Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
“You know you don’t have to be here, right? You can get on a plane right now and fly home. Coach will understand.”
I shake my head. “What would I do there? Go grocery shopping? Watch TV? Nothing feels right.”
Dalton meets my gaze. “Why don’t you call Trin and talk to her about it?”
“Maybe I will. I do want to check on her.”
“Look, you’re my best friend. Let’s just get it out there—you and my sister aren’t just friends.”
My lack of an answer is my answer.
“I knew it from the time I walked into her hospital room and she kept asking where you were and wanting to see you.”
“It didn’t happen right away. I tried to stay away because she’s your sister, but...” I shake my head. “I don’t know, I guess I was weak.”
“I’m not pissed.”
My brows hit my hairline. “You’re not?”
He shakes his head. “Before any of this happened, I would’ve ripped your balls off for sleeping with my sister. But I spent the better part of three months thinking you were both dead. The searchers told us after a week that there was very little chance you guys survived and I didn’t want to give up hope, but...” He looks away. “I can’t even describe the way it feels to imagine your sister and best friend knowing they’re about to die in a plane crash. Wondering if it was quick or if you guys suffered. Going to memorial services for both of you. My mom...” He clears his throat. “You guys went through something horrific, and I’m...” He wipes the corners of his eyes, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m really fucking glad you had each other.”
“You know none of this was your fault, right?”
He gives me a weak smile. “Yeah, I’m in therapy over it. But I appreciate you saying it.”
“So here’s the crazy thing...a few parts of it were horrific. The crash, obviously. And I got lost when I went looking for help and was pretty sure I was done for. But most of it...wasn’t bad at all. It was actually...good.”
“Really?” Dalton’s brow furrows with surprise. “Yeah, once we found the cabin. We listened to records and danced, talked, played Boggle, cooked...we got sick of rice and beans, but we were glad to have food. We took baths. Laughed.”
“Baths?”
I nod. “Hot baths. Perk of finding a billionaire’s cabin.”
“Oh shit. Was this like a luxury hunting lodge?”
“No, not at all. It was simple. Small. We had to use an outhouse and there was only one lamp. But it was everything we needed.”
“Are you in love with her?”
I lock my eyes on his. “Yeah, I think I am.”
“How’s that gonna work? She’s in Chicago and you’re in Minneapolis. Or on the road.”
I shrug. “I never said anything about it working. But no one knows me the way she does. No one else could get how I’m feeling right now. It’s like part of me is missing.”
A few seconds of silence pass.
“Does she feel the same way?”
“I have no idea. We never talked about it.”
“You should talk to her.”
I stand up and pace to the other side of the empty weight room. “I don’t even know what I’d be asking her for. It doesn’t feel fair to ask her to move when she has a life and a career in Chicago.”
“You can’t move there, though.”
“Yeah.” I look away. “I want to talk to her, but it feels more like an in-person conversation.”
“Are you sure things will be the same between the two of you when you’re living a regular life instead of a permanent honeymoon in a cabin? When you’re stinking up the bathroom and gone for road trips more than half of the time?”
I scoff. “You know me. I’m not a relationship guy. I don’t have the answers to any of this. I’m just telling you--”
There’s a knock on the locker room door, and Dane opens it and looks between us. “Time to go, ladies.”
We both stand up. Even though I’m not dressed in my uniform, I’m sitting with the team in an assistant coaching capacity tonight. One of the other assistants gave up his spot for me. I even had to borrow his dress clothes, and the shirt’s too tight in the arms and too big in the waist.
But I get to be with my team. They were insistent that I be with them tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll start practicing again and undergoing the tests I need to be cleared to play.
Dalton claps a hand on my shoulder as we walk out of the room.
I want to call Trin, but I don’t know what to say. I need to figure things out myself before I can talk to her about any of it.
I force it from my mind as we leave the locker room to head for the ice. I’ve made this walk many times, but it feels different this time. Like I’m not a member of the team but just there to support them.