Worth the Chance (Watertown University #2)

26. Garrett

Chapter 26

Garrett

I t’s been two and a half weeks with El and things have been going great so far. There hasn’t been pressure to dive deep into my feelings, we’ve just been doing us and enjoying our time together. It’s been amazing.

Getting out of my truck I walk down the driveway and over to the mailbox. I shuffle through the contents in my hand, junk, a magazine for El, more junk and lastly a white envelope that makes my breath catch in my throat as I check the return address. Connecticut state correctional facility. My breathing picks up as I stare at the envelope in my hand.

I head inside, my breathing still erratic. I place the rest of the mail on the counter before bounding upstairs. El won’t be home until later as she had plans with Mia this afternoon which I’m finding myself eternally grateful for right now. I have no idea what I’m going to find when I open the contents. I sit on the edge of my bed, tearing the back of the envelope open. I take a centering breath before unfolding the piece of paper .

Garrett,

It’s been ten years now. Ten years of being locked away thanks to you. Your mom hasn’t visited in two years now either which I can only assume is thanks to you as well.

You’ve ripped this family apart piece by piece. It should’ve been you. You should’ve been the one to get cancer. Not my sweet Aubree. She would’ve protected me. She would’ve made sure to visit. Instead we were left with you. A boy who doesn’t know how to protect his family.

I’m not sure what you gained from ratting me out but I hope it was worth it.

Dad

I stare at the short letter in my hand. How could I forget that it’s been ten years? God, I should’ve been expecting something like this. I know that I did the right thing by turning him in but he’s also right that I’m half the reason our family isn’t a unit anymore. My mind begins to spiral. There’s no stopping it now that it’s begun.

Warning bells have been ringing in my head ever since I read that letter yesterday. Warning me that I can’t have what I’ve been chasing. I can’t have love. I don’t deserve it. These thoughts plague me the whole drive to our game. We’re playing away today but it’s only an hour drive which means we’ll also be making the drive back to campus tonight .

“What’s up with you?” Bryan asks as we get off the bus.

“It’s nothing.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, you look very broody.” Alex chimes in, running up to us.

“Broody?”

“Yeah you know, broody. It’s like unhappy or something. You’ve had this scowl on your face the whole ride.”

“I’m fine.” I shake my head. Thankfully as soon as we get into the visiting team's locker room Coach Williams starts talking about what he expects to see from us tonight, cutting off the conversation about my broodiness. After his speech we all change into our gear and lace up our skates before we get a little bit of ice time. I’m the first out of the locker room. Being on the ice will help clear my head and I desperately need that right now.

I slap a few pucks into the goal before the rest of the guys get on the ice. Bryan takes place in the goal, letting me try to get past him. Unfortunately, my cloudy mind has me hitting the edge of the goal not just once but twice.

“Fuck.” I let out an aggravated breath. Coach blows his whistle signaling it’s time for us to head back to the locker room and get ready for the game.

“Moore!” Coach Williams yells and signals for me to stay behind.

“Yes coach?”

“What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Mhm. You better play better than that in the actual game.” He eyes me.

“I will coach. Just had to get out the bad ones.” He nods and waves his hand dismissing me.

The locker room is chaotic. The younger guys on the team laughing and joking around. Some of the others focus on eating their protein bars while listening to music in their headphones. I head to my bag, grabbing my protein shake and downing that while I check my phone.

Cupcake

Good luck tonight! Can’t wait to watch you play 3

A week ago I was excited Eliza was able to make it to another away game. The idea of seeing her in the stands thrilled me and put the biggest smile on my face but that damn letter is changing everything. I’ve been avoiding her since last night, feigning exhaustion after I came home from practice. The worst part is I wanted to dive into her arms and have her tell me everything will be okay but it won’t be. I can’t have her. I can’t have love. I can’t tear her apart.

“Garrett.” Bryan waves his hands in front of my face.

“Sorry, what?”

“You ready? It’s time.”

“Oh, yeah. Let’s go.” I shove my phone back into my bag trying to wipe my mind of everything and just focus on the game.

Turns out focusing on the game is impossible. My heart squeezed as soon as I laid eyes on the beautiful hazel eyed girl in the front row. Her smile growing wide as she watches me skate onto the ice. I forced myself to look away and get in the zone. That zone lasted all of ten minutes. We’re ten minutes into the first period and the puck I just hit ricochets off the side of the goal. Fucking hell.

Not to mention this team, the South Coast University Beavers, are playing dirty as hell. They’ve already tripped Alex and got a penalty for holding Dan, our right wing. They’ve also been running their mouths nonstop, trying to rile us all up. As we shift into the back half of the first period we switch lines, the second line takes our place giving us a much needed break from the relentlessness of the Beavers.

Luckily for us, Tyler, the center on the second line manages to score a goal bringing us to one to one score. As I take the ice again at the top of the center period I’m determined to do better. I focus on the feel of my skates hitting the ice, the cool breeze on my face as I skate down the rink. Dan slaps the puck to me and I hit it, soaring it into the goal. Thank God. My eyes can’t help but drift over to Eliza who’s up on her feet, cheering.

“That your girl?” Number forty-two, the center for the Beavers questions as he looks to where I am in the stand. I ignore him, shaking my head as we head back to the center of the ice for another face off. “She’s hot.” I ignore him once again, trying to not let him get under my skin. “I think I’ll have to look for her after the game, I’d love to see those pretty lips wrapped around my…” Before he can finish that sentence and before I have time to think about what I’m doing, I drop my stick and put my hands on his shoulders, shoving him backwards.

He trips over his own feet but doesn’t fall down, I’m ready to push him again but Alex skates up to my side. “Garrett, he’s not worth it.” He grips my arm pulling me back to our side. A whistle blows and the refs wave their hands.

“Penalty! Five minutes!” The ref calls. I roll my eyes, grabbing my stick and heading to the box. As I do I make eye contact with El again. She’s watching me with confusion in her eyes. I’m not usually a rough player unless need be, I’m careful to do things by the rules and not end up in the box. I can’t bear to look at her questioning gaze or coach’s pissed off glare so I bend over, letting my head hang in between my knees.

The rest of the game goes just as poorly as the first half. We end up losing two to one and it weighs heavily on me. As the center I’m the main scorer but I made one lousy goal. I am not playing at the level I should, especially when I’m going to the NHL next season. The NHL. Even more of a reason I shouldn’t be with the girl in the stands who’s looking at me with so much confusion. I need to have my focus. I can’t jeopardize what I’ve been working so hard for.