Chapter 24 #3
If anyone’s the stalker, it’s me. I’m the one who saw a pretty stranger on the street and decided I had to meet her. At least Elly knew something about me aside from the fact that she liked the way I looked. I was just horny for a gorgeous face and a stunning pair of legs.
I feel like shit, and I play like it, too.
With ten minutes left, the puck bounces right to me in the slot. Their goalie’s down and sliding the wrong way. The net’s wide open, practically begging for me to score. All I have to do is lift it six inches.
Instead, I hit the post.
The Voodoo fans who traveled to North Carolina to watch the game groan in the stands, hardening the knot of shame forming in my gut. I’m letting them down. I’m letting everyone down, including myself.
What the fuck have I been thinking? That it was fine to keep playing house with Elly, without actually being honest with her? Completely honest?
We win 4-2, but it feels hollow, fake.
In the locker room, the rest of the team gives me a wide berth as they celebrate, making plans to grab a late dinner or drinks near the hotel. I take my time in the shower, ensuring the room is nearly empty by the time I emerge.
It’s just Parker and Blue waiting for me as I sag bag onto the bench.
“So, what’s up? You think this is the end?” Parker asks.
I shake my head. “No. No way, I just…” I drag a hand through my damp hair. “I don’t know what to think right now. It feels complicated all of a sudden.”
“It’s always been complicated,” Parker counters. “I mean, you married a woman you barely know.”
“He knows her,” Blue says softly. “And she knows him.”
“He’s right,” I whisper. “That’s how it is with us. It feels like I’ve always known Elly. Like I’ve just been waiting for her, if that makes any sense. I know it doesn’t, but…”
“No, it does,” Parker says. “I mean, if you’re a romantic with a sappy streak a mile wide, it does. Which, you are.”
I reward the attempt at a joke with a twitch of my lips.
“And you two seem happy together,” he adds.
“We are,” I whisper, hating that it feels like a lie.
It’s not a lie, but…is it really the truth, either? When we’ve both been keeping big secrets?
“Talk to her,” Blue says. “Not tonight or on the phone. In person.”
I nod. “We made plans for brunch at home tomorrow while Mimi’s at school. Elly’s been wanting to talk to me about something anyway, so…” I shake my head, suddenly feeling like a complete idiot. “Probably about this! Fuck, I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not,” Blue says. “You have a lot going on. Learning to be a husband and a father and the leader of a new team is a lot for one man.”
“Yeah,” Parker agrees. “Give yourself some grace, man. And don’t end it with Elly.
She’s my only in with Makena. I need you to throw a ‘Yay, we’re staying married’ party and invite both of us.
Then, I’ll show up, looking fine as hell and super kissable, and Makena will have no choice but to make out with me after and fall hard for me and be my sex queen. ”
Blue grunts.
“What?” Parker asks. “It’s a solid plan.”
“This isn’t about you,” Blue says.
“I mean, I’m here, aren’t I?” Parker says. “It’s at least a little bit about me.”
Grateful for a break in being the focus of attention, I change, pack up my gear, and am ready to roll by the time Blue’s done giving Parker a pithy lecture about knowing when to embrace main character energy.
We grab wings and beer at a place near the hotel and carefully avoid talking about my personal life.
We talk about Blue’s art class, Parker’s parents’ increasingly messy divorce, the new merch the Voodoo is rolling out to celebrate our winning streak, and the best places to get a Shrimp Po’ Boy by the airport.
Parker’s craving one, but doesn’t want to have to go all the way into the city center.
All I’m craving is for this night to hurry up and be over already so I can go to sleep and be that much closer to sorting things out with Elly.
We can sort this out. I know we can.
Or, at least I really hope so.
I go to sleep with hope and wake up to news that our flight’s been delayed due to storms in the southeast. We waste the entire day in the airport, bouncing back and forth between the lounge and the gate as our flight is scheduled then delayed, scheduled then delayed.
I keep in touch with Elly via text, but I’m too nervous to call.
I have a shit poker face, especially with people I love.
She’d be able to see that something’s off, and I won’t be able to put her mind at ease from North Carolina.
We need to have this talk in person. I don’t know much for sure right now, but that feels like an absolute necessity.
By the time we finally take off, the sky is already growing dark, but still, I’ll be home by eight-thirty, nine at the latest. That’s not too late to have a serious talk, and if all goes well, we’ll be able to head to bed after and celebrate getting all our shit out in the open .
Instead, I arrive home to find the house quiet and dark and my big bed disturbingly empty.
Starting to get worried, I check on Mimi first, some of the tension easing from my chest when I see her sprawled across her bed, sleeping soundly. Elly would never leave the house while Mimi’s asleep, so she has to be somewhere.
I find her a moment later, in her bed, curled up in a ball with a rag on her forehead.
“Hey,” I murmur from the doorway. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” she croaks, wincing as she swallows. “I started feeling yucky yesterday. I thought it was just a touch of food poisoning or something, but now, I think it might be a bug. So, I decided to sleep in here. I don’t want to get you sick.”
“I don’t mind,” I say, meaning it, though I probably should mind. I can’t really afford to get sick with another game in three days. “I’d rather be close in case you need anything. Medicine or fresh ice water. Whatever.”
She shakes her head, wincing again, like moving hurts.
“No, please. I don’t want to make anyone else feel like this.
I’ve been keeping my distance from Mimi as best I can, too.
I have electrolyte water and medicine and stuff.
Hopefully, I’ll feel better in the morning.
I just…need to try to sleep it off, I think. ”
“Okay,” I say. “But let me know if you need anything, okay? Just text me. I’ll keep my phone on and by the bed.”
Her lips curve in a pained smile. “Okay. Night. Thank you. Glad you finally got home safe.”
I am, too, and as I gently shut the door, I’m way more concerned about my girl being sick as a dog than I am about the things we need to talk about. As soon as I set eyes on her again, the fear started to fade. Because she’s my person, my ride or die, and we’re going to get through this.
We have to.
Nothing else makes sense.
I go to bed feeling sure everything’s going to be all right, only to be awoken at two a.m. by a hysterical Mimi with tears pouring down her face, shaking my shoulder as she says, “Wake up, Gee. Mama’s sick on the floor and won’t wake up! Come on, we have to save Mama!”