The Workaholic and the Realist (New Hampshire Bears #2) by Mary Smith Page B

to get it for her. Then I had to think about when the last time I’d given a gift to a female on Valentine’s Day. I avoided the holiday like the plague.
    Nonetheless, I pushed her name on my phone and sent her a test asking to call me when she woke up. I figured since I was still up, I needed to have breakfast. I was definitely sure Grams was awake, and she was the best cook ever.
    As always, I didn’t bother to knock, and the smell of coffee brewing and the sounds of bacon sizzling led me to the kitchen. Of course, I expected to see Grams, but I stopped dead seeing Felicia at the stove.
    “Keaton.” Her face lit up seeing me in the doorway.
    “Felicia,” I gave her a curt nod. “Where’s Grams?”
    “Sleeping. She and I stayed up late last night playing cards.”
    “Playing for money?” If she took a dime from her, my head would explode in anger.
    “Um…no. Just a friendly game.” She changed the subject. “Do you want some coffee?”
    “Nope. I’ll just check on Grams to make sure she’s okay, and I’ll leave.”
    “I’m not hurting her.” Felicia stepped up to me. “Please quit acting like I’m harming her.”
    “You know the saying if it quacks like a duck.” I shouldn’t rile her up, but I couldn’t stop myself.
    “I’m clean, Keaton. I even have job interviews this week.”
    I fake laughed. “Job? Have you ever even been employed?”
    The hurt was extremely noticeable in her eyes. “I’m trying to make you proud and prove to you I’ve changed.”
    I glared at her the same way I would an opponent on the ice. I had no respect for her. All of my respect went to Grams, the woman who raised me.
    “You know what, Felicia, how about I give you money? And you can go back to whatever hole you crawled out from.”
    Tears quickly formed in her eyes, and I suddenly felt a bit shitty for what I’d said.
    “Keaton Michael Jaco.”
    I closed my eyes and hung my head. Even though her tone was calm, I knew I was about to feel the wrath of Grams. I turned to face her, and her expression said it all. Stone-cold and pissed off at me.
    “Felicia, do you mind leaving Keaton Michael and me alone for a moment?”
    She quickly rushed from the room; I even think she was scared of Grams right now.
    I started to open my mouth and explain about what I was saying to Felicia, but she threw up her hand, and I clamped my mouth shut.
    “I want you to listen to me. I want you to leave, and don’t you dare step one foot back into my house until you show some respect for my guest and your mother.”
    “You…you’re throwing me out?” I stammered on my words. Grams had never told me to leave.
    “You may come back when you remember I taught you how to show respect and how to treat people.”
    “Grams—”
    “No.” she cut me off again. “You either apologize to Felicia or leave. You only have two options.”
    I’d be damned if I would be the one to apologize to her . After everything I’d been through, she wasn’t getting the satisfaction of hearing me say I’m sorry .
    I did the one thing I never thought I’d be doing. I left Grams’ house.
     

     
    I drove around Manchester until it was time for practice. I truly wasn’t ready for anything related to hockey. I wanted sleep and Grams to see my point of view on the situation.
    Apparently, I wasn’t the only one in a mood. Remington, who had a stall next to mine, looked as if someone died. He moped around the locker room, and when we were on the ice, he was the slowest and not even paying attention. This was uncharacteristic of him. Remington held the fastest speeds in the PHL and currently had the most points in the league. But you wouldn’t think that way if you saw him right now.
    Once practice was over and Coach Long, who sported a new black eye, finished yelling at us, I grabbed Remington’s arm.
    “Are you okay?”
    He shrugged one shoulder.
    “Come on, talk to me.”
    “I need to process a few things.”
    “I can help.”
    “Nah, you