Chapter 4

The week before the Regional Qualifier,the club shortened training hours so everyone could adjust.

Most of my teammates used the time to rest.I picked up extra shifts at the Silver Ridge Ice Center shop.

On Wednesday afternoon,Kaiden's car stopped outside.

Kaiden got out and leaned against the door,his sunglasses pushed into his hair.

"Ava,come here."

I kept working and pretended I had not heard him.

"I'm talking to you."He frowned and walked over.

He reached as if to grab me,then saw the grime on my hands and pulled back.

"Go wash up.You're coming with us."

"Where?"

"The mountain cabin.Nora needs to rest.You're coming too."

"I'm not going."

He sighed."Don't start this again.Nora wants to make peace.Stop being difficult."

"There is nothing between her and me that needs making peace."

"Ava."

"I have to train."

He let out a short,ugly laugh.

"You don't even need to.Come on.Leave this dump for the weekend.Nora really wants to fix things."

"I'm not going."

His patience ran out.He laughed again,and this time there was no warmth in it.

"Suit yourself."

He pulled out a stack of hundred-dollar bills and threw it at my feet.

"Your wages for the month.I paid your boss for you.Take the money,keep your dignity,and stop showing up in front of me and Nora."

I did not move.

"Not enough?"He threw down another stack."How about now?"

Coach Grayson came out of the back office.When he saw the cash on the floor,he hurried over.

"Mr.Hawthorne.What is this?We don't need this."

Kaiden did not even look at him.His eyes were fixed on me.

"Pick it up."

I still did not move.

Nora got out of the car and ran over with wide,innocent eyes.

"Kaiden,please,don't do this.You're scaring her."Nora crouched to pick up the money."Ava,don't be angry with him.He's only doing this for me.He didn't mean it that way."

She held the stack of cash out to me with both hands,her eyes wet.

"Come with us.I don't want to be the reason you two fight."

I looked at her,then at Kaiden.

He felt no regret at all.He thought I should kneel and thank him.

I walked past both of them,went into the back room of the shop,and shut the door.

Through the wall,I heard him say,

"See?You try to help her,and this is how she repays you."

The car started.Music faded down the street.

A minute later,Coach Grayson put the money in front of me.

"Take it,kid."

"No."

"Ava."He pushed the money toward me."Your father,your situation...you need this."

The bills smelled like Kaiden's cedar,a scent that used to make me feel safe.

I walked to the sink in the corner and turned the hot water all the way up.

Soap,scrub,rinse.Again and again,until my skin turned red and hurt.

That night,my father came again.

He was drunker than before,and he saw the cash.

He took the money and smashed up the shop.

When the police arrived,he was swinging a hockey stick at the lights,with display cases knocked across the floor.

It took two officers to cuff him.He spat bloody foam at me.

"You called the cops on your own father.People like you should rot in hell."

I watched the police car drive out of the parking lot.

So this was what it felt like to have no one at your back.