“I had to start therapy to deal with the stressyouput me under.”
“Again, not my fault if your job causes you stress,” Nicholas replies cooly. “Maybe you should look into a new career if you can’t handle it.”
“Youcause my stress,” Amanda seethes. “I want to help you because I remember what a sweet kid you were when we were younger, but you make it really fucking hard some days, Nicholas.”
“No one is making you stick around,” Nicholas shrugs, ignoring the sting of discomfort her words invoke. He hasn’t been a kid in a long time, and there’s nothing good to remember about that time. Amanda might want to reminisce about their youth, but Nicholas has no illusions about his childhood.However idyllic and sweet she might’ve found it, the reality was far different behind closed doors.
It’s been years since he was that powerless kid desperate for attention and affection, and he sure as shit won’t ever be that stupid again.
“You know your father isn’t right,” Amanda starts. “You’re not wasting your life because you’re playing hockey. You’re wasting your life treating people and money the same—as something disposable.”
Nicholas picks a piece of lint off his pants. “What’s your point?”
“That you don’t care about anyone but yourself, Nicholas. That’s no way to live.”
“Why should I care about other people?” Nicholas scoffs.
“I literally don’t know how to explain to you that you should care about people.”
“Then why are we talking about this?” Nicholas presses.
“Because while you care about no one, Andrew cares about everyone. That man is one of the most decent people I’ve ever met. He doesn’t know how to stop caring. His hyper-empathy exhausts him, but he won’t tell anyone, and he sure as shit isn’t going to tell you. So if by some miracle Denise gets him to come back inside, and then by another miracle he agrees to this stupid as shit plan, then you’re going to need to care. You’re going to need to be a decent fucking human for once and care a little bit about the man helping you.”
“Why?”
“Because!”
“That’s not a good enough reason,” Nicholas challenges, unsure what could be so fucking special about that khaki wearing man. No one has ever liked him enough to care what anyone else thought of him, or how anyone else treated him.
“Andrew King is a better man than you ever will be. You could live ten lives and not deserve him. You don’t even fucking deserve his help if I’m being honest.”
“Then why would he help me? Better yet, why are you helping me if you think I’m so horrible and unworthy?”
“Because that’s what we do when we care about people,” Amanda sighs. “For some reason, I care about you, Nicholas. And because I care about you, Andrew—who loves my Denise—might agree to help us solely because you matter to someone he loves. That’s what being human is about—caring about other people.”
“Caring about people is stupid.”
“You’re stupid,” Amanda snaps. “Ugh, I’m going in the other room. I need five minutes away from you before I say something I’ll regret.”
Her departure leaves Nicholas alone at the table with nothing but his thoughts and an overly pink eyesore. Pushing away from the table, he makes his way into the open living room, throwing himself on the couch to wait. Though the sofa is too small for his frame and a lot harder than his own sofa, it’s still better than the uncomfortable dining chairs. Closing his eyes, he shuts out everything else.
Why should he care about stupid Andrew fucking King?
* * *
Nicholas yawns,frowning when he realizes he fell asleep on Amanda and Denise’s couch. Between their rigorous playing schedule and his rare night off last night, he feels like he could sleep for a week.
He’s just about to roll off the couch when the conversation in the dining room catches his attention.
“You don’t have to do this, you know.”
That’s definitely Denise.
“I know.” Another voice, male. Andrew then. “You and Amanda need help though, and I want to help you.”
“Despite what I said about calling in the favor, you know I wouldn’t push you. Not like that. If you’re not comfortable?—”
“It’ll be fine,” Andrew interrupts. “I just needed a few minutes alone outside to calm down and think things through. Now that I’m better regulated, I can do this.”
