I look down at Lianna, then it hits me. I haven’t seen her all month. I mean, I get it, I haven’t been myself, but still. Now it’s clear what Alyssa is doing. “You brought her here so I wouldn’t yell at you! Didn’t you?!”
“Felix, would you mind taking Lianna into the living room for a moment? I’ll be right there. Possibly covered in his blood.” We wait as Felix’s eyes soften on Lianna, urging her into the next room.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I hiss. I didn’t want nurses here for their shifts! Why the hell would I want someone here twenty-four seven? What the hell was she thinking? I don’t want anyone in my space, in my things, poking around my house.
“He’s here and he’s staying. He signed a contract and an NDA. Besides, he doesn’t even know who the hell you are.”
“What do you even know about this guy? What if he smothers me with a pillow in my sleep!?”
“One can only hope,” she grits.
“Aly—”
“No, I’ve had it. You need someone here. He needs a place to stay. He’s had experience taking care of someone. He’s been out of work for a while and really wants to get back into the workforce. We ran a background check, and his record is clean. He won’t bother you unless you need something, but you need someone here.”
“This is bullshit!”
“This is the way it’s going to be until you can start taking care of yourself without being a shithead. Or—” She looks away, sliding her bottom lip between her teeth. “Or I won’t bring Lianna here anymore. Not until you get it together.”
“That’s unfair.”
“No, what’s unfair is you not trying to get better. I know you haven’t been to PT in weeks. Look at your knee, Grey. That looks horrible. I know what you’re going through is terrible. I can’t even begin to understand. Help me understand. I’m here for you. You’ve always protected me, and now it’s my turn. Let me help you.”
I can’t look at her. This is insane. “I’m fine. I just need people to leave me alone. None of you understand this. I lost everything.”
“Everything? Really? Hockey may be your career, but you have a great life outside of it.” They don’t get it. None of them do. To them it’s just a sport, a game, but it’s my fucking life and it’s ending before I’m ready. “Don’t make me watch you suffer like I watched Mom.”
I lean back against the chair, arms folded. “That’s mean.”
“It’s still true.” Her small hand lands on my forearm. “Please, Greyson. Please. Just give him a shot, okay? He needs this too.”
My head lifts at that. “What do you mean?”
Alyssa doesn’t answer me. Instead, she turns back to the living room. “Bug, come say goodbye to your uncle.”
“But it’s Thursday!” she whines, stomping into the kitchen.
“I know, but Uncle Grey doesn’t feel good.”
“You’re no fun anymore.” She folds her arms over her tiny body, her lip jutting out.Damn. Right to the heart, kid. Alyssa looks at me apologetically, and if possible, I feel even worse.
“Say goodbye. We’ll try again in a couple of weeks.”
“No tea party?”
“Not this week.” She looks at me again. Every Thursday in the off season, Lianna would spend time with me into Friday to give Alyssa a little break, and yes, piping-hot tea parties and Disney princess movie nights were always on the roster. While it’s not off season, she knows I’m home. She doesn’t understand the situation.
“Felix, honey,” she calls, and he walks back into the kitchen, hands in his pockets, looking around nervously. What is this dudes deal? His dark brown hair flops in front of his face as he looks down, and now that I’m looking at him the sides are shorter. He’s still chewing his full bottom lip. “Grey will show you to your room. If you need anything, give me a call, and if he gives you a hard time, ignore him. He’s not your boss. I am.” She throws her head back at me with a grin.
This is all happening way too fast, but I know why she’s doing it this way. She’s giving me no room at all to say no. “Be nice.” She pats my face then leaves us in the kitchen in the most uncomfortable silence I’ve ever been in.
I don’t care for strangers. I’m not really a social guy. I have two friends—well, I guess three now, including Andre. That’s enough, and I hate trying to fill silences. I look at him. He’s fidgeting, his fingers rubbing together. He looks as uncomfortable as I feel.
He’s tall, maybe a few inches shorter than I am, but thin—really thin. Wiry. It’s like nervous energy clings to him, heightening my own anxiety over this moment. His tousled brown hair is a bit messy, and his gray dress shirt is buttoned to the top. His black dress pants look wrinkled. “I’m sorry.”
What? “Why are you apologizing?”
“I mean, I don’t know. You just seem mad.” When am I not? “I don’t have to stay here. Alyssa said I?—”
