Unsteady

by Peyton Corinne

“I don’t think I’ve ever been happier, Gray,” he whispers. Another kiss to the corner of my mouth. “My girl.” Like a balm to a wound I didn’t know I carried, Rhys holds me close. And that’s more than enough.

some of the other guys work on dribbling and taking practice shots at an empty net.

girl what sport is this

“How many hits does it take for you to toughen up, pussy?”

absolutely FLOORED

“Does the brain damage hurt his ability to fuck? I’ll volunteer if you need—” I kick him in the balls, swift and hard, and then watch with a satisfied smile as he trips over Ro’s feet and falls on his ass. He stands slowly and ambles back down, embarrassed.

BEAT HIS ASS GIRL

“He’s not a fucking object. Shut the hell up and stop spreading rumors you know nothing about.”

justified very tame crash out

The Waterfell boys are dominating, the clock is dwindling, and I’m… I’m very aroused.

like a waterfall for waterfell

Toren Kane locked in a brawl with one of the larger BC players. But then I see Rhys, sprawled on his back, not moving—his chest or his head.

yesss- ohhh no

“I was just doing my Darth Vader impression. Trying to do his death justice.” She laughs, the sound almost jarring against the red splotches of her cheeks, tears still free-flowing. “I thought you weren’t breathing.” “Dedicated to the role,” I say with a smirk.

My parents nearly got on their knees to beg Sadie to let Liam and Oliver have a slumber party at their house, and she only agreed after coaxing from Ro and me. She trusted them.

awww

“Ro, your hair looks pretty.” She flushes, but I can tell by the squeeze of Sadie’s hand and her smiling nod that I did right with the compliment.

Beds I purchased impulsively one day and put in the unused room at the end of the hall.

i cannot with this man, he's too adorable and thoughtful

I follow with Liam still on my hip as he tells me about trick-or-treating in the “rich-people neighborhood” and that Sadie won’t let him have any more candy tonight.

this is too cute

“But that’s probably why she didn’t tell you. And… I don’t want you to be mad at her.” I try to swallow past the lump forming in my throat.

aww oliver

“I’m not gonna leave her, Oliver. Never, okay? She may ask me to go one day, but I will never be the one to leave. Not her, or your brother, or you. Tell me you understand that.”

“I’m not here just for happy Sadie in my bed. I’m here for my frustrated, angry Gray. For my scared kotyonok.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to have to do to prove to you and Oliver that I’m not leaving—and honestly, I don’t care what it is, I’ll do it.”

“You don’t need to say anything right now, okay? I can love you enough for the both of us.”

And I see it then: the reason Rhys loves me the way he does. The reason he cares for the boys and wants to keep us close. It’s because he’s seen this his whole life. Has been surrounded by love.

“Calm yourself down if you want to speak to her,” she demands, keeping her voice semi-quiet but firm. “You need to calm down either way.”

YES ANNA

“Your child is taking care of your children. Sadie should not be responsible for those little boys, all while going to school, working, and taking care of her alcoholic father.”

i mean she said what we've all been thinking

I hate how much I have to resist the urge to call Kelley, to ask him for help. Because Rhys loves me, but he thinks I can be better, can heal. Will he love me when he realizes that this thing I am is all I will ever be?

babe i want to murder your coach amongst others

Rhys is holding my twelve-year-old brother in a tight hug, sitting on the large ledge of the hospital window so that Oliver can stand between his legs and keep his head against Rhys’s chest. Rhys is whispering into his ear at a constant rate, and the nod of my brother’s head without leaving the embrace, fists tugging at his suit jacket, tells me everything. Oliver hates being touched, and yet he’s wrapped completely in Rhys’s arms.

this is both heartbreaking and so sweet

“We need to stop this. I need to leave you alone and you need to—” “No.” I stop her. “I’ll let you say whatever it is that you need to right now, to get it all out. But I will tell you right now what it is I need, so there’s no confusion. I need you. Now, you can decide what you need.”

My dad and I spent the entire morning trying to get the car seat installed properly. The thing is like a fucking spaceship.

“I just want you to know that taking care of your brothers by yourself is very brave. You’re so strong and smart, and I hope I can be half as incredible one day.”

how does he know how to say the right thing everytime

He turns back to me, because he’s on my side of the car, and nods. “Love you.” My heart clenches because I know how rare those words are from him, even to his own family.

i'm melting into a puddle

I pick up her and Oliver with Liam fast asleep in the car seat—he’d been asleep in my father’s arms for half the game.

i love liam and his ability to conk out

And I was going to back out to take care of the boys, but…” My chest squeezes. She’s asking for help. “My parents would love it if the boys stayed with them for a few days, Sadie.”

IMPROVEMENTS YASSSS

“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper. “I know it takes a lot for you to ask for help. But I’m so proud.”

girl me too

I keep my eye on him for a few minutes and realize he’s only watching Sadie.

yuck

His hand wraps around her neck before coasting down her spine and pressing into the center until she straightens, shoulders back.

physically cringing omg

Toren Kane isn’t allowed to play at Harvard.

bro has a sam puckett reputation

“Get the fuck out of here!” he screams, and the already-pale girl goes nearly white. She stands and stumbles up the stairs to the exit, the boy next to her following blindly.

i don't like him but i wanna know the tea

“Don’t be a baby, my terror. Stop being lazy and do the jump again. We will do it till it’s perfect.”

i need rhys to come punch him

Someone grabs Kelley from behind, yanking him off me and slamming one fist into his face. My coach goes down, out cold. Toren Kane.

OHHH MY GODDD the only redeemable thing he's done so far

“He… He only trains me hard because he believes in me—” An unsettling laugh bubbles from his mouth. “Yeah. Heard that one before.”

“I will spend every day forever reminding you how amazing and special you are. How lucky I am to have someone so brave and smart and talented and beautiful love me. I see the way you love your brothers. I know how special your kind of love is.”

I love Rhys Koteskiy. And I’m learning that I do deserve him. I’m never letting go of his hand again.

Not only that, but he called out my overtraining far before—like he knew the signs of it. Like he’d experienced it.

now i'm no sherlock, but i think he's speaking from experience

He takes my hand in his, and we step onto the ice together. From now until… forever.

I started therapy two days after reporting Coach Kelley to the athletic director.

DOUBLE SLAY

It’s taken me this long, but I know who he is now. Rhys Koteskiy is pure gold.

It doesn’t matter that Liam doesn’t play hockey anymore—now fully obsessed with Marvel comics and art, spending most of his time drawing his own superhero stories in endless art pads provided by Anna Koteskiy—he still looks at Rhys like he put the stars in the sky.

My father went to jail over another drunk driving incident—and a backlog of warrants that I had no clue about—and he gave up the remaining threads of his custody easily.

good riddance

From there, after several months of discussions—and a promise that no matter what, I would always be their real guardian—Anna and Max Koteskiy adopted my brothers. It’s been a journey for the three of us, and therapy has made it better.

AWWWW

But now, I get to be their sister. Love them, lift them up, watch them grow up—and

“Gonna be a good day ’cause Rhys is asking you to marry—” Rhys’s hand plops over Liam’s mouth while I feel a thud of Oliver kicking Liam under the table.

STOPPP ITTTT