AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I'm looking forward to it." Eli got down two plates from the cupboard and placed them on the counter. "What are you drinking?"
"Iced tea, please."
He poured her a glass and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "Should we eat at the kitchen table?"
"Sure. No need to get all fancy."
Holly fixed them each a plate while Eli set the rest of the table.
"Voilà." She placed their meals down on the table. "There's plenty more for seconds if you like, too."
Eli took a seat across from her. "I haven't had anyone make me a home-cooked meal in years," he told her, pouring gravy onto the chicken. "Not since my mom got sick."
"I'm sure nothing can beat your mother's food." Holly took a sip of her iced tea. "But this is a good comfort meal, at least."
"I just want you to know that I appreciate it. Coming home to this..." Eli shrugged. "It's just nice." He took a big bite of the chicken and potatoes, then gave her a nod. "It's fucking great, Wilkes. Seriously."
She looked pleased. "Good. I'm glad."
They ate in companionable silence, and it was the first time he'd felt at peace since last night. When they finished eating, he started to clean up, but Holly shook her head.
"Leave it. I don't mind cleaning up."
"You shouldn't clean up if you cooked," he argued.
"Sit and relax. That's an order, Mr. Donnelley." She gave him a playful wink. "Wow, your cheek is really turning colors." She frowned as she stared at his bruise. "Are you okay?"
"Better than the other guy, so I'll consider it a win."
"That was a brutal fight."
"Yeah, because it was a brutal situation," he shot back. "Someone needed to hand him his ass."
"I know." Holly raised her eyebrows. "I'm not arguing that fact." She picked up their plates and carried them over to the garbage disposal. "Have you heard anything about Fally? I haven't gotten a text back from Nic yet, though I'm sure she's got a lot on her plate right now."
"It's... not good," he said, swallowing hard. "We don't know much, but his knee is torn up. He's gone for the rest of the playoffs. But we aren't sure if this is a career-ending injury."
Holly turned around, a stunned look on her pretty face. "Career ending? Oh, no."
"Yeah," he muttered. "It's totally fucked up."
She sat back down at the table. "Fally's a tough guy. If anyone can get past something like this, it's him."
"Maybe." He balled his napkin up in his hand. "Maybe not. We'll find out soon enough."
"Well, don't give up on him yet," she said. "I know it's hard, but—"
"No, you don't know," he snapped. "You don't know anything. This is a huge fucking deal, okay? He might never get back out on the ice again. Ever. He might be done for good. And to go out now, when we're—" He shook his head, then jumped up from his seat when the look on her face turned from bewildered to hurt.
Fuck. If he didn't leave, he was going to take all his frustration out on her, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. "I'm taking off. I need to get out of here for a while."
"The hell you are," she declared, standing up from the table. The hurt expression had been replaced by one of fury.
"You don't get to talk to me like that, Eli Donnelley. Fally is my friend, too. And Nic is a very good friend of mine. I may not know what you're going through when it comes to your team, but I'm worried about him. We're all worried. You don't own this fear alone, understand?"
Eli ran his hands down over his face. "Fuck. Holly, I was totally out of line to snap at you. I'm sorry. It won't happen again. You didn't deserve that. You made me this nice meal, and I just..." He sighed. "I really am sorry."
She studied him for a long moment, then gave a quick nod of her head. "Apology accepted. You're just so used to dealing with stuff alone, Eli, that you shut other people out. Stop walling yourself off, okay? You have to let someone in. You can't carry the burden of things all by yourself."
