GRANT
THIRTY-EIGHT
Puck Kings
Huddy Boy
Just checking to make sure everyone made it home from the hospital okay.
Mavvy
Yeah.
Easy E
Yup.
Sully
Yes.
Me
Okay is a generous word.
Connor
I cried into my pillow for hours.
Me
Same.
Huddy Boy
Get some sleep. Drink water, eat food. We have to take care of ourselves if we’re going to come up with a plan. We’ll reconvene tomorrow.
It’ll all be okay.
Easy E
Will it?
After three servings of pancakes, I’m not happy, but I’m better.
I’m coherent enough to help Amelia to the guest room without crying. I even smile when she makes a joke about paint color and door knobs, which feels like a step in the right direction.
Progress, I guess.
“I don’t know the last time someone stayed here,” I say, flipping on a light. The early afternoon sun pours into the room, and I pull the curtains closed to help block out the heat. “But the sheets are clean, and there’s a bathroom right across the hall.”
“This is really nice.” Amelia walks into the room and opens a dresser drawer. “Do any of the guys ever sleep over at your place?”
“If they’ve had a drink too many during our video game marathons, they’ll crash here.
” I fix one of the decorative pillows and wonder if I should order a throw blanket so she’s extra comfortable.
“The older we get, the more we’ve turned into homebodies.
The nights out end earlier. We pick water over beer. My youth is slipping away.”
“I’m going to get you a subscription to the AARP magazine for your birthday this year.”
“Wow.” I laugh for the first time in what feels like days. The clouds that have been following me break. “That’s kind of you, Amelia. Thank you so much.”
“Anything to make you laugh like that again.” She smiles. “Can I see the rest of your place?”
“You’ve seen basically all of it, but I’ll give you the full tour. Follow me, Green.”
I point out her bathroom and the third bedroom I’ve turned into a small home gym. When we make it back to the living room, I lead her through a set of double doors and onto a large balcony.
The summer air is warm on my skin, and I take a breath. I close my eyes, disbelieving I stood in this same spot yesterday morning an entirely different person. Twenty-four hours ago, I was wishing for another team win that would give us the Cup. Now all I want is to find a way to help my friend.
“This is beautiful.” Amelia’s shoulder brushes against mine. I open my eyes and watch her drape her arms over the railing while she looks down at the city. “We’re on top of the world.”
“Sunset is even better. It’s like someone up in the heavens reaches down and paints the sky.”
“It’s quiet too.” She stands on her toes and leans forward. I have the urge to grab her arm and pull her back to safety, and I let out a ragged exhale when she plants her feet back on the ground. “No one else has a balcony?”
“Only the other corner unit at the other end of the hall.” I move to one of the lounge chairs and kick up my feet.
Fatigue hits me with full force, and my bones and muscles melt into the fabric.
“I’ll come out here after a loss to reflect.
When I look at the night sky and the stars, I realize how small and insignificant my problems are. ”
“Your problems are never insignificant.” Amelia sits in the chair next to mine and yawns.
She must be exhausted from her long flight.
My call to her in the middle of the night probably didn’t help either.
“Two things are allowed to be true: being disappointed about a loss and knowing someone out there has it worse than you.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.” I reach over and tap her elbow. “I say this in the most complimentary way, but you look exhausted. You should take a nap.”
“I’m fine.” She yawns again, and I’m glad she’s proving my point. “I’m here for you, Grant. I’ll sleep when you do.”
“If you’re not going to sleep unless I do, I guess I’m going to head to bed. It might do me some good to shut off my brain and relax.”
“That’s a good plan.” Amelia stands and offers me her hand. I take it, lacing our fingers together and letting her pull me to my feet. Fuck. She feels perfect in my hold. “You’re running on adrenaline, and you’re going to come down from that high soon. Close your eyes, Grant. At least for an hour.”
I’d do anything she asked, so I open the doors and lead her back inside. Her hand stays in mine, and I’d do unspeakable things to keep it there forever.
“An hour,” I agree. “But no more. I have a stuff to do. I need to get food. I need to take a shower, and I should probably book a session with my therapist. I’m going—”
“There’s plenty of time for that.” Amelia tugs on my arm, pulling me toward my room. “Will you come get me if you need me?”
“Maybe,” I say, but the answer is more like no. She’s barely able to keep her eyes open, and I know the only way I’d disturb her is if the building were on fire. “You said you aren’t sure how long you’re staying yet, but my place is your place while you’re here, Lia. Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.” She lets go of my hand and moves her palm to my cheek. Her smile is soft, hesitant. “It might not seem like it now, but you’re going to be okay, Grant. I promise.”
With one last look at me, Amelia pulls away. She slips into the spare bedroom, and I stare at the door long after she shuts it wondering what I did to deserve someone like her in my life.
The first thing I notice when I jolt awake is that my shirt is drenched with sweat. The next is that I’m gasping for breath.
My body shakes. My heart races. My throat burns like I’ve been screaming for hours, and I shove my glasses on my face to try to get my bearings.
My bedroom door swings open, and I scream at the figure standing in the threshold. I tumble from the bed to the floor, the sheets tangling and trapping me like a cocoon. I thrash until my head pops free, and when it does, I let out a groan of relief.
“Lia,” I whisper, finding her crouched next to me. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard yelling. I thought you might be having a nightmare.” Her voice is soothing, and she helps to ease the sheets away from my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“You thought correctly about the nightmare.” I scoot back until I’m pressed against the bed.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“It was Riley. I was in the car with him. I tried to dive in front of him to stop the car from hitting us, but it didn’t work.”
“That’s a testament to your big heart.” She sits next to me and stretches out her legs. “Have there been any updates on his condition?”
“All I know is that his surgery was successful. I’m not sure if he’s conscious yet.”
“A successful surgery? That’s fantastic news. And, because of that fantastic news, we’re going to toast him. Here.” Amelia hands over a glass of water. “Drink this.”
“Are you forcing water on me in the name of my best friend so I’ll stay hydrated?” I ask.
“Yup.” She takes my hand and presses the cup into it. “Do you want to argue with me?”
“Never.” My lips twitch with a smile, and I down half the fluid. She’s cute when she’s pushy. “Way better than the handle of vodka I consumed recently. My liver thanks you.”
“Will you tell me about last night?” Amelia rests her head on my shoulder. I swear my heart jumps to my throat at the contact. “I want to hear about all the good things.”
“We were acting like idiots after the win.” I grin.
The best parts of the last twenty-four hours flit through my mind.
“That’s pretty typical for us. We had champagne in the locker room.
Ethan and I were smoking cigars. Riley and Hudson were taking photos like we were at prom.
It was hysterical. We were on top of the world. ”
“And the game. You had an assist.” The warm exhale of her laugh tickles my neck. “Talk about a cool stat to rack up in game seven.”
“That drop pass was fun. I can’t believe Hudson was the one to score the game winner.”
“Did Brody show any emotion after the win?”
“I’m pretty sure I saw him smile when it was his turn with the trophy. Then he yelled at Ethan, and all was right in the world.” I scrub a hand over my face. “What time is it?”
“Six. You slept longer than an hour.”
“Hell. I was more exhausted than I thought.”
“You’ve been on a roller coaster the last day and a half, and you needed the rest. Do you want me to make dinner?”
“I appreciate your help, Lia, but wallowing isn’t going to help me in the long run. I need to start moving forward, and that means becoming a productive member of society.” I touch the T-shirt that’s sticking to my chest. “Let me shower, then we’ll figure out dinner.”
“I’m proud of you.” Amelia stands and looks down at me. “Meet in the kitchen in thirty?”
“Twenty,” I say, wanting to take advantage of every second I get with her.
“Bossy.” She tosses me a smile. I’m so pathetic, I think that it could heal me. “Last one there has to pick what we eat.”
My smile matches hers when I say, “Deal.”
“I’m the epitome of a sad twenty-five-year-old man.” I shut the fridge with a groan. “How you were able to whip up pancakes without any real food is truly remarkable.” I open the fridge again and hum. “Hang on. I have a watermelon and a block of cheese. Small victories.”
“It could always brie worse.” Amelia slides onto a stool at the island, and I bark out a laugh at her pun. “You could sleep with your mattress on the floor and really fit the sad boy stereotype.”
“Oh my god.” I shake my head. “I don’t know what’s sadder—that joke, or how many floor mattresses you might have seen.”
“Definitely the floor mattresses.” She smiles and drops her chin in her hand. “How was your shower? You look much better.”
“Cleaning off the sweat, beer, and tears helped.” I lean against the counter and rest my hands behind me. “Any suggestions for dinner? It’s going to have to be takeout, unless you like your watermelon covered in melted cheese.”
“Not on my list of food preferences, if you can believe it.” She wrinkles her nose. “As far as suggestions go, order whatever you’re craving.”