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With a heavy sigh, I force myself to get up and shoot a glare at my friend. “Look, I don’t need your lectures.”
His expression softens slightly as he takes in my rumpled clothes from yesterday. “I knew you were a selfish bastard, but deep down, there’s still a good guy inside you. A guy who actually cares about others.” He pauses before delivering the final blow. “Do you even know that she didn’t get the internship?”
The air releases from my lungs as if I’ve been sucker punched, and the heart that I didn’t think could hurt anymore squeezes tighter.
Fuck.
I don’t know how to navigate this. I don’t know the best approach.
“How the hell did you find this out?” My voice is sharp and biting, dripping with accusation, even though I have no right to be. It’s been days since I’ve talked to her, and as far as being a decent boyfriend, I’m failing miserably.
“It doesn’t matter how I know. What matters is what you are going to do about it.”
“Do about it? There’s nothing to do. I’m not in charge of the hospital board.” That’s not what he meant, and I know it. He wants me to take responsibility for my actions. But I need someone to lash out at, and he happens to be the one standing before me.
“Don’t be a dick.” Frustration laces his voice.
“You have no clue what I’m going through, so don’t come in here and judge.” My fists clench at my sides as I try to check my anger.
“I know it’s devastating, but you can’t just give up and quit functioning. You have a life, a career.”
My career? What a joke.
“You don’t get it. My dad stepping down means I won’t be able to play hockey. My career…? Yeah, that will be the CEO of Morton Textile, Inc. That’s my future. So, give me a goddamn break if I want to take some time to mourn the death of my aspirations.”
His face falls as his body slackens against the desk. And I understand the feeling. All the fight in me left after that confession.
“I don’t understand. A team drafted you. Your future plan is hockey.”
“Yeah, well, all those plans went by the wayside with Dad’s diagnosis.” I proceed to tell him the entire truth. When I finish, he looks as hopeless as I feel. This isn’t just an injury or setback—my whole life has been shattered in an instant.
“Jesus. This entire time you’ve known your hockey career would only last three years?”
“Yep.” I barely get the word out.
“But you fucking love hockey. You live for it. How can they not see that?”
“It doesn’t matter.” I spread my arms and wave them around my lavish house, filled with expensive possessions and trophies from past hockey tournaments. “Look at where I am. Look at my life. My privileged upbringing leaves me with no other choice, especially now.”
“I’m sorry, bro. I don’t even know what to say.”
“There’s nothing to say.” I push to my feet, feeling trapped and suffocated by my family’s success. “I need to get to the hospital.”
My friend nods and gives a reassuring pat on my shoulder. “If you need anything, just ask.” He moves to the door and turns back to face me. “I know everything seems bad, but don’t shut Amanda out. Call her.”
* * *
The steering wheelfelt cold under my grip, the hum of the engine a steady companion as I navigated the familiar route to the hospital. My thumb hovers over Amanda’s contact on my phone before pressing it with resignation. It rings twice, and then her voice, ever so clear and concerned, fills the silence in my car.
“Hey, Blake? Is everything okay?” Her words are cautious and a bit probing.
“Sorry I haven’t called sooner,” I start, the apology heavy on my tongue. My gaze flickers to the rearview mirror, catching my reflection—tired eyes that don’t match the forced cheer in my voice. “Things have been … rough.”
“Blake, you don’t have to apologize, “she says, but I can picture her biting her lip like she does when she tries to understand something beyond her reach.
“Em has been great, really stepping up with the business,” I continue, steering the conversation away from my lack of calls. “But it’s not fair to her, you know? Dad’s shoes are impossible to fill, and she shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
“Of course,” Amanda says, her voice softening. I picture her nodding, those green eyes filled with empathy. “You’re a good brother, Blake. And you’ll be a great leader for your family’s company.”
