Chapter 60
sixty
Jeremy
What the hell are you doing here?”
O’Connell walks out of the police station, his eyes studying me as he approaches.
“Thought I’d watch you get out.”
“If you think I’m going to thank you, then you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.” He stops when he gets in front of me. “You just didn’t want to waste time and money going to a trial you knew you wouldn’t win.”
“Actually, I didn’t want to waste any more of my time on you.” I cross my arms. “I don’t expect you to thank me. I didn’t do it for you.”
“You got what you wanted anyway. My name was all over the papers because of my arrest. Any chance I have of playing professional hockey went out the window the second those papers hit the shelf.”
I heard through the grapevine that a lot of teams that were once interested in O’Connell lost that interest the second they found out he’s a dirty player, which wasn’t my intention when this whole case blew up, but it’s the icing on the cake.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“No, you aren’t.”
“Unlike you, I didn’t thrive on your failure.”
“Well, I guess it was karma, right? Now we both have nothing. I took hockey from you, and you took it from me.”
“Actually, you’re wrong.”
“What do you mean?” O’Connell shifts his weight, his eyebrows knitting together.
“I don’t have nothing.” I smile. “Unlike you, I have a family I get to go home to after I leave here.”
Anger twists into his face.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to get in my car, and I’m going to go see the two most important people in my life.” I take a step toward him. “I’m going to see them and everyone in my life who matters to me, and we’re going to move forward.”
I take a deep breath.
“My life didn’t end that day, O’Connell. Even though I thought it did, it didn’t. And because of that night, I found the love of my life and a kid who fills me with more joy than hockey ever did. A kid that you never appreciated. So, you’re wrong. I don’t have nothing. I have everything.”
I clap a hand onto his shoulder.
“Unlike you.”
I give his shoulder a small squeeze.
“Enjoy your freedom, Andrew.” I turn around and walk toward my car. “I hope you get everything you deserve.”
I don’t look at him as I get in my car; it’s not until I see him in my rearview mirror that I realize that night is finally behind me, and I’ve never felt freer.
To Jeremy.” Jax lifts his glass, and everyone mimics his motion before we all tap our various glasses together.
“How does it feel for it to be over?” Ember asks, leaning into Declan.
“Pretty fucking great.” I wrap my arm around Tristyn’s shoulder.
“Language!” Henry yells, and I chuckle.
“Sorry, bud.”
“You’re better than me. I would’ve pressed every fucking charge possible against that asshole.” Zeke takes a sip of his beer, and I watch as Henry holds out his hand and Zeke slaps fifteen dollars into his palm.
“Fuck is a high price swear word. It’s worth ten, and asshole is five.” Zeke explains, and Henry motions for more. “Shit.” He gives Henry a twenty. “Your kid is going to bankrupt me.”
“I raised a smart kid.” Tristyn grins as Henry gleams at his money.
“O’Connell wasn’t worth my time,” I continue. “I didn’t want to go through all the hassle of a trial when I was ready to put the whole thing behind me. I have what I need, and I know he’s going to get what’s coming to him.”
“What a year.” Jax shakes his head. “I can’t believe Christmas is around the corner.”
“I know, this year has flown by,” Zeke adds.
“Yeah.” I look around at everyone I love mingling and taking in the night of the accident, officially being a thing of the past. I never in a million years would’ve pictured this as my life last year. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
“You’re joining us for our Christmas celebration next week, right?” Ember looks at Tristyn.
“Oh, I don’t know, I don’t want to impose.”
“We’ve been through this, Tristyn; you’re not imposing. You’re family.”
“Then we’d love to.” Tristyn grins up at me, and I rub her back.
“We need to work on getting that bigger table,” I suggest.
“Not saying you don’t need to,” Brinley begins, “but I won’t be able to make it. Alex, um, his family is coming down, so, you know, we’ll be with them.”
“Thanksgiving and Christmas?” Ember raises an eyebrow. “We’re going to miss you, girlie.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll still help cook the morning of. Plus, you two are abandoning me for the actual holiday, so you can’t complain.”
“You aren’t going home?” I ask, and Declan shakes his head.
“Our mom just sold our old house and decided to take an Eat, Pray, Love trip. Then she’ll find a new place when she gets back in the new year,” Declan begins.
“So, Ember and I decided it was the perfect opportunity for us to have our first couples’ trip.
It won’t be long because I’ll have to get back for hockey, but having a few days just to ourselves is much needed. ”
“You guys deserve it.”
Brinley glances down at her phone and then gives me a soft smile.
“I have to get going. I have my last final tomorrow and need one last study session, so I don’t fail.” Brinley pulls me into her arms. “Love you, Jere. Happy we got here.”
“Me too.” I squeeze her back. “And thankfully, you don’t have any more broken doors to get stuck behind to make you late for your final.”
Brinley lets out a breathy laugh. “Yeah, thankfully.”
“We’ve apologized for that.” Declan huffs. “I didn’t mean to hit you with the door.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Brinley hugs Declan. “I’ll see you guys later.”
Brinley says goodbye to everyone, except for one person. The only person she didn’t even look at tonight. Then she grabs her jacket, covering herself up, as she disappears into the cold.
“Hey,” I grab Jax as he heads to mingle with my sisters. “What happened on Halloween?”
“What?” His eyebrows pop up. “What do you mean?”
“Between you and Brin. What happened that she’s now missing Christmas, too?”
“You heard her, she’s spending time with Alex and his family.”
“I don’t know if I believe that. I think they’d understand her spending a couple of hours with her friends for something we do every year.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Truly.”
Jax’s gaze falls, and there’s a small twitch in his eyebrow. He’s lying. I just wish I knew why.
“You need to talk to her.”
“I tried.”
“Try harder. You guys were best friends, Jax. Honestly, even if you wouldn’t admit to yourself, I think you enjoyed spending time with her more than you enjoyed spending time with any of us.
Don’t let whatever happened last year and her being in a relationship be the reason you lose her altogether. ”
“Okay.” He pats my back. “But just remember, us being friends again isn’t up to just me.”
“All I’m asking is for you to try.”
He gives me a small nod as he heads to chat with Joey. I watch as everyone fills up different corners of our house. It’s nice to have so many people I care about under one roof. Some people are meeting each other for the first time, or seeing each other for the first time in a long time.
It’s nice seeing Tristyn fit in with everyone so perfectly. It’s nice feeling like Henry and I are finally on the mend after what happened. I know it won’t be easy to prove that I’m not going anywhere again, but it’s worth it.
“Hey.” Tristyn wraps her arms around my waist and melts into me. “How do you feel?”
“Happy,” I mumble. “Free.”
She pushes up on her toes and kisses me. “I love you.”
“Ditto.”