There’s still a lot of work left to do, but we’re in it now.
Willow texted me this morning and asked if I needed any help. It wasn’t a complete lie when I told her no, but it also wasn’t the full truth. that Harrison and I can use any help we can get.
At this point, we’re not planning on opening the rink up until next fall. That gives us a whole year to get things exactly the way we want them. Neither of us realized how big of a project this truly is, although, I can say I don’t regret it.
Not now at least.
I would be lying if I said I don’t want her to come help me paint. The fact that I want to be around her as much as I do is what is making me take a step back from the situation.
She’s consuming every spare thought I have and that can’t happen. Willow deserves so much more than I can ever give her. All I am is a washed up hockey player. One who couldn’t even stay healthy enough to keep playing professionally.
And now here I am, trying to make up for my failures, which will only make me fail her in the end.
It’s the only thing I seem to be good at anymore.
This was supposed to just be physical between the two of us. Nothing more than two friends fucking around. I’ve never been immune to her. I’ve always had a soft spot for Willow Alder. I’ve always been protective of her and as fucked up as this all is, I can’t stand the thought of her being with someone else.
Her brothers would kill me if they knew the situation we’re both in. What kind of person does that make me? What kind of a guy fucks the girl he cares about, but can never give her anymore than that?
I was the one who told her it could never be anything but physical, yet I’m the one who’s in their head about it now. My feelings were the one thing I didn’t want to get involved in this because I knew once I crossed that point, there would be no going back.
She’s been inching her way under my ribcage, settling in that traitorous organ inside my chest. I don’t know how I didn’t see it until now.
And I don’t think it’s too late to stop it.
A soft knock on the doorframe pulls me from my thoughts. I look over my shoulder at Noah as he steps into the room. He stops, his eyes scanning the room as I turn on my heel to face him.
“It looks good in here.”
I snort, blowing a breath out as I lift an eyebrow at him. “The entire place is in shambles.”
Noah lifts his shoulder. “I can see the vision though. It’s going to look great when it’s finished.” He pauses, looking around. “Where’s Harrison?”
A frown tugs down on my lips. “Looking at houses.”
“In Sugar Hill?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head at him. “Well, I don’t actually know. Today, he’s looking in Portland.” I let out a sigh as I play over the texts Harrison sent me a few days ago. “Erin told him she wants a divorce.”
“Oh, shit,” Noah says, shaking his head. “He didn’t say anything to me about it, other than that things weren’t good with them. Is he okay?”
“I think so,” I lift my shoulders, turning my palms up. “You know how he is. He’s not really one to talk about his feelings. I think he saw it coming, though.”
Noah slowly nods his head. “Well, let me know if there’s anything I can do. I won’t tell him I already know.”
Noah and Harrison are friends, although over the years they’ve grown apart. Both of their lives went in two different directions, but hopefully with Harrison being in town more, the two of them will see each other more.
I stare at Noah for a moment, watching as he drops his gaze down to his feet and shoves his hands into his front pockets. Noah is a fixer. He likes to be helpful and to solve other’s problems. I can only imagine what’s running through his head right now as his mind runs wild with speculations of Harrison’s situation.
“I’ll make sure he knows,” I assure him, nodding my head as he looks back up at me. “What are you doing here?”
He purses his lips, his eyes leveling on mine. “I wanted to come talk to you.”
My stomach immediately drops. “About what?”
“My sister.”
Fuck.
