“She released a new song?”
“Yes. Just today.”
“Wow. That’s… great.”
“It’s called ‘No Matter Where.’”
My vision blurs, taking all this in.
“It’s about you, Marek.”
I snap back to attention, frowning at Mabel. “What?”
“She loves you. Do you still love her?” I don’t answer right away, and she shakes her head. “Never mind. Of course you do. You’re mourning for her. You’re irritable, you’re losing weight.”
“But I’m playing fantastic hockey,” I joke.
“You are,” Benny agrees. “I kinda wish you were happier about it, though.”
I roll my eyes. “Happiness is overrated.”
Mabel’s mouth drops open. “What? You’re all about happiness! You fuck around with women and never get serious and your whole life has been fun and games. You literally make your living playing a game.”
I lower my chin at her passionate response.
“You know what your problem is?” she demands. “You never have to work at anything.”
My forehead constricts. “What are you talking about?”
Her jaw sets and she takes a deep breath. “Everything comes easy for you. And ever since your accident when you were eighteen, you’ve been coddled and spoiled.”
My jaw sags open. “What?”
“It’s true.” She takes another breath but holds my gaze. “Mom and Dad… and, well, me… we were all so freaked out about what happened to you, we never let you lift a finger after that.”
“That is not true.”
“It is true. Think about it. I know you had a hard time recovering so you maybe didn’t even realize how much they were doing for you. But even after you recovered and you were getting back into hockey, they were driving you around and talking to your coaches and your profs, and making sure you weren’t overdoing things, helping you move, making sure you got therapy, and… there’s more.” She waves a hand. “And even though you’d missed most of that season, you still got signed with the Storm that year and played in the AHL the next year. On top of that, women are always all over you, and you just use them.”
I make a strangled noise.
“You never want anything from them except fun. You charm them into your bed and then dump them.”
I swivel my gaze to Benny as if I want him to intervene with all this bullshit. He says nothing. “That isn’t exactly how I see it,” I grit out.
“Of course it isn’t. You charm everyone into doing what you want,” she continues. “You’re Mr. Fun. And it’s a good thing you’re talented at hockey because if you’d had to work harder at that you might not be where you are.”
“The fuck,” I mutter, rubbing my face.
“I know that accident was traumatic for you and it made you want to live life in the moment, and I guess relationships are scary because of that, because sure, it’s scary knowing someone you love could be taken away from you at any minute. But come on, Marek, you should be over that by now.”
Jesus. Nowshe’sgoing on about me being afraid of relationships.
“So now, you’ve found a woman you actuallywanta relationship with,” she continues, speaking in a rush. “And things aren’t that easy. Because that’s how it goes. And you just give up!”
“That’s not what happened.” I glare at her.
“Isn’t it?”
