Chapter 12
Willa
The cast on my ankle is irritating and itchy.
It’s better than having to get surgery, but I was given an estimated healing time of six to eight weeks. Six to eight weeks too long of no ice time.
After finals this week we’ll have a few weeks off before training starts again, but who knows when I’ll be able to get this cast off.
I told Coach Higgins everything. I was completely honest and thought he’d sympathize with me, having known his wife cheated on him. But he was more disappointed I risked the injury than anything. He wouldn’t even look at me.
After the final, I wobble out to the hall and rest against the wall. Carter was still inside, but I didn’t sit next to him since I needed to stay close to the door.
He actually did it. He kept his head down the entire semester and the Coach never figured out he was the same guy who had an affair with his wife. Maybe Carter is on to something. Being bad means you get away with shit. I was nice and told the truth and now I’m facing being cut from my team. I should’ve lied and said I fell down the stairs.
Using my crutches, I hop outside and slowly hobble down the steps. When I get to the last step, I get overexcited for making it all the way down. I lose my grip and the balance I had, and fall down on my ass with a smack against the concrete. I sit as if I meant to rest.
I don’t want to walk home. I did that the other day and was left with a cramp in my good calf and had a rash under my arms. The rash is still there.
I call Luca for a ride, but he’s already out.
“I can’t talk right now, Willa-bean. Is everything ok?” There’s a weird buzzing sound through the phone and someone screams in the distance.
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll catch you later.” I hang up and try Jocelyn, but it goes to voicemail.
I try Kandi as my last resort.
“Sorry babe,” she says over the sound of Dani’s car. “We’re running some errands for the skate gala right now. Unless you want to wait a half hour?”
“No thanks, I’ll try someone else.”
She’s busy getting ready for the Delta Nu charity event that I’ll now be missing out on. Being broken sucks.
I sit and wait, preparing myself for the long walk home. It’s less than a mile and normally very doable if I wasn’t hobbling on one leg with the assist of two aluminum sticks and a hard rubber that digs into my armpits. The stupid towels I taped around the tops keep slipping off. I should’ve begged for the scooter, but the doctor didn’t want me injuring my knee.
I’m dreading the hike home, but it’s getting cold sitting out on the steps next to the snow-covered lawn. I’m even considering calling Vic. He owes me. I sent him a text as soon as I got my phone and told him never to speak to me again.
He found out what had happened and sent an apology text. He came by the house to see me the other day but Jocelyn threatened him to leave. I didn’t want to see or hear him.
But right now, I’m desperate.
“Did you fall on your ass?”
I look up to see Carter standing above me.
“Sort of,” I say and hold out my crutches. “Care to give a girl a lift?”
With a shrug, he bends down and picks me up into his arms.
“I meant in a car,” I screech.
“I’m carrying you to my car.” Without any effort, he carries me through the parking lot and I’m reminded of those thick, hard muscles under his coat. Then I also remember how he left me to have a threesome just to prove a point that guys aren’t nice.
He may be saving me again, but he’s still an ass.
He sits me in his truck and throws my crutches in the back. “Where to?”
“Are you hungry?” I ask, hoping he’ll take pity on me and go through a drive-thru or something.
“Do you like real Mexican food?” He rolls his head back against the seat and looks at me with that devilish smirk of his. “I know a place where we can get some real tacos.”
“Do they have taco-ritos too?” I joke, referring to our lunch a couple of months ago.
“Nah, you’re getting a taco.”
He drives off into town to a small Mexican restaurant right on the outskirts of Main Street. The lighting is dim, but the sun is brightly shining through the nearby window to lessen the romantic feel from the candle on the table.
It isn’t as fancy as it’s trying to be, with paper covering the colorful tablecloths that contradict the Papel Picado banners that hang from the ceiling, crisscrossing throughout the space.
“How’d you do on the final?” I ask, while looking over the menu.
“Not sure.” He puts down his menu and drinks some water. “It was easier than I thought it’d be, but I guess I won’t know until I get the grade.”
I nod, agreeing with him. “I Don’t think Coach Higgins was the one that made the final.” Our professor before Coach was a lot more easygoing, and the final felt more relaxed than the last couple of months of class.
Carter motions for a waiter to order some chips and salsa for the table.
“How long do you have to wear the cast for?”
“Doctor said six to eight weeks, but then another six to eight weeks of physical therapy, and that all depends on how it heals to determine if I’ll need surgery or not.” I set my menu down and play with a tortilla chip I took from the small basket. “He thinks there’s a chance it will heal without needing surgery, which is better in the long run.”
There’s a brief silence that settles between us with the sound of us munching on the crisp, salty chips. I don’t have to say it. Carter knows that if they have to put a metal plate in my ankle, there’s a chance I may not be able to skate at the level I was ever again. There’s always a chance I won’t be able to if the bone doesn’t heal right.
I can’t give up.
“Was Coach Professor Dickweed understanding about what happened?” He asks, making me sputter on my water from the crude nickname.
“No,” I mutter. “He was pissed and I’m not even sure I’ll still have a place on the team.”
We’ll see how it goes, is the response I got. Not meaning if my ankle heals quickly, but meaning if I am easily replaced by another girl playing as well as I can.
“Fucking cocksucker,” Carter mutters back. “If you’re able to play after you heal, he shouldn’t be able to cut you from the team.”
“He can.” I stuff a chip in my mouth and talk with my mouth full. I’ve never been good at waiting until after I swallow. “There’s plenty of talented players on the bench who are waiting for their shot. And it’s my fault. I screwed up.”
“You did,” he agrees with me with a shake of his head. “But you’re a fucking amazing player. Better than all those girls on the bench. You worked your ass off for that position.”
“If you were a duster, and a spot opened up because of an injury, would you give it back to the guy easily once he’s able to play again?” I look at Carter, daring him to prove me wrong.
“No,” he laughs. “I’d work my ass off to make sure I keep the spot.”
“Exactly.”
Our food comes quickly after we order and surprisingly we’re having a great time. Our conversation flows from school to hockey easily, and my somber thoughts about my ankle are momentarily forgotten. It has to be the best Mexican food I’ve ever had. Carter was right, the tacos were the way to go.
He grabs the check when I see Luca calling.
“Willa-bean, I need your help,” Luca says as soon as I answer.
“My help?” What could I possibly help him with? “What do you need my help for?”
“I’m picking something out, and I can’t decide. I need your expert female advice,” he says over the sound of Alex talking in the background.
“Is it something for Kandi?” I question him and try to take my money out to pay, but Carter waves me off.
“Thanks,” I mouth while Luca tells me he’s picking out a special gift and asks if I can meet him down the road at a jewelry shop.
“Yeah, I’m right down the street,” I tell him and purposely omit who I’m with.
Luca wouldn’t be happy if he knew I was hanging out with Carter. We’re just friends, but Luca is like a brother to me and has been even more protective after everything that happened last weekend.
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Where to, Miss. Daisy?” Carter asks when I hang up.
“Luca needs help picking out jewelry for Kandi.” I groan and tell Carter where to go.
He pulls to the side, but doesn’t park.
“Are you coming in? I think he’s with Finn and Alex.” I pull my crutches out from the back to use them to get myself out of the car.
“Nah, I’m good. I don’t really get along with them outside of the rink.” He taps the steering wheel and waits for me to get out.
“You isolate yourself,” I point out as I slide out to the sidewalk.
“I prefer it that way.” He smirks. “See ya never.”
I watch him drive off in wonder. He isolates himself from all the guys on the team as if he’s punishing himself. As if he doesn’t deserve to get close to anyone.
“How’d you get here?” Finn questions me and slides down to make room for me on the bench once I walk in the jewelry store.
I sputter to think of an answer, but get immediately distracted by the set of engagement rings in front of Luca.
“Oh Luca, this is such a bad idea.” I hobble to the counter. “What did these fools convince you to do?”
“Hey now.” Alex gets defensive. “I told him it was a bad idea.”
Luca groans at me. “I’m just getting the ring while I have my friends here to help me. I’m not planning to ask yet.”
“Ha!” I throw my head back in disbelief. “There is no way you can sit with a ring burning a hole in your pocket and not ask her. I”ll give it a week.”
“Two days,” Alex says, taking my bet.
“Gala night,” Finn calls from where he sits on the bench, looking like he’s going to pass out.
Luca grimaces at us and turns his attention back to the saleswoman. She appears with a beautiful square diamond ring with a tint of blue. Kandi’s favorite color that she always paints her nails with.
“That’s it,” Luca says with googly eyes, looking at it as if it holds all his dreams.
“She’ll love it,” I agree, because I know there’s no stopping Luca. Once he sets his mind on something, there’s no turning back, and that ring is perfect for Kandi. “But she’s going to say no. Don’t get your hopes up.” I warn him as best as I can because I know Kandi.
She’s great. I love her for Luca. She pulls him down to earth, but she’s also afraid of commitment and isn’t ready for a wedding proposal.
But like I did, sometimes you need a bit of heartache to really understand what you want and need. I think she’ll figure it out soon.
Luca drives me home and I’m happy to get some more time with my best friend.
“Who were you with before?” He doesn’t waste any time to probe me.
“A friend.” I shrug. “We were having an early dinner.”
“Willa-bean.” He coaxes me to tell him. “Tell me who it was. It better not have been Vic.”
“No.” I quickly stop him from thinking I was with Vic, but Luca gives me a look as if he doesn’t believe me. Now, I have to tell him. “It was Carter.”
“Carter?” he grumbles. “That’s not much better.”
“Hey.” I flick him on the shoulder. “We’re just friends. Seriously, it was a friendly dinner after our final. There is nothing going on between Carter and I.”
“There better not be. Vic may be the jerk of all jerks, but Carter isn’t much better,” he warns me. “I can’t tell you who to be friends with, but please don’t start shit with him. Not after the hell you just went through.”
“He’s not that bad once you give him a chance. He helped save me, you know,” I remind him.
Carter pushes people away, and I think it has something to do with his father from our conversations, and that doesn’t make him a bad guy.
Luca mutters under his breath and winces, as if it physically hurts to agree with me.
“I’m not ready to start anything with anyone,” I reassure him that there’s nothing to worry about. “I want to be single for a while, so yeah, he’s just a friend.”
“Ok,” Luca sighs and nudges my leg. “But if he hurts you in any way, I will come back here to kill him. I don’t care when it is. It could be during the Stanley Cup finals, and I will leave the arena to fuck him up.”
“You’re ridiculous.” I roll my eyes and flick his ear. “You better not screw up your shot like I did mine.”
Luca is on his way out. The San Jose Quakes signed him to join their team. This is his last week here and then who knows when we’ll be in the same town again.
Fate and luck brought us back together for the last couple of years. We were childhood best friends until his family moved away. Like any teenager would, we lost touch. And fast forward four years later we end up in the same school and it was like we were never apart.
Now, I can’t imagine my life without Luca in it in some fashion. He’s my brother and will always be family to me.
“You made a mistake. We all make mistakes.” He gives me a hopeful smile.
“Yes, and don’t you dare make one that will cost this opportunity you have.” I say, waving my finger at him.
He knows I’m hinting at that very expensive ring he just bought. I know Luca. He’s not going to wait and it’s way too soon. They just became an official couple. Kandi will say no, and Luca will be devastated.
Worst-case scenario, he’ll push her away so that she’ll run. There’s nothing I can do to stop him, but I hope he knows what he’s doing.
It”s the last game and no matter how uncomfortable I am, I promised Luca I’d go to watch.
“Woo! Looking good, Luca!” Kandi shouts and cheers as the team warms up.
I sink down in my seat and cover my face to hide from the attention she’s drawing to us. The guys are just warming up, and she’s already screaming at the top of her lungs.
“What are you doing?” I look up as Carter bangs on the glass a few rows in front of us. He steps up on the bench to lean over the side and question the guy sitting next to it. “Are you handicapped?”
“No, shouldn’t you be warming up?” The man motions to the team.
“How’d you get these seats?” Carter glares back at the guy.
“Does it matter?” The guy snaps at him and shakes his head.
“See that woman back there,” Carter points to me two rows up, “you’re going to help her switch seats with you.”
“Fuck that! I paid for these seats.” The guy angrily stands.
I grasp onto Kandi’s hand when Carter slams his gloved fist into the glass, causing a loud bang to shake the wall.
“Switch your seat or I’m going to jump this glass and shove my skate up your lazy ass.” He points a gloved finger at the guy.
The guy glares back at him a moment, checking how serious Carter is before looking at me.
“Yeah, ok.” He gives in and motions for me to hand him my crutch. “But I’m telling the chief.”
“Fucking snitch.” Carter smiles, sharing a quiet joke with the guy.
“Come ladies, welcome to your new seats.” The guy who I believe is a local that may or may not be a volunteer firefighter with Carter helps Kandi and me over the rows.
The new seats are meant for handicapped persons and are a lot more spacious and a lot more comfortable on my ankle.
“Are you good?” Carter asks through the glass, waiting for my nod before he skates out to warm up.
“That was scary.” I clutch onto Kandi.
“Don’t tell Luca, but that was hot.” She fans herself.
I laugh, but can see her point. That alpha male; beat up any guy to help a woman, attitude was sort of endearing. I see why Carter attracts the women he does.
He’s a good-looking guy. Dark and mysterious, but with a shitty attitude and sarcastic comments. Women go to him to feel protected and bad all at the same time.
Warm-ups are almost over when he comes to check on us again.
“Put your leg up.” He points to the chair folded on the side. “If anyone gives you a hard time, tell them to fuck off.”
“That may work for you,” I say while rolling my eyes. “But I’m not that tough.”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.” He backs away and follows his team to the locker room.
“What’s going on with Carter?” Kandi asks with a sly grin once they’re out of sight.
“Nothing,” I shrug.
“Uh huh, sure.” She insinuates I’m lying.
“Really, we’re just friends. I think.” If I really think about it, I have no idea if we’re even friends. “I don’t even know if I’d say we’re actually friends. We had a class together and he, you know, saved my life.”
“Sure.”
“So I’d say we’re friends.” I nod, agreeing with my assessment.
“Ok,” Kandi shrugs and that’s the end of the conversation as I sit through her embarrassing chants and screams throughout the game.
I’m friends with lots of guys, but I never thought I’d be calling Carter one of them.