Chapter 12
EZRA
Lucas wasn’t playing well, according to the announcers. Did my situation play a role? Or was it just an off night? I bit my thumbnail, watching the game from his sofa. Maybe I shouldn’t lean on him as much as I was? I pursed my lips.
Lucas jumped the boards and hit the ice, following a Vegas player to the net. As the other player swung his stick back, Lucas hit him, throwing him to the ice. Evan skated by and high-fived him.
If I saw Tate while Lucas was traveling, I wouldn’t tell him about it.
I shifted on the sofa, tucking my legs underneath me.
But wasn’t that lying to him? Fuck, Tate better not show up after I file the order of protection.
I sighed. I’d spend the latter part of the evening learning what I had to do, so I’d be ready first thing tomorrow.
Skating toward the Vegas goal, Lucas batted the puck between his blades. Only a few seconds remained in the period. With a flick of his wrist, he shot the puck at a Firebird player coasting by the goalie. The Firebird tossed the puck into the air.
The Vegas goalie dropped and lifted his netted glove. Hitting the goal pipe, the puck fell inside. The red lamp lit, and Firebirds piled onto Lucas and the other Firebird, patting his back and side-hugging him.
The announcer said, “An assist for Hopkins. There’s the player we usually see. Guess he’s got his game back.”
My heart swelled. “Way to go, Lucas.” I’d deal with Tate’s behavior privately if it continued to be a problem this week.
After the game ended, my phone hummed on the coffee table. I picked it up and peered at the screen. Was it Lucas? Nope, Maddy. I answered. “Hey, Maddy.” It was a little late for her to call.
“Hi, Ezra. I’m just checking in.” Crying carried through the phone. “Sorry, Hannah’s got a nasty cold, so we’re giving her a nebulizer treatment.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what the hell that was. Could it be serious? My chest grew tight. “Will she be okay?”
“She will. It just makes for some sleepless nights.” She chuckled. “Oh, she’s quiet now, so we can talk. What’s up with the hockey player and Tate?”
I rolled my eyes. I was sick of thinking about Tate, but Lucas? I could talk about him all day. “I’m staying at Lucas’s apartment right now. He’s out of town for some games.”
“Woah, what the hell?” She giggled. “Did it turn out I was right?”
“Yes.” My cheeks flamed, and I plucked my water glass from the table and sipped it. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t talked to her since the night I broke up with Tate.
“Oh my God, Ezra. Tell me more.”
“Well, he has a gay brother, Mason Hopkins, who’s in the NAPH and married to another player named Jett Jarvis.” She wouldn’t know who they were. She didn’t follow hockey. I tucked my water glass between my thighs.
“Wow, NAPH players. So, is Lucas bisexual or something? How did it go down?”
“He is. We’re taking things slow. He’s never been with a man before.” Should I be worried? He’d seemed so confident with his feelings for me. I rimmed the lip of my glass with my index finger.
“Okay, but his brother is gay, so it’s not totally new for him.”
“Correct.” I nodded once. “He played tonight in Vegas and his team won.” I held my phone away from my ear, peering at it. Would he call soon?
“So, is Tate leaving you alone now? What happened?”
Huffing a sigh, I said, “No, he’s not. He’s been showing up at my place and the studio. I’m filing an order of protection tomorrow.” I hoped it stopped him.
“That’s serious, Ezra. And I gather you’re staying at Lucas’s place to stay away from Tate?”
“Exactly. But we’re afraid Tate might get Lucas’s address and if he knows when Lucas is on the road, he might come here.
” I glanced behind me at the front door.
If he showed up and I didn’t answer, would he go away?
At least at my apartment, I had my neighbor watching out for me.
“Hey, I met the neighbor across the courtyard from me. She’s been scaring Tate away and called the police on him once.
” I chuckled. A little old lady had scared him off.
“Seriously? That’s awesome.”
“She has a gay son.” My heart pricked. Would this restart a conversation about Mom? “She’s a very nice lady.”
“She sounds like it,” she said. “How do you feel about that? Knowing she’s a mother who’s fine having a gay son?”
“I won’t lie, it hurt a little,” I said in a soft voice. I dipped my head. Here it came…
“You should try calling Mom. If she hangs up on you—”
“Then it will hurt even more.” I gritted my teeth. Some things were better left alone. “Maddy, I’ve made my peace with it.” But had I? Does a person ever get over having parents disown you?
“Okay, I’ll drop it for now. At least you have this lovely woman to help you. What’s her name?”
“It’s Stella.” I rubbed my brow. Thank God she didn’t want to dwell on this. “I think I’ll buy her some flowers. She deserves something for helping me.”
“That’s a great idea. Maybe you two could talk over coffee?”
I sighed. “Yeah, maybe.” Though, I think the woman was missing her son.
“Okay, well, keep me updated on how it goes this week. What’s on your work agenda? Will you be in the studio much?”
“It’ll be about half and half. I’m shooting a wedding on location and a family portrait session in the studio. Plus, I still have to finish editing photos for the calendar.” Tension wound through my body. I had so much to finish this week, along with the bullshit with Tate.
“Just be careful, Ezra. And call me.” She huffed.
“I will. Love you, sis.” I glanced at the television, the announcers going over footage of other games while Lucas’s game was in intermission. “Bye.”
“Bye, I love you too.” She ended the call.
I sank into the couch with a long exhale. I’d take the flowers to Stella tomorrow and update her on the court order.
The next morning, I’d filed the order of protection using my address, the studio and Lucas’s address and the judge had approved it, with help from the video footage and Stella’s eyewitness accounts to the police when she’d called them.
Last night, I’d had a quick call with Lucas.
He’d been ecstatic about his win, and we’d had little time to talk.
I strode to my studio. It was time for editing.
Unlocking the door, I went inside, switched on soft lights, and examined the equipment.
The judge said they would serve the order on Tate today or within a few days.
How would he react? Would it make him even more angry?
Serving the papers would give him Lucas’s address, if he didn’t already know it.
At least I had the comfort of a few extra patrol cars around me.
I fell into my desk chair and logged into my computer. I’d lose myself in images for the next few hours.
Later in the afternoon, pounding tore through the room. “Ezra? I know you’re in there.”
I startled while enhancing an image of Evan. “Fuck.” It was Tate. I’d just tune him out like last time. Maybe they hadn’t served his papers yet. I opened the drawer housing my headphones.
“If you think a fucking restraining order will keep me away, you’re sorely mistaken.”
My eyes snapped open. “Oh, fuck.” I twisted in my desk chair, staring at the door. He couldn’t get in here, right? The door was metal.
Heavy clanging broke the silence.
Was he hitting the door with something? A bat maybe? Fuck. What should I do? Call the police? He said he’d been served.
The clanging started up again. “Come out here and face me, you coward.” Pause. “I know your hockey boy is gone. He’s on the road, isn’t he, Ezra?”
My heart jolted, and my body trembled. He’d been doing his research. But then I’d expected it. I fisted and opened my hands at my sides.
“Come on, baby. I only want to talk.”
“Fuck.” Nausea balled in my gut. I needed to tune him out. If I listened to him sweet talk me, I might give in.
“Please, Ezra. I deserve some explanations, don’t I?” Scraping sounded on the door. “Don’t leave me hanging like this. We were good together, remember? Remember our trip to Cabo? We had such a good time.”
And it had been the first time I’d seen his controlling side. After drinking too much tequila, he’d become aggressive toward me at a bar, assuming I had stared at another man for too long.
I opened my mouth, and then I clenched my teeth. No, I had to keep quiet. Maybe then he’d leave, and I wouldn’t have to deal with the cops.
“I know you’re in there. I saw your car around the corner.” He tapped on the door with something. The bat, maybe? “It would be a shame if someone vandalized it. This isn’t the best neighborhood.”
“Fuck.” He wouldn’t, would he? “Tate, leave me alone or I’ll call the police!” Should I record this? I yanked my phone from my pocket and turned on the video camera. Hopefully, it would detect his voice from behind the door. “You need to leave, now, Tate.” I waited, shifting my stance.
No sounds came through.
Was he gone? I pursed my lips. Of course, as soon as I started videoing he’d leave. I stood recording for a few long minutes and silence crowded the studio. Slumping my shoulders, I ambled to my desk and dropped into the chair.
My phone blared in my hand.
I jumped. “Holy shit.” Holding the phone to my face, I read the screen. Lucas scrolled across the top. My jumbled heart warmed. “L-Lucas?”
“Hey, Ezra. We just got into Denver. How are you? Did you get the order of protection?”
I wouldn’t worry him. With a trembling hand, I brushed a lock of hair from my shoulder. “I did. It went smoothly and Tate was served.” Fuck, why did I blurt that out?
“He was? How do you know? I guess the court notified you then?”
“Um…” I’d totally forgotten they would have sent me a text about it. “Oh, yes, I got a text.” I set the phone on speaker and opened my text messages.
334598
This is the Scottsdale Municipal Court AZPOINT notification system. Your order has been served.