The Dating Tutor: Alec's Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

when his father drank. Alec had stopped putting most of them back up after a while. Only one had remained in the front hall, but it was missing now, too.
    With a sigh, he ran a hand over his face. He knew it was probably hoping for too much that he could get into the kitchen and grab some dinner without running into his father.
    Hefting his equipment bag higher on his shoulder, he tiptoed into the kitchen as quietly as he could. Maybe his father wouldn’t realize he was home and Alec could get upstairs with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without being noticed.
    Gently placing his bag on the ground by the door, he crossed the room to the cupboards. Pulling out half a loaf of bread, he tossed it to the counter before pulling out the jelly and a nearly depleted jar of peanut butter.
    He was just putting the last thing away when the door to the kitchen flew open and smacked against the wall. He flinched and froze in place. His father. Fantastic. Knowing there was no avoiding it now, he turned to face an older version of himself. “I was just heading upstairs,” he said stiffly.
    Jerich Horner narrowed bleary eyes. “Where the hell have you been? It’s late.”
    Not late enough , Alec thought with a glance at the clock. “I had practice after school. Then Ellie and I—”
    “Practice,” his father interrupted with a scathing snort. “Practice.” Reaching out a foot, he gave Alec’s equipment bag a kick. “I don’t know why you waste your time with this garbage.” He shook his head and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “You’re a goon, son. Nothing more. Good schools don’t hand out scholarships to muscle. They’re looking for talent. You need to stop wasting your time.”
    Alec’s jaw clenched so tightly he thought he might break a tooth. He tried to be understanding with his father, he really did, but sometimes he was just…such an ass. Jerich Horner had been handed more than his fair share of crappy cards in life; Alec wouldn’t argue that. He’d been a professional hockey player, but it had been far from glamorous. He’d spent most of his career in the minors, scraping to get a solid roster spot in the NHL. He’d managed to do that in Vancouver for a few years before being sent back down. He’d been traded half a dozen times before retiring.
    Jerich had retired to give his family a more steady home life, one where he wasn’t bouncing in and out of the picture. He’d wanted to be there for his wife. He’d wanted to be there to help raise Alec.
    Not six months later, Alec’s mother had wrecked her car on the way home from work. On top of being recently unemployed, Jerich had lost his wife. Their family slowly began to crumble. Though he found work, Alec’s father had been bitter. He’d taken to drinking. And nine-year-old Alec had felt like a nasty reminder of his father’s pain. He’d felt in the way.
    For the past eight years, the two of them had danced on the lines of a love/hate relationship. When Jerich was sober, he wasn’t all that bad. He was supportive, optimistic, and fun to be around. On the flip side, when he was drunk, he was bitter and hurtful. He’d given his life to hockey and felt it had given him nothing in return. So yeah, he was bitter.
    Alec tried not to let this affect his love of the game. He tried not to let his father’s failures influence his outlook for his own future. He tried to be understanding, but even he had a breaking point.
    Tossing his freshly made sandwich into the trash, Alec calmly placed his plate in the sink. Another night with no dinner. He didn’t have an appetite any longer after listening to his father’s criticism. “I’m going to bed.”
    Jerich nodded at the equipment bag in the doorway. “Take this trash up with you. I won’t have it cluttering up the house.”
    More like he didn’t want the reminder of the career he’d given up, the sport he’d never been quite good enough at. Alec made a sound of disgust and stalked over to the