Rising Summers (Pucking Unbelievable Book 1)

by Garnet Davenport

  “Yes.”

  She groaned, “fine. I can’t take it anymore. I need to know.”

  “So, is it a deal? You keep your trap shut?”

  “Ugh, fine.” She said, rolling her eyes.

  “I’m serious, Brooklyn, if she finds out you’ll wreck the surprise.”

  “I said okay. Cross my heart and hope to die…”

  “I’ll stick a needle in your eye,” I said, finishing the sentence the way we always had when we were little.

  “Fine.”

  As I told her about my plans, I could tell her excitement for her best friend was growing. I showed her what I had planned, and she helped me pick out the last few details to make Chloe’s eighteenth birthday one to remember. Right before Mom came down and pulled out the takeout menus, we finished.

  She eyed us suspiciously. “What are you two up to?”

  “Nothing.” We said at the same time. Then, we looked at each other. Brooklyn looked slightly worried. Mom always had been able to figure us out. She probably already knew.

  “I believe that like I believe Mack wouldn’t eat an entire turkey if given a chance.”

  Mack sat on his pillow gnawing on a rawhide bone. At the word turkey, his attention deviated from his bone. “Oh, calm down you silly boy. There’s no turkey tonight.” Mack, being officially upset at the idea of turkey only to let it be ripped out from underneath his feet.

  I chuckle, “seriously, Mom, nothing is going on here. Just talking to my sister.”

  Brooklyn backhanded my arm and snapped, “now she knows something is up. Ugh. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Fine. We’re just planning your birthday.” I said.

  “I highly doubt that, considering your father is coming up and not mine.” She eyed me. I became nervous under her scrutiny. “Mmm,” she hummed, “is this about Chloe?”

  I had frozen. Even Chloe’s name made my heart beat harder. “What are you talking about?”

  “Nixy, why don’t you think I can tell when you’re lying? I’ve known ever since Chloe was eight; you were meant to be together. I was just hoping it would wait until she became an adult and you were done sowing your oats.” Mom said.

  “What?” I said, shocked.

  “Don’t start that. You were so worried about Chloe when she hadn’t followed you all the way home. You stayed up that entire night and the next night until you got to see she was okay. I knew then when you stood beside her hospital bed and promised you would take care of her for the rest of her life, she would be the one.” Mom explained.

  “You did that?” Brooklyn asked, surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

  “I forgot all about that. I felt responsible for losing her in the woods. She was so cold when we found her. All I remember is seeing her in your arms and trying to warm her up as Dad sped to the hospital.”

  “And I remember holding that little girl while you cried for her.” Mom said.

  I swallowed hard, remembering that day. I may have been just a teenager, but I remember my heart breaking for her. I didn’t want her to die. I thought about that now and how I could have lost her. How different my life would be now. I wouldn’t have her in my life. Wanting to keep her as mine forever.

  “I can’t believe nobody told me about that,” Brooklyn said, pouting.

  “Well, Sweetie, it honestly hadn’t crossed my mind. I just had forgotten all about it until now.” Mom said.

  “Fine,” Brooklyn said, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Don’t blame them. It’s not like we encouraged them. Nix is still seven years older than Chloe. And she happens to be seventeen still. Or did you forget that fact?” Mom said the last part to me.

  “Trust me, I haven’t forgotten.”

  “Is that why you’re looking at hotel rooms?” Mom asked. I closed my laptop so she couldn’t see over my shoulder. She laughed, “okay, okay,” she said with her hands raised, “I won’t ask any more questions. Just please, do me one favor?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Be careful. You’re in the public eye, and you don’t want a brand new relationship all over the tabloids. Especially since you know who her father is.”

  I gulped at that and Brooklyn, and I exchanged glances.

  “What? What aren’t you telling me?”

  I cleared my throat, “Chloe should really be the one to talk about it.”

  “Phoenix Austin Drayden, you tell me right now.”

  I hesitated, “Chloe thinks it’s possible her father isn’t her biological father.”

  My mom’s jaw dropped. “What?” She said, hand at her neckline.

  “Mom, Chloe called me the night of the gala. She overheard her mom and James talking. She said it sounded like James was saying he was her biological father.”

  “James?” Mom questioned, looking like she was trying to dig that name out of the past. “Oh, my goodness. James? Marie’s driver?”

  Brooklyn burst out laughing, “it takes going for a ride to a whole other level.”

  “Brooklyn.” Mom scolded, through laughs. We all started to laugh after that. “Oh goodness, I needed that.” When she finally calmed down enough to hold the rest of the conversation she said, “poor dear. No wonder she’s been so off when we’ve talked.”

  “She hasn’t wanted to talk about it lately. She’s only been talking about Remington.” Brooklyn said.

  “Same here. She’s been telling me about her classes, and she’s excited to come home for her birthday.” I added.

  Finally, we got to the real task at hand—dinner. Brooklyn decided on Italian. When Dad got home, he eyed us all suspiciously. “Did I miss something today?”

  “No.” We all said at the same time.

  “Right,” Dad said. “I don’t want to know. Just please tell me if I need my checkbook or our lawyer.”

  “Neither,” I said before Mom or Brooklyn could answer.

  “Ah. So you’re the culprit. What’d you do?” Dad asked.

  “Nothing,” I replied.

  “Let’s try that again. What’d you do?” Dad said, this time a bit more demanding.

  “Fuck,” I whispered. “I’m…” I ran my hands through my hair. “I’m kind of dating Chloe.”

  “Chloe who?” Dad looked at me then around the table. “Summers? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “Knox, we already knew this was where it was going to go.” Mom said.

  “Yeah, but dammit. Why couldn’t you wait a couple more years?” He groaned at me.

  “It just happened. But we’ve only been talking since she had left.” I explained. “We’ve gotten to know each other. And I…” I paused, wanting to wait to announce it. “I can see us having a future.” I would wait to tell Chloe I was falling in love with her. It should be just for us anyway. And the way it should be.

  The room went quiet. They all started at me.

  “Are you serious?” My dad asked.

  “Very much,” I replied.

  My mom talked all throughout dinner with my dad about the possibility of Chloe becoming part of our family. The thought of it should make me flinch. It had always terrified me in the past when a puck bunny had gotten too attached. I figured they would pull the goalie or fake it. They probably thought I would marry them. Nope. I made sure I always wrapped it up and never gave them too much. But Chloe… something has always been different between us. Our relationship has always been a little tug and pull.

  “You know, I think Grandma’s ring is up in my jewelry case. Or is it at the bank in our security box?” Mom asked Dad.

  “Probably in the security box,” Dad said, taking a bite.

  “Whoa. We’re not there yet.” I said quickly trying to cut off that idea.

  “Yet?” My mom asked with curiosity.

  “Yet, Mom,” I said, flatly.

  The conversation went back to talking about Chloe’s birthday. Brooklyn wanted to make sure she was going to get some time with her best friend, but I wanted time with my girlfriend. Al
l of her time. I was a selfish bastard when it came to Chloe. I wanted every second I could get with her. And I wanted it alone. Thinking about getting to see her again and getting to be with her in public had made my blood pump through every vein at the speed of lightning.

  I was able to avoid more conversations with Mom about what this thing was between Chloe and I. I got to talk to Chloe that night over the phone.

  “Hey.” She said, answering the phone.

  “Hey back,” I said.

  She giggled, “you’re such a goober.”

  “Yep, but only for you,” I said.

  She giggled again. “I miss you.”

  “Oh yeah?” I said, flirtation in my tone.

  “Yes. I know I’m coming home in just a couple days, but it seems so far away.”

  “I know what you mean. I’ve got your surprise all planned out and not telling you all about it is harder than I thought it was going to be.”

  “Well then, you’ve got to tell me.”

  “No way. Besides, I’m betting Brooklyn already told you everything.”

  “Ugh. No, she wouldn’t spill. She said something about a needle and then she just went ranting on about how I was going to love it because she helped and then something about a deal. I don’t know. Sometimes she talks in circles.”

  I laughed. “Well, that sounds about right.”

  “So, you’re really not going to tell me anything?”

  “Nothing. I want it all to be a surprise. And I promise you’ll like it.”

  “I’m sure I will.”

  We finished our conversation with a simple goodnight. I wish I could have had phone sex with her. But I didn’t want anything to come back on us. We were so close to the finish line. I decided instead to jerk off and get some sleep since I knew Coach was going to be on my ass tomorrow in practice.

  ❤︎❤︎❤︎

  “Drayden! Get your ass off the ice!” Coach shouted across the ice at me.

  I stopped and ambled across the ice to the box. Throwing my left leg over the wall, Coach was already coming at me with steam coming out of his ears and swear words spitting at me.

  “You’re fucking sloppy! Where the fuck is the hockey player I recruited out of college? Because he sure isn’t on my ice.” Coach was going off on me like I was a red-headed stepchild. “If you want on the first line, you better get your ass in gear, and get that fucking puck in the net!”

  “Yes, sir!” I call out with my mouthpiece impeding my speech.

  And if that gives you any indication about how practice went that’s how the rest of my day went as well. Including a phone call from my agent letting me know the Knights were on the fence about resigning me.

  Chapter 33

  I Have To Pucking Give Him Up

  Chloe

  “I know who you slept with.” My mother said in a snippy, clipped tone.

  When the words settled in, I realized what she had actually said. She knew? How could she know? I’ve been so good at keeping Nix out of the story—I had thought. I know my mother had known all about my childhood crush. I had walked around telling my family to start calling me Mrs. Nix Drayden for an entire month. I remember James smirking when I had proudly declared we were meant to be together and he would one day recognize too.

  My mouth must have been open because my mother narrowed her eyes on me as if she hadn’t been sure but just received her confirmation. “Tell me he took advantage of you. You obviously didn’t know what you were doing. He’s in his twenties, isn’t he?” She didn’t wait for my confirmation, “we will take action immediately.”

  The pregnant pause that happened next felt like it echoed off the walls of her office. What should I do? I can’t tell her that we actually slept together. Nix hadn’t wanted to do this thing between us because of the age difference. I can’t let her know.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said with complete confidence.

  “Don’t play dumb Chloe. Phoenix Drayden. You are not eighteen, and he most definitely is not.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  Fix this. Come on Chloe, you know you can’t let her turn Nix in. His life is on the line. There would be no coming back from child molestation for him or his career. Even if that’s not what actually happened. I’m ten days away from becoming an adult, and we can be together. Texting and calling haven’t been enough. I miss him. We had our first official date scheduled for the night of my eighteenth birthday, and I couldn’t wait.

  I scrunched up my nose. “It wasn’t Brooklyn’s brother.”

  “Of course it was.” She said, moving papers around on her desk. “It doesn’t matter what you say. My investigator has told me about your phone calls and text messages. Along with Phoenix’s test results he had done through his team’s physician.”

  He had his blood work done? He hadn’t told me about that. I wonder when he had done it.

  “Well that’s good for him, but I haven’t even seen him since January.” I tried to explain.

  “That doesn't mean you haven’t been in contact with him. His number is all over your phone.”

  I felt a dry gulp scrap my throat.

  “Don’t try to deny it. We will be pressing charges against him in the morning. He can kiss that dreadful professional hockey career goodbye.”

  “No!” I shout it before thinking. Her head jerked up to me, and she scowled. “I mean please don’t. He doesn’t deserve it. I’ll do whatever you want.”

  She thought about my proposition for a moment. “I believe we can come to an agreement.” I knew, with those eight words, I would regret everything.

  I had to sit and take her crap about Nix for three hours. She degraded me and ripped his character apart piece by piece. Showing me more than enough photographs from the private investigator. It included a list of women which he had sex with, his financials, and even his high school GPA. Even if I had already known that last one. However, having everything put right in front of my face was an eye-opener. I couldn’t blame Nix, I knew he had a past, and I had to be okay with that. But the more she puts in front of me the more anxiety runs through my body.

  “You will not see Phoenix Drayden again. You will not speak to him again. And you will not even think about him. Do we have an understanding?” Mom demands.

  I nod, a tear ran down my cheek. I would give him up. I wouldn’t be the one to rip his career out from under him. I couldn’t ever do that to him. I can’t think about anything else but the fact that I’ll never see him again.

  “I want to hear you say it. Say you won’t see him again.” She demanded.

  “I… won’t… see… him… again.” It was hard to get each word out. Needing to pause in between them to gather strength to finish. To give my mother everything she wants. A daughter she can pull strings with. I would hate her for everything she has done to control my life.

  “Good. Now take out your phone and text him that it’s over.” She said, just to prove the point and dig the knife in further.

  I pull out my phone and go to his message thread.

  Me: I don’t want to see you anymore.

  My finger hovered over send for longer than my mother wanted.

  “Now, or I’ll send all this information to the police.”

  I pressed send. Then, let the tears come.

  Almost immediately the three little dots started to move.

  Nix: I don’t understand.

  Me: It’s for the best. We weren’t going anywhere.

  Nix: Yes we were.

  As soon as I received the text message his face showed up on my phone. He wanted to talk to me.

  “Don’t answer it. I will be blocking his number from your phone.”

  I nodded. She made sure my life… the possible life I could have had with Nix was over. I wouldn’t let more tears fall until I could do it in private. I would stay strong in front of my mother. She wouldn’t get anything else from me.

  Chapter 34

  What The
Actual Puck?

  Nix

  “What the actual fuck?” I said, starting at my phone. “She just fucking broke up with me.” It was like I was in a daze. Everything was happening in slow motion. I felt my heart literally break. I tried to call her. She rejected my phone call. Something had to have happened. I needed Brooklyn. I whipped open my door and yelled, “Brooklyn!” It was just a few seconds before she came running out of her room. She was already wearing pajama pants and an old graphic tee that had seen better days.

  “What? What happened?” She asked, worried.

  I just turned my phone around to show her the text messages. It only took her a minute to read back through a few text messages. Her jaw dropped when it clicked. It had only been two hours from the time when she was texting me how much she couldn’t wait to see me. “I don’t understand,” Brooklyn said as she looked up at me. “Did she—”

  “She did.” I snapped. “What the hell happened? We were talking about her birthday earlier today. She was excited to see me.” I ran my hands through my hair. “What the hell happened?”

  “This doesn’t make any sense.” She said, shaking her head from side to side.

  “What doesn’t make sense? She doesn’t want to be with me. It’s right there in black and white.” I snapped, really getting angry. I had started to plan a life with her. Chloe was the first person I could see a future with.

  “Nix.” Brooklyn sighed.

  “It’s over. Never mind.” I snapped.

  “Nix?” She sighed, again.

  “No. Brooklyn, stop,” I growled. Then, with a sigh, I said, “just stop.”

  “No. Nix, I will find out what happened. There has to be a reason. She has been in love with you since she was six. There’s no way.” Then she said in a lower tone, almost to herself, “just no way.”

  “I should have fucking known better.”

  “No, Nix. I swear she wouldn’t have ever done that without a good reason.”

  “It doesn’t matter. This is what she wants. She won’t even pick up the phone to break up with me like an adult.” I chuckled, “she’s not even an adult. I should have known.”