The Shots On Goal Series Box Set by Kristen Hope Mazzola

Author:Kristen Hope Mazzola [Mazzola, Kristen Hope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

Griffin

“Happy birthday, bro.” Gavin slapped my shoulder as he walked into our parents’ foyer with a shit-eating grin on his face. His wife was in tow, beaming at me and holding a huge gift-wrapped box with a blue bow on the top. Sean, Jessica, and Jordan were already sitting awkwardly with my folks in the living room.

Myla shoved the gift into my hands before hooking her arms around my middle. “Happy birthday, Griff.”

Myla and I were not the closest of in-laws, but she always knew how to light up a room. Her bubbling personality was truly refreshing in the dank melancholy that usually festered in my parents’ home. There was so much bad blood and frustration that dripped from the walls, it had stained the family long ago. Mostly it was because my father was a pretentious asshat that treated my brother like a second-class citizen and resented me for getting sick at such a young age.

Gideon Hayes had grand dreams for his boys, and you would think we were both injecting heroin into our eyeballs from the way he treated us, but we were everything he had ever wanted for us. Gavin had been the captain of the New York Otters hockey team for years, was married to another hockey player’s sister, and had a gorgeous penthouse on the Upper East Side—he was living the fucking dream. I was fighting my way into the big time, winning title after title, but nothing would ever be good enough for the crotchety old man my father had become.

My mother waltzed into the foyer, daintily kissing my cheek. “Happy birthday, baby.” I could smell the gin on her from a mile away.

“Thanks, Ma. What’s for dinner? It smells amazing in here.” We all hung up our coats and followed my folks into the living room where our friends were waiting.

After saying hello to everyone, Gavin and I bee-lined it straight for the wet bar while mom answered my question. “Braised beef tenderloin with a kale salad, roasted beets, and Brussels sprouts with bacon, just the way you like it.” The look of satisfaction on my mother’s face was hysterical—she’d planned Gavin’s favorite meal for my birthday. Fucking perfect.

Gavin tried to stifle his laughter. “That sounds fantastic, Ma! Can’t wait.”

“Helga should have it ready promptly at seven.” She looked down at her watch. “Excuse me, I need to make sure we’re on schedule.”

“I’m going to get some air,” I mumbled to no one in particular.

I started to pace around the back patio. I couldn’t put a finger on exactly how I felt. I wasn’t upset that my mom had messed up and gotten Gavin’s and my food preferences confused; it was an honest mistake. I couldn’t have cared less about Amy and knew I was better off without her. Grabbing my wallet from my back pocket, I pulled out a laminated newspaper clipping and reread the words I had read over and over for the better part of the last ten years.

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