* * *
When Hana’s husband, Paxton, video-called me in late February, I picked up, worried something had happened to her. She and I hadn’t been talking as much now that she was in Houston and a newlywed. I missed her.
I had wanted to go to her wedding last week, which they’d performed over a long, game-free weekend, but couldn’t handle the thought of running into Lennon, so I’d deferred, claiming I needed to work. And because I’d felt bad about lying to Hana, I’d picked up extra shifts, putting the money toward my loans. I was getting closer to paying them off.
“Hey, there, Paxton. How’s Hana?” I asked in greeting. I’d only met him via FaceTime, but I talked to Hana regularly. She’d asked about Lennon once, and it didn’t seem she’d made the connection between my Lennon and the D-man on Paxton’s team. I hadn’t connected the dots for her—not yet. I knew I should, but then I’d have to see pity in her gaze and hear her sadness when she told me Lennon had moved on.
I wasn’t ready to accept that, so I refused to put myself in that position.
Paxton smiled at me, his boyish charm fully on display. “Han’s great,” he gushed. “She’s working on some cool things at NASA. If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll get to test something out.”
I laughed.
“Look, the guys and I, we were talking about some stuff… So, yeah, I called because I have a huge favor,” Paxton said. He munched his lower lip, uncertainty bleeding into his expression. “And I really, really need you not to say no—though you can. I mean, it’s totally up to you, but I just really want you to say yes?—”
“Oh, give me the phone, hijo. You’re probably freaking her out.”
The phone shifted, then rebalanced with an older woman on the screen. She looked like Lennon—the same lovely brown eyes. My breath caught, and my pulse pounded so hard in my neck, I felt my skin shift.
“Hello, querida,” the woman said. She smiled. “I’m Lola Cruz. Lennon’s mother. I made Paxton call you because I needed to speak with you.” She turned to glare at Paxton. “Privately.”
“I’m going,” Paxton said. Lola waited until a door shut before she returned her gaze to the screen. “You are even more lovely than Lennon said. Or the Facebook photos.”
What was happening? Had I entered some alternate plane of existence? “Erm, well…thanks?”
Lola smiled again. She glanced over at the closed door, then leaned closer to the screen. “I don’t have a lot of time,” she said.
“I’m sorry?—”
“No, no, I mean, I have cancer. Lennon doesn’t know yet. I will tell him, though, and soon.”
Oh. My. God. Lennon’s mother had cancer. My mouth fell open, and I snapped it shut.
“I will start the chemotherapy soon, but I don’t know how I will handle it. I don’t do well with pills. And this…this is toxin.” Lola shook her head. She refocused on me. “I need you.”
“I don’t understand…”
“I need you to come here, to help me through this time.”
“I have a job…” I said, my voice small. Lola Cruz was asking me to help her. Saying no went against everything I understood about myself, my life. If I had a chance to help my mother again, I would.
But how could I say yes to Lennon’s mom? That would get me nowhere in my bid to move on with my life.
“I will pay you your regular salary plus more. You can keep your benefits from your current job for one year, yes? I’ll pay that, too.”
“How…”
“I have the money. Lennon, silly boy, gives me an allowance.” Lola rolled her eyes. “I don’t need it, but he insists. Always looking out for those he loves.” Her smile was indulgent. “And…I have some other financial avenues.”
I stiffened at Lennon’s name. Why would she ask me to do this? Insanity. Lennon didn’t want me there.
“You must come,” Lola said. “Lennon is lost without you. He doesn’t know it yet, but he made a terrible mistake. So terrible, and it has to do with you.”
I licked my lips. “What are you talking about?”
“He will tell you that, in time. But he needs you, Vivian. I’m his center right now, and that must change. You must become his focus. He’s going to lose me and eventually, hockey. He’ll be adrift.”
I shook my head. “I can’t—this is crazy…”
