Bryce
If a person could sleep for negative hours, I would say that’s how I feel. I’ve had many sleepless nights over the years, but last night felt like the longest night ever. I waited in the living room for Bodie to come home , hoping he’d just gone to another bar with Emmett and gotten drunk after he left us at The Garden. By five in the morning, I gave up the idea that he’d be walking through that door. I’ve drunk five cups of my decaf tea that usually helps me relax, but still, sleep evades me. I guess it’sfor the best, though. With the stress from last night and Bodie not being here to sleep next to, I can only imagine how bad the nightmares would’ve been.
I check my phone for the hundredth time and only find text messages from Calisse and Kasey.
Calisse
I heard what happened. I’m glad Drew got what’s coming to him. Just wish I could’ve been there to watch and maybe hit him once myself.
Kasey
Are you feeling okay? Need anything?
I honestly don’t know how to feel about last night or Bodie’s reaction. On one hand, I get it—I wouldn’t want someone kissing him, and I’d probably do whatever I had to do to stop it. On the other hand, the ice in Bodie’s glare when he finally stopped hitting Drew and then the way he dismissed me in the parking lot all felt like he was blaming me for everything that happened. It was so sudden and I was so stunned that I didn’t even have a chance to get Drew off me before Bodie showed up.
Bodie still hasn’t texted me—nothing but silence. It’s almost one, and I just can’t wait any longer.
Me
Hi
Are you coming home today?
I throw the phone to the other side of the couch so I don’t stare at my messages for the next hour. He probably won’t respond right away anyway. I lie down and turn the TV volume up to at least keep me awake.
I’m ten minutes into the second period of the game when I hear the lock click open. I bolt upright, and as soon as our eyes connect, I go to him.
Twenty seconds later he backs away, and his bruised and battered knuckles graze my cheek.
“Can we sit down?” He clears his throat mid-question, and I don’t like the sadness in his tone.
We walk to the couch side by side, sitting next to each other as close as we can get until he leans forward with his elbows on his knees.
“So, um, are you okay?”
“Areyouokay, Bodie? You scared the shit out of me last night.”
“Yeah, about that. I, uh, probably could’ve handled that better than I did.”
“You think?”
“Don’t make this harder than it is, please.”
“Bodie, you beat the hell out of a customer. How easy do you expect this to be?”
“I’m more concerned about him kissing you and what that meant, Bryce.”
“Do you seriously think it meant anything? Do you know me at all?”
“I thought I did, but there are obviously things you’ve kept from me for a long time. It’s fucking with my head.”
I can’t believe he’s going there now. “Bad timing to bring that up, Bodie.”
“I’m sorry. It’s not what I’m trying to do. I don’t know why I said that.”
He stands and starts to wear down a hole in the carpet as he paces from one end of the room to the other.
“I’m sorry I hit him. I shouldn’t have done that at your job, or at all. I could’ve ruined my career. I could’ve gotten you fired.”He stops in his tracks. “Wait, did I get you fired? Why aren’t you getting ready for work?”
