Chapter 35 Tate
thirty-five
Tate
April
Idon’t even know what to do.” Maia places a plate of fries and our milkshakes down in front of us before sitting in the booth next to me. “I’ve known her for over ten years, and she won’t even talk to me. That’s how I know it’s bad.”
Ember hasn’t talked to us in weeks. Honestly, it feels weird coming to Greystone without her. It has become a tradition of sorts over the last several months. Now, every day, Brinley and I come here to meet Maia, even though we know Ember isn’t going to be here waiting for us.
“I don’t blame her for needing time to feel all of her feelings, but I hate that she’s taking what happened with Declan and holding it against the rest of us,” Brinley sighs. “I didn’t even know about what really happened until Declan finally opened up about it.”
“I know this sucks,” Alex rests a hand on Brinley’s shoulder, “but she probably doesn’t know how to feel about everything that happened.”
Brinley reaches up, her hand meeting his, “I get that. But if she would just talk to us, she would know we weren’t involved in it in any way.”
She gives his hands a squeeze before hers falls back down to the table, and his hand rubs comforting circles on her back.
There’s no way something isn’t going on between them. They’d been flirty before; she even told us they’d kissed, but she told him she wasn’t ready for anything like that. However, the last few times I’ve seen them together, they’ve screamed couple.
“Brin, I agree with you, I do. But you also have to think about the fact that Ember fell in love with your brother just to find out he was keeping something from her the whole time. As much as she probably wants to trust that we were friends with her for the right reasons, it’s probably hard to do that right now.
” I give her a sad smile, and she taps the table with her nails.
“I just don’t know why she’d think we would hide something like that from her. We’re her best friends. If I knew the truth about that night and how much it haunted her, I would’ve told her. Not to hurt my brother but to protect my friend.”
“She’ll come around eventually, guys. And I’ll keep trying to get through to her. I mean, she doesn’t even know I went and chewed out your brother after everything that happened.” Maia isn’t showing it, but I can see the sadness in her eyes.
I don’t blame Ember for wanting space from everyone after what happened, but she knows Maia had nothing to do with it. I can’t imagine my best friend not leaning on me when they needed me the most.
Or maybe I can.
It wasn’t long ago that Fletcher and I weren’t leaning on each other when we should’ve been.
“Can we talk about something else, please?” Brin sits up a little taller. “Like this game we have in a couple of days.”
“Fletcher has been stressing out about the game big time,” I add. “He’s barely sleeping because of it.”
I fail to mention that I help calm his nerves by having sex with him any chance we get.
“I honestly don’t know what’s harder, making it this close or being out of the running earlier.
” Brinley leans back against the booth. “I couldn’t imagine being so close to everything I’ve worked so hard for, and then it being over in just one game.
Like if they don’t win this game, they’re out of the running for the championship. ”
“That was always my least favorite part of going to Cam’s games.” Maia rubs her hands together. “I always hated seeing the other teams lose in big games. Like regular season games, I had no problem when we’d crush them, but seeing their faces when they knew that was it, it always sucked.”
“You would feel that way.” I give her a gentle smile. “If anyone were to ask me what you were like, I would use that example right there. I think it represents you perfectly.”
“Thank you… I think.” She slides out of the booth and smooths out her apron. “Got to get back to work; we’re packed, as per usual.”
She winks at us before heading back to the kitchen through the double doors.
It’s not busy. It never is. Occasionally, she’ll get a rush of old people, or sometimes, when the guys are playing away games, she finds a way to broadcast them on the TVs, which draws in a crowd. But most of the time, it’s like this.
I think that’s why we love it so much. It feels like our own personal sanctuary.
“Do you want to drive down to the game with us?” Brinley asks, popping a fry into her mouth.
“I’m driving down early with Fletcher.”
“Coach is letting him drive to the game separately?” Brinley’s face fills with confusion.
“Oh, hell no. You know, Coach is superstitious as hell. I’m following the bus down there, so we can hang out a bit before the game. You know, help him with his nerves.”
“It’s nice to see the two of you back to normal. I was worried everything was going to change and our friend group was going to slowly fall apart.” Her face falls, and she stares down at her hands. “Well, I guess that’s happening anyway, huh?”
“Everything is going to work out with Ember. I know it. We’ve built a bond that can’t be broken, Brin. She just needs time.”
“Speaking of time, we’re running late for a movie.” Brin frowns. “Sorry, I don’t want to just dump all my feelings on you and run, but—”
I shake my head, waving my hands in front of my face.
“Don’t even worry about it. I’m doing a movie night with Fletcher and have a new song to record before he comes over, so I should get going, too.”
“If you change your mind about heading down early, Alex is driving to the game, so we could totally pregame in the back seat on the way down.”
“As tempting as that is, Fletcher will kill me if I don’t get there early.”
I slide out of the booth as Brinley and Alex do the same. She wraps her arms around me and presses a kiss on my cheek.
“Love you. I’ll see you later.”
I give her butt a gentle tap as they head toward the front door. Once they’re outside, Alex’s arm flies over her shoulder, and he pulls her closer to him. She smiles up at him, a look in her eyes I haven’t seen since Jax.
And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all of this, it’s that friends don’t look at friends that way.
And regardless of what she keeps saying, there’s definitely something more going on there.
And I couldn’t be happier for her.
What was originally supposed to be time for me and Fletcher to have some much-needed fun before his game turned into me, Fletcher, and Jeremy sitting in their hotel room.
Which is fine, I love Jere, but I was looking forward to at least a quickie before their hockey game tonight.
“Do you want to get married?” Fletcher’s words travel across the hotel room, and my eyes widen at the question, until I realize he’s staring at Jeremy and not me.
“Oh, shit, are you talking to me?” Jeremy looks around the room as if it’s not just the three of us sitting in here. “I don’t know, I guess I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Because of hockey?”
“I guess.” Jere shrugs. “My parents gave up so much for me to be able to play this sport, and I’ve been really lucky that I’ve never had to worry about the financial costs that come with playing hockey, but I can’t lie and say I’ve never thought about the emotional ones.
I mean, my dad is so proud of me; he gloats to all his friends about how I could have jumped right into the NHL, but I wanted to take the time to go to school first and have a backup plan.
About how I’m going to be the best hockey player the NHL has ever seen, and I want to make sure I live up to that. ”
“But it’s not fair to put your life on hold for hockey.” I lean forward, crossing my legs so my elbows have something to rest on. “Your dad would be proud of you regardless, Jeremy, but I know he’d also want you to live.”
“Hockey is my life. And I don’t mean that in the same way Declan has always meant it.
I love the game. I wasn’t pressured into it; I got to choose the sport, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Fuck, when everything happened with my back, and I got a taste of what life could be like without it, I was fucking miserable. ”
I can’t imagine the constant fear of losing the one thing you’ve worked so hard for.
“And every time I get on the ice, I wonder if it could be the last time. If I won’t ever get to the NHL because I’m too busy playing in college while I finish my degree.
I want to take care of my parents the way they’ve taken care of me, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to repay even a fraction of their sacrifice, but I know I want to try. ”
Jeremy has always had a love for his family that trumped everything. Without his family, the guys wouldn’t have their house, and who knows what their schedules would look like?
They don’t have the time to get jobs, and Mr. Moore knew that. He made sure they’d be set by loaning them a property he used to rent out and letting them stay there for free.
The Moores not only sacrificed that extra income for Jeremy but also for the rest of the guys. They could’ve made them pay something to stay there, but that thought never crossed their minds.
“So, marriage is a backup plan for you?” Fletcher shifts in his chair, turning his body toward Jeremy.
“I wouldn’t say a backup plan. I just have a few things I want to figure out before I settle down. I’m not saying that if the right girl came along, I wouldn’t be down to change my plans, but until that happens, marriage and kids are on the back burner.”
“Pretty sure I never said anything about kids.” Fletcher wiggles his eyebrows. “So, I think the idea is on your mind a little more than you’re letting on.”
“Maybe.” Jeremy scratches the top of his head. “Not that I’m asking about your relationship, because as I once told you, I’m not interested, but how do you make it work?”
I look toward Fletcher to find his eyes already on me.
“If I’m being honest, I don’t know.” I shrug. “I think it’s important to find someone who supports you and your dreams. You don’t want to be with someone who’s holding you back for their own well-being. I think we’re both pretty ambitious, and we support each other’s ambitions.”
“It also doesn’t hurt that she’s my best friend. I couldn’t imagine life without her in it.”
He reaches over the back of his chair, and it takes him seconds to find my hand. He gives it a gentle squeeze.
“And when you meet the right person, I think you just know,” I add. “And timing is everything. Fletcher and I learned that the hard way.”
“Thanks, you guys.” Jere smiles, taking a long swig of water.
“Anytime.”