Chapter 27
NICO
In a sea of black dresses and somber faces, I don’t see Jo anywhere. I scan the room again, craning my neck to see over the crowd. The small church is packed, and after taking an early morning flight, I’m exhausted, but it’s worth it to be here with Jo.
If only I could find her.
I have exactly eighteen hours before I need to be back at the arena in Philly for our game against Seattle, and I came with literally only the clothes on my back, my wallet, and a bouquet of pink and white roses.
I made my rideshare stop, hoping I could find sunflowers, but at this time of the year, the florist looked at me as if I had two heads.
Keeping those flowers close to me so I don’t accidentally ruin them, I make my way through the crowd of mourners. A few look familiar to me from Granny’s party. I spot Danny with his wife. I assume the baby she’s holding is theirs. Jo’s dad stands close to them, appearing bored as ever.
But still, I can’t find Jo.
With my attention focused to my left, searching for a dark head of hair and Berry Queen lips, I bump into someone. I turn to apologize but stop myself when I realize it’s Waylon.
He appears to do the same, so we end up glowering at each other.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, and I huff.
“I’m here for Jo. Why’d you think?”
He shakes his head, lip curled up in a sneer. “To put on some kind of show.”
“A show?”
“We’re at her great-grandmother’s funeral. The least you could do is not act like it’s a fucking joke.”
I force a flat laugh. “Gonna curse in a church? Nice.” When he doesn’t back down, I suck air between my teeth, keeping my temper in check.
I got into a brawl last night on the ice, but I wouldn’t mind another one, except for the fact that Jo wouldn’t like it.
“I don’t know what your deal is, but you need to back up. You’re crushing the flowers I brought.”
He glances down then takes one step back, barely giving me room. “Why are you really here?”
I roll my eyes up to the ceiling, swiftly losing patience, and I take a deep breath before I meet his eyes again.
“Look, I know you and Jo had some complicated thing when you were kids, but that’s over now.
Whatever claim you think you have on her is done.
You made your choice, and Jo is with me now.
So you can tuck your tail and go back to the other Atkins sister.
Stop trying to piss a circle around Jo because I’m not a dog.
I don’t respond to this pretend alpha BS, and she’s not a possession you can exchange at will.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go find my fiancée. ”
He doesn’t move. In fact, he checks his shoulder into mine when I shift to walk around him, and I barely hold myself back from knocking his teeth out.
“I don’t trust you,” he mutters, and I shoot him a pleasant smile.
“Same goes.”
With one last silent threat and a jut of my chin, I continue cutting through the throng to the opposite end of the room, finally spying the woman I’m here for.
With her back to me, she’s gazing at the open casket, and I make my way to her, slipping my hand into hers.
She startles at first then relaxes a moment later, but she leans away when I bend to kiss her cheek and end up pressing my lips to her temple instead.
“You all right?” I ask, and she shrugs, rubbing her shoulder along her jaw. Wrapped up in a thick black cardigan and her long hair covering her face, she’s hiding once more.
I offer her the flowers. “I’m sorry, Jo. I wish I could do more. I know you loved her very much.”
She accepts the flowers, chin trembling, then walks up to the casket.
I go with her, taking in Granny. I only met her that one time, but I liked her.
She was a rare and strong woman, and the only person in this entire family to see Jo for who she truly is—rare and strong like her.
I bow my head as Jo places the flowers on the casket then touches Granny’s hands before returning to my side.
I drape my arm around Jo’s shoulders as we make room for others to pay their respects.
Reverend Parsons calls for attention to begin the service a few minutes later, and we take our seats behind Mamaw, Tonya, Ron, and a few other family members in the first pew, while Lizzie, Waylon, Danny, and his family are in the second. Jo and I are alone in the third.
And seeing it from Jo’s point of view, it really is like we are singled out. Both in the spotlight and under a shadow. All through the prayers and sermon, Jo stays still as a stone. When I lift my hand to wipe away her tears, she again shies away.
As if I’m a stranger.
Or worse, someone she doesn’t like.
After the service finishes and Granny’s casket is carried out, I take the keys to Jo’s rental car to drive in the procession to the burial site.
Jo remains sadly stoic, never leaning into my embraces, no matter how many I offer.
Back at Tonya’s house, where all the mourners gather to eat, Jo tucks away into a corner, leaving me to field the conversations when anyone approaches.
I don’t mind, but it does make me worry a bit.
When I can’t take it any longer, I tug her up. “Let’s go outside. Get some fresh air.”
She doesn’t argue as I bundle her in her coat and lace our fingers together, but we’re stopped on our way to the backyard by Lizzie. She is as ugly on the inside as she is pretty on the outside, with her hair all curled and hand on her hip in what she probably assumes is an inviting pose.
She is nothing compared to Josephine.
“There you are.” Lizzie’s gaze slowly journeys over the length of me. Like a snake eyeing its prey.
I remain cordial, hoping to avoid any drama. “Nice to see you again, Lizzie.”
“I was hoping you’d make it.”
Behind me, Jo makes an irritated sound, and I frown at Lizzie. “You were hoping your sister’s fiancé would make it to your great-grandmother’s funeral?”
“Yeah, you know…” She steps up close, too close. A bold move right in front of her sister, but then again, I suppose that’s her point. “Any chance I could get to know my future brother-in-law better,” she says with a pout to her lips that I guess she assumes would make me weak for her.
It does not.
Disgusts me, actually.
I tow Jo to my side. “Gotta tell you, Liz, I’m not super interested in getting to know you.
Not when you’re hitting on me right in front of your sister.
I’m not sure if it’s because you think you have a real shot with me or if you’re doing it to hurt her, but either way, it’s a pass from me.
If at any point in the future you’d like to apologize to Jo, maybe then we could spend some quality time together—all three of us—but until then, I’m not interested in anything you’re offering. ”
From Lizzie’s flabbergasted reaction, I’m assuming no one has dared put her in her place, and I’m glad to hold the title for it. Though at the moment, it’s not much of a consolation prize because Jo is still so upset.
Outside, she pulls away from me, hugging her arms around herself, eyes fixed on the frozen grass. I button my coat and flip up the collar, though the cold air feels nice after being in the warm house with all the people. And Lizzie.
“I know you’re upset, but it seems like there’s something else going on. Did something happen with your family?”
She rubs the back of her hand over her nose. “Something is always happening with my family.”
I close the physical distance between us, but I can’t do anything about the emotional distance.
Not when she won’t even look at me. “Talk to me, mama. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.
” I chance a touch, curving my hands around her cheeks, her skin cool, nose pink from the cold, and I nudge her face up to mine with my thumbs under her chin. “Please. Let me in.”
Once again, she shrugs away from me, and I plow my fingers through my hair, frustrated.
“I’ve got to leave early tomorrow morning, but I don’t want to if you’re still refusing to talk to me.
To look at me. What the hell is going on?
We promised we’d always be honest with each other, but you won’t even talk to me. ”
She pivots away from me, bending her head, shoulders shaking, and I mutter a curse. “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. I’m sorry.” I wrap her up, hugging her tight, whispering an apology over and over into her hair.
But when she finally speaks, I can’t understand her muffled response. “What?” I guide her head away from my shoulder. “What’d you say?”
She blinks, her wet eyelashes clumping, and I stroke the backs of my fingers across her red and damp cheeks. After licking her puffy yet dry lips, she asks, “Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Sorry.”
“Am I sorry? For what? Telling your sister off? No. Telling Waylon to back the fuck up? Also no. Being here with you? Absolutely not.”
She blows out a breath, and when she attempts to back away from me, I refuse to let go.
I wrap my hands around her shoulders, keeping her in place.
“But I’m sorry you’re crying. I’m sorry you had to say goodbye to Granny.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be here earlier, and I’m sorry I can’t stay longer with you. ”
She clenches her jaw, trying and failing not to cry. “But you’re not sorry about being out with another woman?”
I wrench back. “What?”
“Lizzie showed me pictures of you out in Edmonton with a woman, and it looked like…” She squeezes her eyes shut, shakes her head, barely audible when she says, “Like you were happy. Together.”
I’m momentarily stunned into silence, confused by what she’s telling me. I was with a woman? And we looked happy together? “Jo, I don’t know what you’re ta— Oh, was it Naomi?”
Jo’s brows pinch together. “Naomi?”
“Yeah. Sheffy’s wife. They’re originally from Edmonton, so we all went out for dinner the other night. Me, Sheffy, his parents, Naomi, and her parents.”