Chapter 36
36
Colver
So I leave practice to meet up with Abrielle at her gallery and she’s not there.
The next logical place is next door at Jess’s coffeeshop.
I open the door to the coffeeshop and I see Simon standing there, not talking with Abrielle, but saying things to her.
Jess looks ready to pounce on the guy.
Abrielle has her hands on her stomach. She’s being protective of our unborn baby.
Not that Simon poses that kind of threat. Even still, words suck. Words can really do damage to a person. I think I’d rather take a punch to the mouth than hear someone say something to me if they’re angry.
I walk closer and closer to Simon.
Debating what to do.
I mean, I know what I want to do. I want to grab him by the back of his neck and walk him to the front window and put him through it.
History repeating itself for Abrielle and me, huh?
I’m well aware that being in my position now, I can’t do that to Simon.
It also doesn’t mean I’m going to keep my hands to myself either.
Not when I hear the word slut come out of his mouth way too easily.
I grab the back of his neck.
He tenses right up and throws his arms up and squeals.
I’m talking a legit squealing noise.
Jess starts to laugh.
Abrielle covers her mouth.
“We’re going to have a talk, Simon,” I growl at him.
“Oh, shit,” Simon says.
I simply toss him back, putting distance between him and my Abrielle.
He stumbles, grabs a chair, and puts it in my path.
“Whoa, listen, man,” he says. “I came in here for coffee. That’s not a lie. Abrielle will tell you that.”
“You came in here for coffee and somehow ended up calling her a slut?”
“I’m… frustrated. That’s all. Annoyed with how things happened. I’ll leave. I am leaving. I’m going right now.”
He turns and bolts for the door.
The coffeeshop has two doors.
Only one opens.
It’s poetic magic watching Simon go face first into the locked door.
The sound of the thud. His head snapping back.
Him falling back right toward me, almost falling into my arms.
I grab the back of his neck again and walk him to the door that opens and toss him outside.
He stumbles a little, then turns right around.
My right fist is cocked tight and I’m ready to spin his head around with one punch.
“You stay the fuck away from her,” I growl. “From this place. From her gallery. From everything to do with her.”
“You’re all protective now, huh? She’s pregnant. How about that. From one guy to another, right?”
“See, all I hear is you calling her slut again,” I say.
I finally punch Simon.
I have no choice in the matter.
I hit him in the gut.
Not too hard, but enough to make him lose his breath for a few seconds.
He coughs first. Then groans.
“You’re not paying attention!” Simon yells. “I have a say in this!”
I grab the front of his shirt and I’m ready to hit him in the nose. He’s already bleeding a little from smacking his face off the glass door.
“What if the baby is mine?” Simon cries out.
I freeze. “What?”
“What the fuck? Are you dumb? She was with me! You do know that, right? We were together! And then she met you. Fine. I don’t care. She can do whatever she wants. But how do you know that baby is yours, huh? How do you know?”
I let go of Simon’s shirt and he backs up.
“Stay away from her,” I growl. “If I ever see you again I will hurt you.”
“You say that now, man. But if that baby is mine…”
I step toward Simon and he starts to run off.
He runs like his legs are made of cheap rubber.
It’s the damn goofiest run I’ve ever seen. Like an emu charging across a field.
I should be laughing at the guy…
I turn my head and see Abrielle inside the coffeeshop.
Now I feel like someone punched me in the stomach.
Is it possible that the baby in Abrielle’s belly isn’t mine?
We’re flying out in the morning to go down to Atlanta for two games.
I don’t have to pack up and leave right now.
I tell myself this over and over as I stare down at the bag on the bed.
Abrielle walks into the bedroom. “I didn’t realize you were… leaving…”
“Hockey life, kitten,” I say, gritting my teeth.
“I wish I could travel with you.”
“Team plane,” I say. “Nobody else allowed.”
I’m being a stoic asshole to her right now. Sucking back on anger in a way that I’ve never done in my life. I’m not used to it and I’m definitely not good at it.
In a perfect world Abrielle will step back and leave me be so I can pack up and leave.
Only she senses something it way off with me.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry about today, Colver,” she says. “I had no idea that-”
“You’ve already said that to me. Five times now. Simon just showed up. Randomly.”
“And maybe it wasn’t random,” she says. “Maybe he wanted to check up on me. Stir up problems. You were there for me. Again.”
“That’s what I do. Right? That’s all that matters.”
“There’s a lot more that matters, Colver.”
“Doesn’t seem that way, huh?”
“Wait… what? Colver, what’s going on? You’re… pissed off…”
“I have to go, Abrielle. I have to meet up with the guys. Get on a plane tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Then why are you leaving now?”
I look at Abrielle.
I feel like someone is sticking me in the heart with a knife.
I hate this fucking feeling. This is why I never get fucking close to anyone. Ever.
Abrielle blinks fast. She looks ready to cry.
Those are the pregnancy hormones.
I can’t deal with it right now.
She’s got to get out of my way.
Maybe I’m not supposed to leave in a moment like this.
But it seems better to leave than speak what’s going through my head.