Page 68 of Westward

“It’s where I live and work right now. But you’re standing in my other home.”

“Yeah. I guess I am.”

“You have the keys, the emergency number, all the places to call in case something needs to be fixed.”

“In other words, I have Finnan’s number.”

“You know, we’re going to have to fight about that,” I tried to tease, but I knew things were still a little awkward, a little fearful.

“Dobson is going to be behind bars for a whole hell of a long time.” Watching the Narcan bring him back to life had been a hell of a thing. And while life would have been simpler if he had stayed dead, I was glad he was paying for his crimes in jail.

“Only because they found enough drugs on him to be considered dealing. Not because he beat me, or hurt Ms. E. No, he kept getting out on bail or lesser charges for all that shit.”

“I’m really not a fan of the legal system right now as it is.”

“I know that Dobson is going to be behind bars, and he’s not going to come after us again. I’ll just never understand why he kept trying anyway.”

“Because he was an alcoholic and a drug addict, who decided to blame you and Lizzie for his own problems. It was easier to punish you than it was to deal with the fact that his wife was dead, and he couldn’t make a good decision to save his life. I’m not going to be sorry that he’s behind bars. I just wish it were longer.”

Or he was six feet under, but I wasn’t going to say that aloud.

“I’m going to need you to take care of Lizzie when I’m gone.”

“I can do that, but it’s going to suck with you not here.”

I swallowed hard, knowing that feeling was only going to get worse over time. “I know. I don’t want to think about it either, but we’re going to figure out this year.”

“Are you sure you can’t just form an Ashford Creek NHL team?”

I snorted. “I’m not quite sure that’s how things work. But you and Lizzie are going to come out to Denver whenever we play, even on a school night.”

“I was going to say I’m not in school yet, but then again, that’s Ms. E.”

“I’m sure you can call her Elizabeth by now. She’s even said so.”

“Maybe I should just call her Lizzie.”

“Will,” I teased.

“I know, I know. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“It’s going to be a hard year, but we’ll figure things out,” I repeated to reassure him.

“Because you live in Portland.”

I paused, hating that I was about to leave to do something that I loved. What an odd thing to think.

“Yes, I live in Portland. Not forever. Just until we figure shit out.”

“How long do you think you have left in the NHL?”

“Do you really think I’m going to tell you that before I tell Lizzie or the rest of the world?”

It had been a question all over the media, social media, and everyone else’s lips in town. I thought I knew the answer, but until I got on the ice and Lizzie and I had time together, I wasn’t going to have that answer.

But we would make it through this year. We had to. Because I loved skating. I loved being a fucking hockey player. But I didn’t always like being in the NHL.

“Make sure you do some weird shit for social media. You know how everyone freaks out about all the goalie superstitions.”