?

I think about it often.