Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Jayne
The drive from Las Vegas to L.A. is a little under four hours, and Billie and I talk the whole way. She tells me about her job learning the ropes at the restaurant, about Rome and how she thinks he’s going to propose soon, and how far her relationship with Bodi has come.
“I’m so proud of him,” she says. “He’s been in therapy for months and is sticking to it.”
“I’m glad he got the help he needed. I think it’s hard to admit that you need help.”
She glances at me. “Is it?”
“I never thought I needed more therapy, but I’m starting to think maybe I do. After so many years of emotional abuse and isolation and all the things we’ve already talked about.”
“Did you have any kind of grief counseling when your mom died?”
“A little, but once my dad met Lourdes, everything stopped. And honestly, I don’t know how receptive I would have been to it. You know how it is when you’re a teenager—you know everything.”
“Of course. But a good parent would have made that decision for you. The way Bodi did for me. He didn’t get help for himself, of course, but again—he was still a teenager too. He did the best he could. And I was always his priority.”
“I don’t think I’ve been anyone’s priority since my mom died,” I whisper.
“Bodi is making you a priority.”
“In some ways, yes. But hockey has to be his priority. And I understand that.”
“Well, yes, to a degree. But don’t let him—or anyone else—minimize your importance in their life. He needs to prioritize you as much as he can outside of hockey. That’s the only way things can work out.”
“I don’t want my father to send him down to the minors or whatever. I mean, yes, he’ll still make the same money, but how will that make him look to other teams? And what would it do to his self-esteem? He’s finding his groove in the NHL—I don’t want him to lose it because of me.”
“Why is your dad such a jerk?” she mutters.
“Gosh, it sounds like you know him,” I say, laughing.
She chuckles. “I don’t but I’ve heard enough about him from both you and Bodi to worry. That he went after Vik in particular is both unnecessary and ugly.”
A touch of guilt hits me as I realize I didn’t even ask him about the game when I called—or comfort him for the loss.
“Ugh. I’m already dropping the ball as a girlfriend,” I say. “I didn’t even ask about the game.”
“That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, especially after a frustrating loss, the last thing they want is to talk about it. He was probably grateful to have something to think about other than your dad’s tantrum.”
I hadn’t considered that but I still feel bad.
It’s always all about me. My issues, my concerns, my everything.
And Bodi never complains.
I have to be more cognizant of this.
I don’t want him to feel like I don’t care.
Because I do. More than I’ve ever cared about anyone. Life has just gotten complicated since we met.
“Don’t worry about Bodi,” she says after a moment. “He understands what you’re going through.”
“I still need to be present for him, though. It can’t be all about me all the time.”
“Well, yes and no. Bodi, like most men, is a simple guy with relatively simple needs. General affection, kindness, attention, and sex. Each of those things can be different for every guy, but at the end of the day, Bodi isn’t needy or insecure.
He’s just been waiting for the right woman to be the yin to his yang. ”
“You think that’s me?”
“It seems like it. I’ve never seen him like this about a girl—he’s gone for you, Jayne. It’s early days but I see it in his eyes when he talks about you. Hear it in his voice. You both just need a little time to figure out the details.”
I really hope she’s right.
Since the team has most of the next day off, we invite Rome and Billie to come to the hotel for dinner. The team is still on lockdown, so to speak, but Bodi having his sister in his room doesn’t seem like the worst transgression.
“I’m so glad you guys could come,” Bodi says. “I hate that we couldn’t go out somewhere but this is nice too.”
“We’re just glad to be able to spend time together,” Billie says. “With me working sixty hours a week and Rome traveling all the time, it’s hard to find time to see you.”
“I’m probably going to retire in a year or two,” Rome says. “But we won’t have this schedule forever.”
He’s a big guy, at least three inches taller than Bodi and a good thirty pounds heavier, all of it muscle.
I know he’s thirty-five because Bodi told me so, and he looks it, but he’s also handsome.
And there is no doubt in my mind he adores Billie.
Just the way he looks at her makes me want to smile.
“When the time comes, the cost of living is cheaper in Atlanta,” Bodi says solemnly. “And I bet that diner you’re thinking about opening would do great in Peachtree Heights.”
I catch the look that passes between Billie and Rome, but they just exchange what I can only describe as a secret message—something they understand as a couple without having to say anything out loud.
“We’re leaving all of our options open until Rome retires from hockey,” Billie says. “But tell us about your life there.”
“I just work at the library and study since my classes are online,” I reply dryly. “Not a lot to tell.”
“I can’t imagine things at your house are ever quiet with Lourdes living there,” Rome says dryly.
I grimace. “No, I wouldn’t say it’s quiet, but my life is generally quiet. At least, I try to keep it that way. Dating one of my dad’s players probably wasn’t my smartest move in that department, but we just couldn’t seem to stay away from each other.”
Billie smiles. “I think it’s romantic. Kind of like Rome and me.”
“Yeah, sneaking around is super romantic,” Bodi says, shaking his head.
“Well—” Billie starts to say something but Bodi cuts her off.
“You promised you wouldn’t rub it in if I got therapy and did everything you asked of me.”
The siblings exchange a compelling look and though Billie’s eyes are still twinkling, she nods. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Then they laugh and it’s kind of sweet seeing them together.
“Look, make sure you watch yourself around Lourdes,” Rome says. “She’s not a good…person.”
I don’t like her but I don’t think of her in terms of not being a good human being, even though I’m sure it’s true. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“She’s a liar, she’s sneaky, and she’s a thief. In addition to cheating on me, I found nine credit cards that she opened in my name, without me knowing about them, maxed them out and then let them default. It wasn’t until the divorce that I found them, and at that point, I just wanted out.”
“That’s shitty,” I grunt. “And I’ll bet she’s charging up everything on my dad’s credit too. They fight about money a lot.”
“We fought about money too. And babies.” He shakes his head.
“She hated them, never wanted to hold our friends’ babies or anything, had no patience with toddlers, but then would come home saying we should have one.
I asked her why, and she said because it’s expected.
But we’d have to hire a nanny to take care of it. ”
“Lourdes doesn’t do much of anything for Lindy beyond the basics. We have a nanny who picks her up from school and watches her when Lourdes needs to go somewhere, but I’ve picked up the slack since Lindy was born. I’m more her mom than Lourdes is.”
“That’s good for the kid,” Rome says gently. “Lourdes isn’t a good example for anyone. And she’ll step on anyone who gets in her way when she has a goal.”
“That’s kind of terrifying,” I whisper.
“All the more reason for you to come up with an exit plan,” Bodi says, reaching for my hand.
I nod. “Believe me, I’m working on it.”