The first few months without it made me feel naked. But when I saw it on her, it made it worth it. I wasn't religious, not really, but something higher than me had placed Annalise in my life, and then placed me in Valor's.
"You'd think you were your dad’s fucking age listening to this music."
"It's called taste, Maverick. You should try to get some."
"Working on your chirps, I see?"
"Nah, giving you shit just comes naturally."
I roll my eyes, a chuckle leaving me.
"I've gotta get to practicing, superstar. If I'm not warmed up by the time Pops gets out here, I'll be doing laps for days." She starts to skate backward as Crazy Train blasts from the speakers, giving me a head bang, and Metal horns. I shake my head with a laugh, flipping her off as she starts to warm up.
Valor Sullivan. One of these days, she's going to arrive like a hurricane into some poor boy's life and fuck his whole world up. And I'll be there to fuck him up if he hurts her.
With a smile on my face, I skate around to gather all my equipment. I can hear Valor in the distance, humming along to the music. I sling the bag over my shoulder, heading towards the exit off the ice when I hear my name.
"Bishop! I was just about to call you."
When I was drafted from Alton, the only home I ever knew, I came alone. My small town in Illinois was its own world. Its own little nook, and even though Chicago was only a four-hour drive, it still seemed a world away from me. My family, my real family, couldn't uproot their life. I wouldn't let them. Coach Finnegan had a job, a wife, Annalise, and two twin girls, Lily and Violet, who I adored. As for the biological sperm donor that called himself my father? He could barely keep his head up long enough to realize I even played hockey.
So as an eighteen-year-old in a new city, JR Sullivan made sure I settled in well. He allowed me into his home, helped me find my first apartment, made me feel welcome with the team. Made sure that I felt at home under the big city lights.
Plus he introduced me to Val. Another person I could protect, watch over. Another little sister I never had. Out of them all, Lily, Violet, and Valor, the redhead was my favorite. Maybe because the twins were girly, more concerned with Barbie dolls and Justin Bieber or because they were only ten. Vallie was different, we were closer. We could talk about how shitty the new league rules were, shove our faces full of pizza, and argue about whose slap-shot was better. I'd never tell her cocky ass but hers would be better in a few short years.
Not to mention, I know what it feels like to lose your mother. Somedays Valor isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes she mourns the loss of a woman she barely met. She knows the inside of her womb, she knows her heartbeat, and that's enough to kill someone emotionally.
"I'm not driving you home from a doctor's appointment if that is what you want. The last time you got handsy with me," I joke.
"I was doped up on pain medication. Get over yourself, idiot. No doctor's appointment. I need you to stay and drop Valor at the house after we get done with practice."
I nod. I'd done that a million times over the years. The formal question was throwing me though. Normally he'd just tell me I was taking Val home, and I'd give him a thumbs up. It had been forever since he asked.
"Sure thing. Everything okay?"
He scratches the back of his neck, and I swear his cheeks turn slightly red. "Yeah, I just. I have this date thing. Just a woman from Valor's school. It's no big deal or anything…"
I quirk an eyebrow smirking at him, hitting his shoulder.
"Ahhh shit! Hell yeah, man! Getting back out there, finally!" I cheer.
In the five years since I’ve knownJR, I'd never seen him go out with a woman, not even take a puck bunny home. He'd been focused on hockey and once that was over, his sole attention was Valor. I'd never met Valor's mother. I didn't even know her name. JR never talked about her, but whoever she was, she fucked them both up. Royally.
I hated her for them.
"Shh, I don't want Valor to know unless it's serious," he shushes me. He looks onto the ice to make sure she didn't hear anything, and once he is happy that she hasn't, he turns his attention back to me.
"I got you, old man. Have fun ton─"
"Who invited fuckface?"
Riggs's voice drifts towards us. She's standing behind us dressed in a similar outfit to Valor's. I reach out ruffling her blonde hair.
"Aurelia, always a pleasure, sunshine," I say with a chuckle and she glares at me as per usual. She is the grouchiest little shit.
"Bishop, I like you, really. But, if you call me Aurelia one more time, I'm going to shove my skate so far up your ass my blade will slice your tongue in half. "
I hold my hands up in defense, as she moves past us, stopping to give JR a side hug which he returns with a smile. If he could prove abuse at Aurelia's house, he'd adopt her in a millisecond.
She skates onto the ice with Valor. They smile at each other before doing the same handshake they did when they were ten.
"I feel sorry for whoever ends up with that wild child," JR says watching Riggs with a smile. I nod in agreement.
"You better get out there before they lose what little patience they have." I pat his back and head towards the locker room to shower and change.
Once I reach the shower, I shed the sweat covered clothes and equipment, turning the hot water on and stepping inside the glass shower. One of my favorite things about the Chicago Fury arena was the showers. The floor was heated, and the water pressure was phenomenal.
I let the hot water wash away the soreness that will no doubt make an appearance tomorrow morning. The only sound is the water hitting the tile beneath me, and I bask in the peace.
My life since signing to the Fury has been…chaotic to say the least. From games, practices, and workouts to the charity events, fundraisers, signings, and paparazzi. So I live for the moments when everything is quiet.
I'd never thought I'd say that, after everything I'd been through as a kid. That silence was what I craved in my adult life, due to the fact as a child all I wanted was something to distract me from the fact my life was a silent hollow.
I guess that's why they say be careful what you wish for, right?
After washing off, I step out of the shower, drying myself and slipping into a pair of boxers, then my jeans. My phone buzzes, and I pick it up, opening the text from Coach Finnegan. The smile on my face is wide.
There is a picture of Lily and Violet wearing one of my jerseys. Underneath is a message that says, 'Your biggest fans.'
I sit down on one of the benches, gazing at the picture.
To say my life is in debt to Coach Finnegan is putting it lightly. From the day I met him, I knew he was going to change my life. I just didn't realize how much.
I had my fingers pressed into the trigger of a black paint can, in the process of spraying the side of my middle school and leaving my name in large black letters when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
There was a reason I was painting my name on the side of the middle school. I wanted to be caught. I wanted to be seen. I wanted the school to call my dad, to see if he'd care enough to ground me, yell at me, fuck, look at me even.
I didn't even have to vandalize to get caught, a bonus for me. I turned with a fake sigh, leaning against the brick wall, throwing my hands up.