Chapter 24 #2
She turns her head, and I follow. A massive pink manta ray gently soars through the water.
“This is the only pink one in captivity. It came to the aquarium after a poaching accident in Australia. There’s only one other one in existence in the wild and he’s known as Inspector Clouseau.”
I look at her like she may be an alien because where in the hell did that fun tidbit of info come from?
“What? I know things.” Lainey looks playfully offended.
Bringing our intertwined hands up to my lips, I kiss the back of hers. “Smartest girl I know.”
She rolls her eyes and looks back at the tank. I do the same, watching incredible life swim past us.
One of the giant whale sharks swims into view, and I suck in a breath at its beauty. They are gigantic, so much bigger than they seem in photos.
It was Carly who originated our whale shark saying because she was obsessed with them when she was little. It’s because of her that we all have matching tattoos and that the beast has become such an important symbol in our lives.
If she’s somewhere out there, looking over us, I hope she can see this. Maybe even enjoy it by our side.
“Jensen,” Lainey whispers softly, instantly pulling my attention.
“Yeah?” I face her, looking down into her vulnerable blue stare.
“I want to tell you about this …” She trails off, reaching up to the scar on her neck that has had me curious since the moment I saw her again.
“Are you sure?” I ask her, wanting her to do this on her own time and not because she feels pressured.
She smiles. “I’m sure.”
I stay quiet, letting her fully have the floor. Families buzz around us, all lost in their own world, giving us a sense of privacy as she opens up to me.
“It was late one afternoon before one of Cole’s games.”
My blood freezes at her words. Did he do that? I force my thoughts away, keeping my focus on her words.
“He pissed me off, and when he left, I decided to go for a run. The same route I usually take. But that day …” She trails off.
I stroke her hand, reminding her that she’s safe and I’m right here.
“That day, someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me into an alleyway, out of view from the main street. And he …” Her voice is almost inaudible as I lean closer to her.
“He raped me with a knife to my neck, over the course of what felt like hours. The knife cut deeper into my neck, and before he left, he dragged the blade through once more and left me there, bleeding out on the ground. I think he thought he’d killed me and in that moment, I wish he had. But he hadn’t cut deep enough.”
I’m in shock when she finishes, gutted at the atrocity she lived through, horrified that she did it all alone. My throat burns, my eyes water, and I throw my arm around her, pulling her into my side as I gently place a kiss to the top of her head.
Gut-wrenching disgust floods me that someone could do that to any person, treat someone so inhumanely. My eyes burn as I replay her words over in my mind.
“I’m so sorry, Lainey.” My voice breaks, and I slam my eyes shut, agony ripping through me. “You’re so fucking strong.”
Her chest heaves as she sobs quietly, sinking into my hold. “Thank you.”
Pulling back enough to look her in the eyes, I search her face for understanding. “For what?”
Her bottom lip quivers. “For not thinking less of me. C-Cole, he always said that no one else would want me after what the man did. That I was … used goods.”
His words that night at the Kosteleckys’ finally click into place in my mind. That’s what he was ranting about when Lainey hit him. Fuck, I should have hit him ten times harder myself.
Cupping both her cheeks, I press my forehead against hers. “You are not used goods, Lainey. I hope you know that.”
“I know,” she whispers. “You helped me realize it.”
“Good,” I state matter-of-factly. “And I’m never letting you forget it.”
I want to ask more questions. Did they ever catch him? Did someone find her and get her help? But this isn’t about my curious brain. This is about her opening up to me right now and me listening.
I love you. Three words drift across the tip of my tongue without sound, and I bite down on my bottom lip in surprise. It’s no shock to me that I feel that way about her, but nearly sneaking past my lips without thought, just as it did that night in the spare bedroom, is what takes me by surprise.
I love Lainey, but I don’t think that’s news to anyone. She’s had my heart since we were kids. But I don’t want to spring it on her, not after everything she just revealed and has gone through. I want it to be perfect, and I don’t want her to think I’m telling her out of pity for her story.
Kissing her forehead, I keep my arm around her shoulders as we look up into the aquarium. A whale shark passes by at the most perfect time, and I wonder if that one was sent by Carly.
“I’m scared, Lainey.” My admission slips out. “I don’t know if my knee is going to be the same. It’ll be its second ACL surgery.”
She rests her hand on my thigh, brushing her thumb back and forth.
“We will get you to perfect strength. Once your surgery is done, you’ll start therapy practically immediately.
You’ll have your scheduled sessions at the arena, and I’ll help you more at home.
Don’t worry, babe; we’ll get you there. I promise.
” My heart skips a beat at her use of a pet name.
“Home? Babe? You’re spoiling me with words today.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’ve called me baby, like, twenty times already.”
“Yeah, but that was me. That was the first time you called me babe,” I state with a happy heart.
“Better get used to it.” She bites down on her smile.
“Hmm. I like the sound of that.” I grin from ear to ear. “What’s our plan going to be when your apartment is fixed? It should be done any day now.”
Her foot starts bouncing. “I can either stay there and visit you at home or—”
“I can pay off your lease, and you can officially move in since all of your stuff is already there,” I cut her off, offering what’s been heavily on my mind as of late.
She wets her lips and looks up at me. “You want me there? You’re sure?”
I slide my other hand across her stomach, the tiny bulge growing beneath.
“Let me make it crystal clear for you.” I lower my voice enough for only her to hear.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re carrying my baby, especially after I filled you up to the brim last night.
I don’t want you to ever move out or even consider it.
You’re mine, and I’m yours, forever. I want a ring on your finger and your name on my chest, branded into my skin.
I want us to raise a family together and grow old, hand in hand until we wither away.
” I kiss her parted lips. “Is that clear enough for you?”
“Mmhmm.” She slowly nods, closing her lips and smirking. “Sounds great to me.”
Just what I wanted to hear.
“Should we stay here for a little while longer, or do you want to keep wandering?” I ask her, looking back at the tank.
Lainey rests her head against my shoulder, nestling into the crook made for her. “Let’s stay a little longer.”
“As you wish,” I murmur, resting my head atop of hers as two whale sharks pass by us again.
“How’re we feeling?” Caitlin asks me as I sit up on the exam table after she massages the tender tissue for ten minutes.
“Good. I’ve been icing and resting, doing all the things. It feels great after that.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” She rubs hand sanitizer between her hands. “It sounds like we finally got a surgery date for you. Next Monday, eight a.m.”
I nod in disbelief that I’m about to have surgery again on my knee. “Yeah.”
“It’ll be good. He’s the best there is,” she says confidently.
“That’s what I like to hear.” I use her phrase, and she smiles, pulling the door open.
Coach Carrington is waiting, leaning against the opposite wall, perking up when he sees we’re done.
“Have a good day. Keep me updated if there are any changes.” Caitlin nods politely to both of us before disappearing down the hallway.
“Mind if I come in for a second?” Coach asks, and obviously, I oblige.
He shuts the door behind him, and my anxiety spikes. Oh God, are they kicking me off the team for medical reasons? Am I not going to be a Nighthawk anymore?
“Take a breath. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He adjusts his tie. “I heard from a little birdy that you might be seeing a staff member, and I wanted to talk to you first before that got to HR, especially given my experience with inappropriate relations.”
I chuckle and glance at the ring on his finger. “Was the little birdy your wife’s brother, Brett?”
He smiles. “I’ll never tell.”
So, yes.
“Is it serious?” he asks, looking me straight in the eye.
I nod. “As serious as yours. And Brett’s. And Alec’s.”
He runs his hand down his face. “Can you guys please stop dating staff? The amount of extra paperwork I’ve had to do because of you guys is atrocious.”
Laughing, I shrug. “How’s your wife doing?”
He glares at me, and I can’t help but remember the time I mocked him in the locker room because Brett high-fived him for getting laid, not knowing it was his sister that Coach was with. “This is not about my relationship.”
“Mmm.” I smirk. “So, what do you want me to do?”
“We’ll need to report it. You’ll be pulled from seeing her for follow-up physical therapy appointments post-surgery. You’ll see Caitlin or one of the other therapists strictly.”
“Wait, did Caitlin tell you?” I interrupt him.
He crosses his arms and looks at me, dumbfounded. “Jensen, anyone in the vicinity of your incident could see there was something going on between you two. I just want to back you when you speak with HR, which is why I’m here. Better for us to bring it to them than the other way around.”
My chest warms. “Thanks, Coach.”
He purses his lips and nods. “Now, come on. Let’s get this over with.”