TYLER
Isaw red.
That’s what happened the moment I saw Lainey in the distance.
A beast inside of me came out with an automatic instinct to protect her. I would do it again too.
I’m not exactly sure who the guy was or why Lainey looks completely subdued while she slowly trudges toward her front door across from mine. I didn’t say anything when we arrived back in separate cars; instead, I trailed behind her to watch that she is okay.
“Thanks.” Her voice is barely audible.
“You should check your arm. You know, you can report him if you want.” I’m not trying to put pressure on her, I just want to state the obvious.
Her droopy eyes look up to me. “It’s not needed.” She begins to fumble with her key, but I stop her and take the key from her with the intention to help.
“Not going to tell me who he was, are you?”
She sighs loudly and steps out of the way. “My ex’s best friend.”
Ah.
“Do you want to come in? For a coffee? I got a new machine a while back.” I don’t think she should be left alone right now.
She nods.
Following me into my place, it’s when I notice her eyes soaking in her surroundings that I remember that she hasn’t been inside my apartment before.
It’s nothing crazy. I have high ceilings, large windows, and my kitchen has stainless steel appliances and an open-concept design. Admittedly, the stereotypical bachelor pad colors of navy blue and grays are the color scheme of my place.
Lainey settles herself on a stool by the kitchen island while I start up the machine.
“Any kind of coffee you want? You name it.”
She rolls a shoulder back. “Just black coffee is fine.”
Huh, I kind of took her for a latte kind of gal, but I guess right now she isn’t in the mood for much.
“Coming right up.”
She is silent while I sort out our coffees, and she shimmies off her coat. When I finally slide an Italian-sized cup in front of her, her eyes at last meet mine.
I say nothing and opt to wait patiently for her to say something.
I watch her take a sip, and she seems pleased with the taste. She begins with a sigh. “So yeah… that’s my fucked-up day.” Ah, she is bringing up what I witnessed.
“So, Enzo’s dad?” My jaw flexes to the side.
“Jaime isn’t part of Enzo’s life, and neither is any of his family. I guess I was bound to run into someone from that former life. The world is only so big.”
I circle the island to sit next to her on another stool. “Can I ask what’s the story?”
Her cheeks puff from her large sigh. “The classic got pregnant in college and left alone. Jaime and I were only dating a couple months when it happened. He wanted me to end the pregnancy and so did his rich parents. I said no. So, he signed away his rights because a baby would have just gotten in the way of his hockey career. He barely made it into the minors, so not like he became a trophy winner.”
A puzzle piece has just slotted into place.
I bite the corner of my lip, debating if I should prod the subject more. “Let me guess, his shitty behavior is why you hate hockey players?”
Lainey glances to the side then back to me. “Something like that.”
