Chapter 15
IT’S our last dress rehearsal before the showcase and I’m more than ready. When the Director asked me if I had picked the song I was singing, I held my head up high and told her yes with more gumpton than I think I’ve ever mustered up before. I know I’m cutting it as close as possible, but she knows I’ll have no trouble pulling it off, especially with Jake playing the guitar. Hopefully it will all pay off and get Chase to change his tune.
I breeze through my part in the Hamilton skit and the rest of the first half goes off with outta hitch. Everyone is hitting their notes and showing production just how ready we are.
I step on stage for my solo and sing the lyrics I’m hoping stir him into action. The Director and I make some adjustments but I’m otherwise golden. This is gonna work, I feel it in my bones.
I’m backstage gathering my things when my phone rings and my heart stops. Now, Max and I are friends and I love that boy like another brother but seeing his name on my phone has my stomach dropping straight to the floor.
The only time he’s ever called and not texted was when our girl was in the hospital last November. I swear to God above, if anything has happened to my best friend, I will raise hell like Persephone herself.
“Max, everything okay, sugar?” I ask and grip my feather necklace in anticipation of what this phone call is about.
“Hey Red, I need a favor,” he says calmly as if he just didn’t give me a heart attack.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph I thought something happened to Evie. You scared me, Max. You never properly call unless something’s wrong, but you sound cool as a lemonade on a hot summer day so she must be fine.” I scold him.
“Evie’s good, Red, I promise. She’s in group. But I need your help, you around?” I swear I can hear him smile through the phone when he says her name and I love it.
“You okay? You still haven’t given me an answer,” I ask again.
“All good, think you can swing by the arena?”
“I just finished up with rehearsal, I’ll be there in a jiff.” I don’t hesitate, if he needs my help, I’m there.
“Text me when you get here, park by the player’s entrance, tell security that Coach cleared you. I’ll sort it out from here.” We hang up and I swear I hear him smiling again. I’m cautiously curious about what’s going on and grab my things to drive over to the arena.
I’m starting to get more and more anxious while standing outside of the players entrance waiting for whatever this is. The security guard nodded his head in greeting as if he was expecting me and just said that Coach would be right out. Something isn’t lining up as I go over it all in my head. The boys have a home game and Evie’s in group. Drew and Davis are in the weight room last I checked. Why am I here?
A second later, a man I’m assuming is the men’s hockey coach, walks out with a worse for wear Chase Wilton behind him. I’m so surprised that my eyebrows hit the headband holding my hair back.
This is definitely not what I was expecting when Max rang before. The surprise must be written all over my face as Coach offers up all the details that Max left out. Something about Chase not playing and needing to go home. That the boys are already warming up and that Evie is busy. Max called me to get Chase home safely. I’m not really listening to him if I’m being honest. I mean I hear the words coming out of his mouth but I’m fixated on the man behind him.
Chase isn’t bleeding and he’s not bruised more than he usually is from playing hockey. My eyes sweep him over and even though he doesn’t look physically hurt, I see his pain clear as day. He looks sad and defeated again.
All I wanna do is put this man in my pocket and take him home. Fix him up. Make whatever is wrong go away, and make it alright for him. But since he’s staring at his holey sneakers instead of me, I’m guessing he doesn’t want that right now. This man doesn’t know how different things can be and I’m ready to show him. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.
His hockey coach gives him a hug and a smack on the back before gently grabbing the back of his head. It’s clear he cares about him and watches until Chase folds his body into my front seat.
When I shut myself in my car I feel a moment of deja-vu. The last time he was in my car we held hands while I drove us all to General Hospital to wait on news about Edison and Evie. The urge to take this broken boy’s hand again is something fierce. Instead I white knuckle grip the steering wheel with both hands.
“I, uh, didn’t know that Max was gonna call you. Sorry about this. You can just drop me off here and I’ll walk the rest of the way home.” He sounds distant even though he’s sitting inches away from me. He’s staring out the window and he looks stiff as a board even though his body is slumped against the seat.
“I’m not dropping you off anywhere but home, ya hear? ” I tell him trying to sound both stern and sweet.
“It’s no big deal, I can use the fresh air, I don’t mind walking.” Of course ya don’t, you stubborn man. I roll my eyes and sit idly at a red light. The drive is quick and easy yet he’s making things impossible.
“Is it really that bad to be sitting here with me?” I blurt out loudly and with a bite. Oh my soul I totally meant for that to stay in my head.
This man whips his head around at me so fast I slam on the brake and the whole car jolts forward. I’ve pulled onto Jock Row and thankfully no one is behind me. I crawl the car up to his hockey house before slowly turning to face him. Those chocolate brown eyes are melting into me. They’re full of so much and look like they have so much to say.
“Bad?” he scoffs and shakes his head while his right-hand reaches and rests on the door handle. He’s ready to jump out and put more space between us. “No, sitting here with you isn’t bad. It’s fucking torture to sit this close to you and know it’s as close as I’ll ever get.” He searches my face before ducking his chin toward his chest, “Goodnight, gorgeous girl.” And then he’s gone. Outta the car and up the path toward his front door leaving me stunned in my SUV.
“There doesn’t have to be any space at all,” I say out loud and send the not-so-silent plea up to the stars above and drive away feeling more resolved than ever to sing my heart out tomorrow.