Off Limits: My Hockey Stepbrother

~~~~Loreen~~~

“We’re moving out soon, Loreen. Be prepared.”

I was about to take another spoonful of rice when my mother’s voice cut across the table.

I froze, the spoon halfway to my mouth.

“What? How? Why? What’s wrong with this place?” My voice cracked. The shock hit me hard, tightening my chest.

“Why?” She dropped her spoon with a loud clatter, her face tightening.

“How many damn times do I have to tell you? We’re moving to New York to live with your dad. You think I can still afford rent, bills, your school fees? Huh?” She snapped, frustration all over her face.

I pushed my chair back roughly, heart racing.

“No way, Mom. No way you’re going back to Dad after what he did to you. After he left you for that woman—” I choked, anger flaring in my chest.

“You don’t have a choice.” Her voice was cold, her eyes narrowing.

I stood up, my palms slamming against the table.

“No! I do have a choice! I’m an adult now, Mom. You can’t just decide everything for me!”

She leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

“You’re 20, Loreen. Twenty! And don’t you dare raise your voice at me. I’m your mother,” she thundered across the small room, making my hands shake.

“I’m not being disrespectful, I’m being honest!” I shouted back. My throat burned. “I know exactly what this is about!”

She flinched slightly but covered it with a hard glare.

“It’s about money, right? You’re drowning. Your three jobs aren’t enough. You’re tired of working yourself to death for me.” My voice cracked again. I pressed my hands into fists to stop them from trembling.

“Well, guess what? I’ll help too. I’ll find a job. I’ll work as much as you want, but please, Mom... please don't drag us back to him.”

I took a step closer. I saw her jaw clench. Her shoulders sagged just a little.

“I keep changing schools, changing cities. Every time I start to find a life, you rip it away.” My voice softened, but the anger in my chest didn’t. “I don’t have real friends anymore. I don’t even bother trying.”

Mom bowed her head, pressing her fingers against her forehead like she was trying to rub the problem away.

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t finished.

“What about his mistress, huh? His wife? What are you gonna do? Play happy family like none of that ever happened?”

“She’s dead,” Mom said.

I blinked, stunned for a second.

“Well, good for him,” I said bitterly, arms folding tight across my chest. “But let’s not pretend that if she were still alive, he would never have remembered we even existed.”

That did it. Mom stood up sharply, plates rattling in her hands as she gathered them.

She turned, her face hard. “We are moving out, Loreen. Whether you like it or not.” Her voice was cold enough to freeze the air between us.

I opened my mouth to say something else, anything to stop her, but she was already storming into the kitchen, her back stiff like a wall I couldn’t climb.

I stood there alone, fists clenched, throat burning, the cold truth sinking deep into my bones.

One thing I knew for sure—I wasn’t going anywhere with her.

She could go alone if she wanted.

There was no way I was just gonna pack up and leave, not now. Not when I had finally started dating. Not when I had finally found someone I actually liked.

I stormed into my room, pulled open my closet, yanked out a few clothes, and stuffed them into a small bag without even thinking.

My chest was pounding as I marched straight back to the kitchen.

“Mum,” I called out.

She turned around fast, the plates she was washing slipping from her hand and crashing into the sink.

Her eyes narrowed when she saw the bag slung over my shoulder.

“What’s this, Lor?” she asked, trying to sound calm, but I caught the tiny flash of anger in her voice.

“I’m leaving.” I said it slowly, spelling out every damn word so she’d understand I meant it.

“I’m not going with you to New York. I’m not going back to Dad. I’m not moving anywhere. I’m making my own decisions now, and I’m leaving on my own terms.”

Her face twisted in disbelief. She ripped the gloves off her hands and tossed them onto the counter.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” she snapped. “Okay, fine. Where the hell do you think you’re gonna go? Who’s gonna take you in, huh? You don’t even have real friends in this town that would let you stay for free!”

“I’ll get a job!” I shouted back without hesitation. “I’ll support myself! That’s a hell of a lot better than following you to a man who didn’t give a shit about us!”

My breath was coming fast. My fingers dug harder into the strap of my bag.

“Mom, goodbye. Please.” I muttered quickly, before I lost my nerve.

I spun around and walked straight to the door, ignoring the loud clatter behind me.

“Loreen! Loreen, you come back here right now!” I heard her yelling, furious and desperate.

But I didn’t look back.

I stepped outside. The night air hit me like a slap, but I didn’t care. I flagged down a cab, threw my bag inside, and climbed in before I could second-guess myself.

As the driver pulled away, I grabbed my phone and dialed Kylian’s number. My heart pounded harder now, not from the fight with Mom, but from the panic setting in.

I needed him. I needed to know he’d help me figure this out.

The line didn’t connect.

I cursed under my breath and dialed again. This time it rang, but he didn’t pick up.

“Fuck,” I whispered, squeezing the phone in my hand.

I bit my lip hard, willing myself not to cry.

“Uh, ma’am...” the driver’s voice broke through my racing thoughts. “We’re at your destination now,” he said, smiling politely like everything was normal.

I looked around, realizing I hadn’t even told him where to take me. I must’ve blurted out Kylian’s street while dialing.

“Um... please... can you hold on a minute?” I said quickly, not bothering to hide my panic. “I need to get through to my boyfriend.”

The driver nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the steering wheel as I stared at my phone, dialing again, praying this time he’d answer.

I took a quick glance at the rearview mirror and caught the driver’s face.

His jaw was tight, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel like he was holding himself back from exploding.

"Excuse me, ma’am," he said. "I’ve got other places to be. I can’t keep sitting here losing money because of you."

My heart jumped. I swallowed hard.

"Sorry, sir... the thing is..." I started, stammering like an idiot.

"I don’t have enough cash on me right now," I rushed out. "I was hoping my boyfriend would... he'd pay when I reach him. Please, sir, just a little more time. He’s going to pick up soon, I swear."

The man’s face darkened instantly. His patience snapped like a stretched rubber band.

"You think I’m some fool?" he barked. "Why the hell would you get in my cab if you didn’t even have a damn way to pay?"

I gripped my phone tighter, feeling my hands start to shake.

"I’m sorry, sir... please..." I said quickly, digging into my bag with trembling fingers.

I pulled out the only cash I had, a few crumpled bills and shoved them towards him.

"You can have it. It’s not enough, I know... but it’s everything I have. Please..." I said.

He snatched the money from my hand like he couldn’t even stand to touch me.

His eyes burned with disgust.

"Now get the fuck outta my car, bitch," he snapped.

The words slapped me across the face harder than if he'd actually hit me.

Before I could even grab my bag properly, I jumped out onto the sidewalk.

The moment my feet hit the ground, the driver floored the gas pedal so hard the tires screamed against the road. His car nearly clipped me as he sped away, the smell of burning rubber choking the air.

I stumbled back, heart hammering, chest heaving.

Tears stung my eyes but I blinked them away quickly.

God... what the hell had I just done?

I was alone. No money. No boyfriend picking up..

~~Loreen~~

I walked down the street even though the evening was getting darker.

I didn’t care. I couldn't go back to Mum now.

No way.

My pride wouldn't let me. Not after everything I said. Not after everything I decided.

Kylian's house wasn’t far. I gripped the strap of my bag tighter and forced my legs to keep moving even when my shoulders ached.

When I finally reached his place, I noticed the door was slightly open.

A strange feeling crawled under my skin.

I paused, heart pounding, then pushed it open gently.

"Kylian?" I called out quietly, almost hoping he'd jump out and laugh, saying it was some dumb prank.

I tried dialing him again.

Still unreachable.

I glanced around... and that’s when I saw something.

First, a bra lying on the floor near the entrance.

Another step inside and panties appeared right next to it.

Kylian's jeans thrown carelessly on top of a short, tight skirt.

My stomach twisted.

My breath caught.

My hands felt cold, even though sweat was starting to break out across my forehead.

No. No, maybe it’s not what it looks like. Maybe...

I followed the hallway towards his room, my steps slow, my chest getting tighter with every move.

That’s when I heard the Low moans at first... then louder.

Skin slapping against skin.

His voice. His moans.

The girl's soft gasps.

I stopped breathing, I didn’t want to go further.

I didn't want to see it.

But my legs moved anyway, like they didn’t belong to me anymore.

I stood right in front of his door.

It wasn’t even closed properly. It was wide open like they didn’t give a damn who saw them.

My bag slipped off my shoulder and dropped to the floor with a soft thud.

Kylian was on top of the girl, pounding into her like he didn’t have a single care in the world.

My throat tightened.

"What... what is this?" I said.

They both jerked away from each other like they just got caught stealing.

The girl grabbed the bedsheets and wrapped them around herself, glaring at me like I was the problem.

"What the hell!" she screamed.

"Kylian, who the hell is she?" she snapped, pointing a finger at me like I was dirt under her nail.

Kylian didn’t even look guilty.

Not even a little bit.

He barely spared me a glance before he smirked and ran his hand through his messy hair.

"She's nobody," he said calmly, like it was just facts.

"Just some girl I messed around with a couple of times. It’s nothing serious, babe."

I felt something inside me break.

It cracked so loud I was sure they could hear it too.

"Kylian!" I screamed, stepping inside, fists clenched.

"How could you? You said you loved me! You said you cared! We promised each other..."

"Hey, calm the fuck down," he cut me off harshly.

"What the hell would I be doing with you seriously, huh? You have nothing. You are nothing."

He glanced toward my bag lying on the floor like it disgusted him.

"And I see you even packed your bags. You were planning to move in? Are you that stupid? What girl moves into a guy's house without even being asked?"

I felt my chest heaving up and down.

I opened my mouth to say something, to scream, to cry, but nothing came out.

Kylian sneered at me like I was something stuck to his shoe. "I don’t ever want to see you here again," he said sharply, his words slicing deep into my skin. "You’re pathetic. Get lost!"

Tears blurred my vision but I refused to let them fall.

I wasn’t going to cry here.

Not in front of him.

Not in front of her.

"You’re a monster," I said.

"You made me believe you loved me. You lied. You.."

Before I could even finish, he stormed towards me, grabbed my arm roughly, and shoved my bag into my chest.

Without a single care, he dragged me back through the hallway, not caring if I stumbled or hit the walls.

"Get out," he hissed under his breath, yanking the door open and shoving me out so hard I almost fell.

The door slammed shut behind me before I could even catch my breath.

I stood there like an idiot, my heart torn, my pride shattered, my whole world upside down.

The streetlights buzzed faintly above me, the night cold against my skin.

I hugged my bag tight against my chest, feeling the shame, the anger, the humiliation burning inside me so fierce it nearly suffocated me.

I turned away from that house, forcing my legs to move again, even though every part of me was screaming to collapse.

I didn’t even know how I made it back home.

My legs felt like they were going to give out any second.

There was no strength left in my body, not even the anger that burned so hard earlier.

I pushed the front door open, surprised it wasn’t locked.

Almost like Mum knew I’d eventually come back.

I stepped inside and slammed the door behind me without meaning to.

That's when I saw her.

Mum was pacing back and forth in the living room, her arms wrapped around herself, lost deep in her thoughts.

She didn’t even notice I was standing there until I spoke.

"Mum," I called.

She jumped like she had been shocked, her eyes wide as they snapped to me.

“Hell, Lor! Where did you go? Where have you been?” she said, rushing toward me.

Her hands grabbed my arms, looking me over like she didn’t believe I was really standing there.

“I was worried sick!”

Then she paused.

Her hand came up and tilted my chin gently.

“You're crying," she said. "What’s wrong, baby?"

I couldn’t hold it anymore.

The words spilled out of me, thick and broken.

"Mum... I'm sorry," I whispered, my throat tight. "I shouldn’t have gone out... I should’ve listened."

Her face softened even more, and she brushed a few strands of hair away from my face like she used to when I was small.

I blinked up at her, feeling smaller than ever.

"Can we leave tomorrow?" I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"I want to go to New York. I want a fresh start, Mum. Please."

My voice cracked a little at the end, but I didn’t look away.

I needed her to see how serious I was.

Mum stared at me for a long second, her mouth pressing into a thin line.

She cupped my cheek, her thumb brushing the tears I didn’t even realize were still falling.

“Okay,” she said quietly.

"Okay, sweetheart. We'll go."

I let out a shaky breath and closed my eyes, leaning into her hand.

For the first time tonight, a tiny bit of the weight crushing my chest lifted.

Not all of it.

But enough to let me breathe again.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow we would leave everything behind.