Granted the break-in was weeks ago…
Kaladin’s face instantly goes serious, his slightly smug look now gone. “Someone broke into your house?” he asks Gray, frowning deeply.
Her mouth works a bit, and I can almost see her trying to decide how much to tell him or how to spin it.
“Yes,” she says finally. “At first I thought it was just my mother coming over to drop something off, but…new evidence suggests there was someone else there.”
She glances at me, seeking reassurance, and I nod the barest amount.
“I did freak out a little last night,” she goes on, “and Ash graciously offered to let me stay with him so I didn’t have to be alone. Or stay with my parents,” she adds. “I can get you a copy of the police report if-”
Kaladin waves a hand. “That won’t be necessary. I believe you. Are you alright?”
Gray smiles sadly. “As alright as I can be knowing a stranger was wandering around my house.”
Kaladin turns to me. “She’s going to stay with you for a while?”
I see Gray’s head whip to me in my periphery, but I don’t look at her.
“For the near future,” I say. “Until we can be sure it’s safe for her to go home. I’m sorry. It’s why I played like shit tonight. I’ve just been worried about the doc’s safety.”
Kaladin nods seriously. “I can imagine. That’s very considerate of you to let her stay with you.”
There’s still a tone to his voice, but I just shrug. “I’ve got the space, plus a state-of-the-art security system.”
I practically feel Gray’s eyes boring holes in the side of my head, but I don’t look at her. Not only does this get us out of hot water withKaladin, but now she has an excuse – and his blessing – to stay with me.
Kaladin turns to Gray. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help,” he tells her, and she nods. “Do you think it has to do with you working with Ash?” he adds.
Shit. This has the potential to backfire.
“I personally think it’s her piece of shit ex,” I say before Gray can answer. I turn to look at her finally, and her eyes are wide in an expression that I’m pretty sure means, ‘You should stop talking now.’
I never told her my theory about Drew, but it’s something we should discuss later.
“Alright,” Kaladin says, leaning back in his chair. “The two of you should get home and get some rest. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if there’s anything I can do.”
Gray and I rise, eager to be out of there. At least the last few minutes of panicked improvisation have fixed the situation in my pants.
“Thank you, Mr. Kaladin,” Gray says. “I appreciate the offer.”
We turn to head out, and I have to stop myself from putting a hand on the small of her back.
I open the door for Gray as we leave and look back at Kaladin. He meets my eyes, and I can tell from his expression that, while he may believe us about the break-in at Gray’s, he still thinks there’s something more going on between me and her.
I give him a reassuring nod. His nod back is full of warning. At least that’s how I take it.
It’s time for me and Gray to get back to work.
Chapter 43
Gray
When Ash doesn’t come up to the locker room after practice two days later, I find him down on the ice still shooting pucks. I watch him for a few minutes as he uses his stick to guide the puck through a series of obstacles he’s set up before he shoots it at the net. He makes every shot.
Far from making him happy, every shot he nets only seems to anger him more. I expect him to start hitting his stick on the ice or engaging in some other show of temper, but he doesn’t. His swearing reaches me where I stand in the bench box, but he doesn’t act out.
Finally, he looks up and notices me. He skates over, and we look at each other. I’ve never felt more helpless in my life. I want so badly to find a way to fix this issue for him, but so far we haven’t found an intervention that works for more than a game or two.
