Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ELLIOT
Elliot: How did it go with Cal this morning?
Arthur: Aren’t you with her right now?
Elliot: Yes
Arthur: So ask her
Elliot: I can’t ask her about someone she’s treating. It’s unethical
Arthur: Let me get this straight. You can’t be my physio any longer because we’re having sex.
Elliot: Correction. We’re having great sex.
Arthur: The great was implied.
Elliot: How?
Arthur: Because it’s with me.
Elliot: Of course. How foolish of me.
Arthur: Forgiven
Arthur: As I was saying, you can’t be my physio anymore because we’re having great sex
Elliot: Correct
Arthur: And you can’t ask Cal about my sessions because they’re confidential
Elliot: Bingo
Arthur: But you can have great sex with me and interrogate me about my confidential sessions?
Elliot: You’re cooking with fire now, Coach
Arthur: Don’t turn me on when we’re at work.
Elliot: Don’t be so easy to turn on.
Elliot: Stop stalling and tell me how your session went
Arthur: Fine
Elliot: Fine you’ll tell me? Or the session went fine?
Arthur: Fine, I will tell you that the session was fine.
Elliot: Just fine?
Arthur: Yes
Elliot: …
Arthur: It was fine. She’s getting me to do the same things you did. She’s a lot meaner than you are but her hands are warmer. But she’s not afraid of me, so I can work with her.
Elliot: Are you afraid of her?
Arthur: Of course. But if you tell her that, I will deny it.
Elliot: Who scares you more? Her or me?
Arthur: You, Boss.
Elliot: Liar.
Arthur: I’m serious. You terrify me. And I like it. Never stop.
“Do you have one of those AI boyfriends or something?”
I’d been so invested in my texting with Arthur that I forgot I wasn’t alone until Cal’s question burst my bubble. “I…no…I mean…what?”
She doesn’t look away from the cabinet she’s restocking.
“I heard on the radio that a man married his AI girlfriend. Had a ceremony and everything. I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the concept, but the way you’re looking at your phone like you want it to get you pregnant, I thought I’d ask. ”
My throat goes dry and when I attempt a laugh, only a cough comes out.
“I am not dating anyone, sentient or artificial.” It’s not an outright lie.
I don’t know what to call what Arthur and I are doing.
Dating feels like courting, which has an ultimate end game of marriage.
We’re just two people who enjoy spending time together.
And some of that time, we’re naked. It’s not everyone’s idea of a fairy tale, but it’s the happiest I’ve felt in years. Maybe ever?
It’s hard not telling people, but both Arthur and I have agreed it’s for the best. From a professional standpoint, it’s better for both of us if people don’t know we’re involved.
Neither of us want to be the subject of water cooler gossip.
He has a team to lead. I am a woman in a male-dominated workforce which can be a challenge on its own without people questioning if you really deserve to be here or if you’re just sleeping with a higher up.
And then there’s Sam. I don’t like keeping things from him, but I also don’t want to confuse him, or worse, get his hopes up.
He’s already been through enough since his father left.
I know that he said he’d be fine with me dating.
And I know he likes Arthur. He hasn’t said it in so many words, but I can tell just by the way he is around him.
There’s respect, but also an ease that he doesn’t have with many people.
The last thing I want is for him to get attached to Arthur only to lose him if we stop being… whatever we are.
“I’m relieved to hear it,” Cal continues, closing the cabinet door and dusting off her hands. “I try not to judge people’s life choices, but a bot wife is a bit much.”
“Excuse me?”
Cal’s wife, Nadine, fills the treatment room doorway.
She’s tall and fair, all long lines and quiet confidence, pale hair pulled back from a sharp, elegant face.
One hand holds a reusable lunch bag, the other rests on her wide hips as she takes in the scene.
“Did I just hear you say your hot wife is a bit much?”
Cal laughs. I’ve only heard that sound a handful of times in the months I’ve known her, and every single one of them has been Nadine related. Dark-haired and compact, beside her wife Cal looks even shorter as Nadine crosses the room to her.
“That’s not what I said at all,” Cal replies.
Nadine stops in front of her, arching a brow. Cal tries to scowl, but fails spectacularly.
“And here I drove across town to bring you lunch,” Nadine says, lifting the bag. “Which you forgot. Again.”
“I didn’t forget it,” Cal says, rising onto her toes to kiss her. Nadine has to bend slightly to meet her, especially in the heels she’s wearing. “I left it on purpose.”
“For what reason?”
“I knew my hot wife would bring it in on her way to court and I’d get to see her pretty face.”
Nadine fights a smile. She looks around to meet my eye. “Can you believe her?”
I just smile back at them. It’s hard not to smile when you’re around two people who clearly love one another as much as they do.
I didn’t grow up in a home full of love.
My parents were not affectionate with one another and my marriage was not a great love story by any means.
It’s nice to be reminded now and again that love doesn’t exist only in the movies and over-played songs on the radio.
“I’m not feeling like tuna on rye today.” Cal takes the lunch bag from Nadine and tosses it on a nearby chair. “Why don’t you let me take you out?”
Nadine checks the gold watch that glitters on her left wrist. “I have time for something quick. Elliot, why don’t you join us?”
I’m already shaking my head about to say no, but Cal speaks first. “No arguments. It’s on me. Grab your coat.”
In my four months here I have not successfully said no to Cal, and today is no different.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell them, heading for the back room.
“You should be the prosecutor, love,” Nadine chides as I’m walking away. “You’re so good at badgering.”
“I can’t help that I’m a natural-born leader.”
“Natural-born bully, more like it.”
“Nadine.”
“Calpurnia.”
I freeze and stare at Cal with what I can only imagine is a look of pure shock. “Calpurnia?”
Cal fixes me with a hard glare. “The only people permitted to call me that are my wife and my mother, Elliot. If you tell anyone, you will be the one who needs rehabilitation. Am I clear?”
“Crystal clear.” I back away from her quickly before I burst into a fit of giggles. Calpurnia!
The door closes behind me and I shake with laughter as I grab my coat. I’m slipping it on when my phone starts to ring from the pocket of my joggers. I fish it out, hoping it’s the mechanic with an update on Millie.
As soon as I see the caller, my smile and good mood vanish. I haven’t received any texts or calls from Shawn in almost two weeks. The naive optimist in me hoped that he’d gotten bored of being ignored and given up.
I hit the red button declining the call. But as I’m putting my phone in my shoulder bag, it starts to ring again. I reject the call again but once again it starts to ring almost immediately.
Shit.
He’s not going to stop calling. My options are to either turn off my phone, block his number or answer the call. I never turn off my phone. What if Sam’s school needs to get a hold of me and they can’t reach me? And I still don’t have the courage to block his number. I’m afraid of escalation.
I take a shaky breath and hit accept. “Shawn—”
“Addison O’Neal.”
I recognize my ex-husband’s voice but have no idea what he’s saying.
“What?”
“Addison O’Neal. She’s one of the best lawyers in the province. I just wanted you to know so you’ll recognize the name when she serves you with the summons.”
The room gets very small, very fast. It’s like the walls are shrinking in around me making it difficult for me to breathe.
Summons?
“That’s right.” Shit. I must have said it out loud. “You’ll be hearing from her by the end of the week.”
“Why?”
“You know why. Did you think I was bluffing? Honestly, you know me better than that, Hummingbird.”
“Don’t. Call. Me. That.” Each word more bitter than the last.
“I’ll call you whatever the fuck I want. How about co-parent?”
“Shawn, please. You don’t really want to be in his life. Are you really going to drag us through hell for some perks from a hockey team?”
“A hockey team you never gave a shit about. Neither of you. I’m the one who’s been a diehard fan since the team formed.
You and the kid didn’t even know any of the players’ names, and now what?
You get to hang out with them? See games whenever you want?
It’s bullshit.” His voice has that mean edge to it.
It used to happen a lot when he was drinking.
“It’s my job.”
The line is quiet, but I can hear his breathing. It gets slower, steadier. Like he’s calming himself down from his outburst.
“Exactly. And all I’m asking is for my share in the perks that come with your job.” His tone is now cheerful. He’s flipped the switch from asshole to prince charming just like he always does. “You can do that, can’t you Hummingbird? I know you can.”
“I…” My voice shakes. “What do you want?”
I can hear the smile on his face when he answers, “That’s my girl.”
It’s a damn good thing I skipped breakfast today because if I hadn’t, I’d throw it up.
“Lets start with tickets to some playoff home games.”
The team plays Florida on Friday night. The tickets are probably sold out but I’ll find a way. I’ll have to. “Fine.”
“And I want a new Michaels jersey. The classic green and yellow style.”
“Okay. And if I get you these things, you’ll leave Sam and me alone?”
“Christ, Elliot. That’s what I’ve been saying for months now, isn’t it?”
“Okay.” I nod my head, defeated. The jersey will be no problem but I’m not sure about the tickets. “Okay. I’ll text when I have them.”
“I know you will. Was that so hard, beautiful?”
I swallow back bile as I end the call. I attempt slow inhales through my nose and exhales from my mouth. There is enough air in the room, I’m sure, but my lungs are struggling to process any of it. I keep trying to calm myself down as I figure out what I need to do next.
I’ll text Ben and ask him for a jersey. I don’t have to tell him why I need it. Knowing Ben, he’ll be happy I’m asking for his and not one of his teammates.
But the tickets. How am I going to score playoff tickets? The prices online are no doubt through the roof.
Arthur would be able to get them.
Absolutely not. I’m not going to lie to my…whatever Arthur is to me to get tickets for my ex-husband. But how else am I supposed to get my hands on them?
Think, Elliot. Think.
“Hey.”
My head spins so fast I get dizzy. I really need to eat something.
Cal’s face is painted with concern from where she hovers in the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
Everything. “Nothing!”
“Elliot,” her tone is so soft, so unlike her. “You’re crying.”
I am? My hand comes to my face to find fresh tears. Shit. “Oh. Geez. I guess I am. I’ve got a bit of a migraine. I’m going to take a rain check for lunch, if that’s okay? I think I’ll just lie down and see if it passes before my next session.”
“Elliot. We could hear you on the phone. What’s going on?”
I close my eyes and rub my temples. Like the simple movement can somehow turn back time. “It’s nothing.”
“It didn’t sound like nothing.” Cal comes closer and for a moment I worry she might hug me. I couldn’t handle that in my present state. “Look, you don’t need to tell me what’s going on. But if there’s anything I can do, I want to help.”
I nod, wiping fresh tears away with the back of my hand. “Thank you. I’m okay, really.”
She looks far from convinced. “I’m serious, Elliot. What do you need?”
I sniff. “I don’t suppose you could get tickets for the game on Friday?”
She blinks but shows no other reaction. “Done.”
“Are…you serious?”
“Yeah. You’ll have them by the end of the day.”
Some of the dread leaves me, replaced by relief and gratitude. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Cal.”
“Not a problem.” She glances over her shoulder. “I’m going to take my girl for lunch. I’ll bring you back something, yeah?”
“Oh, you don’t have to…” I trail off at the disapproving look she levels me with. “That would be great. Thank you.”
She nods and steps back. “If you ever need to talk about anything, you know where my station is.”
I nod and watch her go. When she’s gone, I sink to the floor, utterly exhausted. Cal may have come to my rescue this time, but how many more times will I need saving?