“Then stop acting like a fucking baby!” She screams the room silent. Landon watches her, his fingers tapping on his knee. Hand trembling, she pinches the bridge of her nose. “I mean it. I’m giving you one more chance. If you fuck this up, I’m done. We’re not visiting anymore. I mean it. You’ll truly be alone.”
“You can’t keep Lianna from me. That’s not fair.”
She shakes her head, walking over to me. I lift my eyes to hers and hate myself more than ever as she cups my face, giving me a sad smile. “I know you’re hurting, but hurting the rest of us isn’t going to magically make you able to play hockey again. She doesn’t need to see this. One last chance. I have someone I’ve interviewed.” My head lifts in surprise.That fast? I only fired Colleen a few days ago. “This one isn’t a nurse, or a caregiver from any agency. He’s simply someone who’s going to help you with whatever you need. Cleaning, cooking, taking your ass to your doctors’ appointments, or so help me... Once the background check comes back, whoever they are is moving in with you.” I go to protest. “That’s it. They’re living here, in your guest room. You’re going to plaster a happy smile across your face, or you will not see Lianna or me anymore.” Her words break apart at the end.
“I’m so sorry to inconvenience you with my health issues! I’m going through shit, and you think?—”
“I’m trying to help you but you’re taking your anger out on me!” Her eyes harden to glass. “Don’t be like him.”
Icicles build along my spine. I can’t move or breathe.
“Fuck you!” I bite my tongue as fast as it comes out. My hands shake. Take a breath. Just breathe. I lower my voice. “Don’t you dare. This isn’t the same.”
She pulls back, eyes vacant. “Then prove it.”
Without another word she leaves, slamming my front door on her way out. It takes me a second to realize that Landon hasn’t moved. Almost forgot he was there. After a second, he stands, his blond hair disheveled from the fingers he kept combing through it while she yelled at me. “Maybe it’s because you’re injured and I know you can’t hurt me, but I want to say this.” He leans down to eye level with me while I sit on this couch. “I don’t give a shit about how you treat me.” He glares. “But if you ever speak to her like that again, not playing hockey is going to be the least of your fucking worries.” I think he’s done, but I look up and see he hasn’t moved. “She misses you, Nani misses you, the team misses you, and you know what, you old prick? I miss you.” I scoff. “Get your shit together and stop breaking your sister’s heart!”
Then he’s gone and finally, I’m alone.
My knee is throbbing.I wake up in pain, walk around in pain, and go to sleep in pain. My muscles are weak. My doctor would kick my ass if he knew how much moving I do throughout the day. I thought that I’d be almost healed three months after my surgery, but I’m just as stiff and in almost as much pain some days.
With one hand on the kitchen counter, I try and move around without my cane. I have a wheelchair too, but I only use that in emergencies. I don’t want to rely on it too much. I thought it was just an ACL tear. No problem. Surgery and then rehab. Back on the ice in no time. Except that’s not what happened at all.
My knee shattered. I had surgery and should’ve been on my way to a fast recovery, but it still looks ugly and swollen most days and it’s been two months. It would have been fine in a player about ten years younger than me, and without all the injuries I’ve suffered over the last twelve years of my career, but it’s like having life points in a video game, and I just so happen to be on my last heart.
No respawn.
Not this time.
I still haven’t told Atlas or Oli; they believe I’ll be back next season. I know I’ll have to tell them soon, but they’re busy with games and schedules anyway. Most of their texts and calls go unanswered.
It’s like the devil himself hears my thoughts as my doorbell goes off.
I grab my phone, rolling my eyes. Pressing the speaker button, I bite back my anger. “What?”
“Daddy Grey.” Atlas sticks his face so close to the camera I can see up his nose. “Is that how you speak to your favoriteperson?” With a roll of my eyes I unlock the door, letting my pain-in-the-ass best friend in.
It might seem weird to some that my best friend is a decade younger, but I’ve never really felt the age difference. There’s something about Atlas that has always just drawn me to him.
Similar shitty upbringing and sense of humor probably. He’s the first person I came out to outside of my family, the first person who stood in my corner with me. On and off the ice, Atlas is the closest person to me.
And I still haven’t told him that I’ll never play again.
I sit down at my kitchen table. My knee is screaming at me. Maybe I’ll lie down after he leaves. Atlas walks in, his electric-blue eyes sharp on me. They’re a shocking contrast to his jet-black hair. “What?”
He pouts, a ridiculous look for a man as big as he is. He’s a brick wall when he’s out on the ice, with the speed of a race-car driver. He slumps into my chair, arms folded.
Oh yeah, and he’s also a fucking brat.
“Whatever this is, I don’t need it. I can’t deal with it right now.” The pain in Alyssa’s voice is getting to me the longer my thoughts linger on it.
“I’ve called you like three times today and you haven’t even responded. Not even with a meme. I even sent you a dick pick, just to cheer you up.” He grins wide, though I know he’s joking. I hope.
“Well excuse me while I torch my sim card.”
“Come on, do this shit to Oli, in fact, I encourage it since he’s all happy and in love now. It’s kind of gross. But stop being mean to me!” That pout is fucking ridiculous. “I gave you space. I left the hospital when I was asked?—”
“The nurse used the words, ‘forcibly removed,’ but okay.”
