Chapter 63 Breaking point
Julian chose that exact moment to skate over.
He had a smug, calm look on his face that made my blood boil. "Leave him alone, Leo. He’s obviously having a hard day. It’s tough when you realize you’re just the flavor of the week, right Miller?"
Jaxson didn't say a word. He didn't even hesitate. He dropped his gloves.
The sound of the heavy leather hitting the ice was like a starting gun. Jaxson lunged at Julian, grabbing the front of his jersey and swinging a massive right hook.
It caught Julian square in the jaw, sending his helmet flying. Julian went down, but he grabbed Jaxson’s legs, pulling him down with him.
The rink erupted. Players scrambled to pull them apart. Coach Reed was screaming. Leo was in the middle of the pile, trying to pry Jaxson’s fingers off Julian’s jersey.
"Get him out of here!" Coach Reed roared. "Miller! Locker room! Now!"
Jaxson stood up, his lip bleeding and his knuckles raw. He didn't look at Julian, who was being helped up by Toby. He didn't look at Leo.
He skated off the ice, kicked the gate open, and disappeared into the tunnel.
I didn't follow Jaxson. I knew he was too angry to listen to me. Instead, I waited until the practice ended. I stood by the side exit where I knew Julian would come out. I was tired of being the girl who cried. I was tired of being the victim of his games.
When the door finally opened, Julian walked out with a bag of ice pressed to his jaw. He saw me and stopped, a small, twisted smile appearing on the half of his face that wasn't swollen.
"Elena," he mumbled. "Come to check on the winner?"
"Shut up, Julian," I said, my voice cold and steady. "I know exactly what you did. You called Liam. You told him to come here. You set that whole scene up at the cafe."
Julian dropped the ice pack and stepped closer. He didn't look like a Golden Boy now. He looked like a villain. "I just gave a friend a call. Is it my fault you were sitting there looking like a perfect little couple when your boyfriend walked by? I didn't make you sit in that chair, Elena."
"You’re a coward," I said. "You can't beat Jaxson on the ice, so you’re trying to ruin his life off of it. You’re using my family and my past because you have nothing of your own."
"I have everything," Julian snapped, his eyes flashing with anger. "I have the name. I have the money. And soon, I’ll have the C on my jersey because your brother is too busy cleaning up your messes to lead this team. You don't belong with a guy like Miller. You’re a Vance. You belong with people like Liam. People who matter."
"You don't get to decide where I belong," I said, stepping right into his space. "And if you ever, ever interfere in my life again, I will go to the Board. I will tell them about the bribes your father paid to the recruitment office. I have the bank records, Julian. Don't think I haven't been looking."
I was bluffing about the records, but I said it with enough conviction that Julian’s face went pale for a split second.
"You wouldn't," he whispered. "That would ruin your father too."
"Try me," I said. "I’ve already lost the guy I love because of you. I have nothing left to lose. Stay away from us."
I turned and walked away before he could see my hands shaking.
Two hours later, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Leo.
Meet me at The Perch at 7:00 PM. Don't be late. And don't bring your phone.
The Perch was a small, hidden rooftop area on top of the old library. It was the place Leo and I used to go when we were kids to hide from our father's lectures. It was the only place on campus where no one could find us.
I climbed the rusted stairs and pushed open the heavy metal door. The night air was cool, and the lights of the campus stretched out below me.
Leo was sitting on a stone bench, but he wasn't alone.
Jaxson was sitting on the opposite side of the roof, staring out at the stadium lights. He looked exhausted. His hand was wrapped in a white bandage, and there was a dark bruise forming on his cheek.
"What is this?" I asked, looking at Leo.
Leo stood up. "This is a timeout. I’m the Captain, and I’m your brother, and I’m tired of watching the two people I care about most destroy themselves."
"Leo, he doesn't want to talk to me," I said.
"I don't care," Leo said firmly. "Jax, you’re staying. Elena, you’re staying. I’m going to go get some sandwiches, and when I come back in an hour, I expect you two to at least be in the same zip code of a conversation. No screaming. Just talking."
Leo walked toward the door. He paused and looked at Jaxson. "She stood up to Julian today, Jax. She threatened to take down her own family name to protect you. Remember that."
Leo closed the door, and then there was only silence.
The wind whistled through the stone pillars. Jaxson didn't move. He didn't even look at me.
"Jax," I said softly.
"Why are you here, Elena?" he asked. His voice was hollow. "Why do you keep trying? You saw me today. I’m a mess. I’m a guy who gets into fights. I’m a guy who loses his scholarship if he gets one more penalty. I'm not Liam. I’m never going to be Liam."
"I don't want Liam!" I walked over and sat on the bench, but I kept a distance between us. "I hated every second of that coffee. I only sat there because I was tired of fighting everyone, and for a second, he was just... easy. But easy isn't what I want. Easy is boring. Easy is empty."
"It’s not just about Liam," Jaxson said, finally turning to look at me. His eyes were red-rimmed. "It’s about the fact that I’m always going to be the one fighting for a seat at the table. And you’re the one who was born with the table. Every time your dad looks at me, or Julian looks at me, I feel like I'm a mistake. And when I saw you with him... it felt like you finally realized it too."
"I never realized that, because it’s not true," I said. I reached out and carefully touched his bandaged hand. He didn't pull away this time. "You aren't a mistake, Jaxson. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You made me realize that I don't have to be who my father wants me to be. You gave me a choice."