Chapter 32 Zeke
thirty-two
Zeke
Brinley texted me this morning to tell me she’s driving down here with the girls so Ember can spend the New Year with Declan. And honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t slipped up about it.
Not that I’m bad at keeping secrets. Obviously, I have no problem keeping secrets, but Declan’s been mopping around all day because he misses Ember.
I don’t know how Mr. Golden Boy; ‘hockey’s my first love. I don’t need a girlfriend’ turned into ‘she just texted me, I’ll see her in a couple weeks, I hope she can video chat later,’ but I don’t know which one’s more annoying.
Not that I’m not happy for my friends. They suit each other more than we thought; they weirdly complete each other, but hearing about her 24/7 is getting old.
Or maybe part of me wishes I could talk like he does. Scream from the rooftops that I have a girl who understands me in a way I thought no one could. But we don’t have what Declan and Ember have.
We have something most people wouldn’t understand.
“Tate just texted me to see if we’re done changing,” Fletcher whispers, wrapping an arm over my shoulder. “How are we gonna get Declan out of here but make sure Cam doesn’t see his sister?”
“I—” I don’t get to finish responding because Cam’s voice cuts me off.
“Thanks, Sanderson, but that was all me,” Cam says. “You coming out with us?”
Fletcher’s eyes widen as he looks from me to Declan, and the words fall out of his mouth. “He can’t.”
I shake my head as Fletcher shrugs, and Declan turns toward him. “I can’t?”
“No, you have that thing.”
“A thing?” Cam zips his bag.
“Yeah, but I’ll come out with you guys. Brooks too. It’ll be great,” Fletcher continues. “Sorry you and Zeke can’t come.”
I can hardly hold back the laugh forming in my throat because only Fletcher would make this situation ten times more awkward than it needed to be.
“Actually, I think your thing is already happening.” Jaxon hands Declan his stuff. “You should get going.”
“Going where?” Declan looks around like he’s scared we’ve hired another stripper to surprise him. Little does he know his girlfriend is on the other side of the door.
“Just trust me.” Jaxon pushes him out of the door and winks at me as he turns around.
“So, Campbell, what kind of beer do you like?” Fletcher wonders, but I can still see the heat in his cheeks.
“I don’t know. I kind of just drink whatever,” Cam replies.
“There’s this great bar not far from here,” Jaxon begins, “an old buddy of mine told me about it. I guess all the MSU guys usually hang out there.”
“We’re gonna go hang out with the guys we just served a loss to?” Jeremy tosses his bag over his shoulder.
“I think it’ll be fun. Aside from O’Connell, we don’t have any bad blood with players off the ice, you know?” Jaxon adds. “And if they don’t want us there, we’ll find somewhere else to go.”
“You sure you don’t want to come with us?” Brooks pats me on the back. “There were a lot of MSU fans that are just your type.”
“My type?” I shove my phone in my pocket.
“Female.” He grins. “Think of all the potential you’re gonna miss out on.”
“I’m surprised you’re going out. Won’t Liv be upset if you don’t ring in the New Year with her?”
“Oh, I will,” he says. “But I’ll celebrate with the team a little beforehand. Maybe witness Jaxon fight some MSU player.”
“Now that I need to see,” I continue. “If it happens, video it, okay? I’m feeling kind of beat.”
“Alright,” Brooks doesn’t push, “if you change your mind, I’ll let you know where we’re at.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I grab my bag and head out of the locker room; the final words I hear as the door shuts behind me is, “Zeke never misses out on a celebration. You think everything’s okay?”
And I wish I could tell them everything is better than okay. Because I have a valid reason to miss drinking with the guys tonight—
My girl.
And time with her is better than every celebration combined. Even if it’s just on a phone screen.
You won your game?” Avalon’s face pops up on my screen.
“We did.” I smile. “The game was insane. We dominated them.”
“And you guys didn’t want to go out to celebrate?”
“The guys did.”
“And you didn’t?”
“I had other plans.”
A shy smile grows on her face as she brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
“How long till you get home?”
“Miss me that much, huh, Stewart?”
“Maybe.”
Now it’s my turn to smile. I don’t know why Avalon admitting that she misses me makes me as happy as it does, but I guess it’s nice to know since I miss her, too. A lot.
We’ve talked every day since I left. Which is not something I ever thought would happen. But I constantly see things that remind me of her. Or I see something that I know she’d find funny, stupid, or exciting, and I just have to share it.
“Is it weird that I wish we were together right now?” She looks away. “Like not over phone screens, but lying next to each other, having this same conversation.”
“No, it’s not. I wish I was with you, too. The bed feels off without you.”
“You could always ask Fletcher to cuddle you,” she teases, and I chuckle. I forgot I told her about that conversation. Fletcher would kill me if he knew I shared that with someone outside of our friend group, but the endless laughter that happened once I told her was worth dying for.
“It wouldn’t be the same,” I respond. “I don’t like him like that.”
She rolls her eyes before readjusting her position on her bed.
“Has your mom been home recently?” I change the topic of the conversation.
“No,” she sighs. “I don’t know why I’m surprised, though. The second she got into a relationship with that guy, I knew all the progress she was making would go downhill. With her, it’s always just a matter of time.”
“I don’t know how she could just disappear, though. Like it’s not that hard to at least text you and let you know she’s okay.”
“I’m not important enough for that kind of conversation. Plus, it’d just lead to an argument. That’s why my mom hasn’t been by the house; she knows if I see her in the condition I know she’s in, I’d be disappointed in her. So, it’s just easier to not see me at all.”
“Which is an even crazier concept. Someone not wanting to see you. We’ve only been apart for several days, and I can’t wait to get home and just stay in your room and watch Bones for the rest of the break.”
“Pretty sure you don’t really get a break from hockey.”
“Well, when I’m not at hockey—”
“Or with your mom.”
“Or with my mom.” I smile. “I’ll be with you.”
“Your friends are going to start catching on.”
I don’t bother telling her that I think they already are.
“They think I’m always with my mom,” I fib.
“That makes sense. How’s she doing? Did she get those new test results back?”
Avalon was the only person I talked to after my mom’s inconclusive results, but I can’t believe she remembered.
“No.” I shake my head. “I think she should be getting the results back tomorrow if I remember correctly.”
“Will your dad be with her when she gets them back?”
“No.”
“Even though you’re not there to hear the results with her?” she asks. “He’s gonna let her find out results like that alone?”
“He’s probably gonna be swamped with work,” I respond. “That’s usually the excuse.”
“I know you’ve told me a lot about that situation when it comes to your dad not being around, but I guess I always thought it was because he knew you were there with her. But the thought of her being alone just—”
“Sucks,” I cut her off. “I know. I think I’ll video chat her to be there for support.”
“Have I told you recently that you’re a great guy, Zeke?”
“I know.”
“Ha.” She throws her head back in laughter. “You’re ridiculous.”
And then we’re just quiet, almost like we’re both just sitting and admiring each other.
“If I knew her,” she whispers, “I’d go to the hospital and make sure she had someone to hold her hand while she got her results. Good or bad, she shouldn’t have to find out alone.”
God, I wish I could kiss her right now. The guys love my mom. I know they do. They grew up with her in their lives, but I’ve never had someone come into my life after her diagnosis and care more about my mom than me.
I guess I never give anyone the chance to; I usually keep my mom’s health to myself, but with Avalon, opening up is so easy.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” she asks.
“Being you.”