She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Are we doing that again? I’m not jealous of the attention Erik gets, and I’m not trying to sabotage his game.”
“You don’t think bringing Cross Lecroix into our lives sabotages his game?”
“He’s inmylife, notours. And no, it’s not sabotaging Erik.” She held up her hand before he could speak again. “And if you think I would do or say anything to hurt Erik, you don’t know me at all. If you keep barking up that tree, I will walk out of here, and it will be the last time you ever see me. Andyoucan explain why to Erik.”
“You’ve always been difficult.”
“Thanks for noticing.” When he just stared at her, silently fuming, she smiled. “So, is that it? I have plans with Cross tonight.”
She used the name just to annoy her dad, and it worked. His skin flushed, and she watched him struggle to hold back the angry words she knew he wanted to fling at her. But she wasn’t joking about walking out, and he knew it. And he also knew that Erik wouldn’t stand for it.
“Dad. Come on,” she said in a much softer tone because suddenly she was really tired of all this and wanted to go home. “I love Erik. And if I thought for a second Will’s interest in me came from him wanting to piss Erik off, I’d dump his ass in a heartbeat. None of us wanted that story to come out, and all three of us are doing our best tonotbe a story again. Go enjoy your weekend in St. Louis and don’t worry about this.”
“I guess I’ll have to trust your judgment on this one,” he muttered, also backing down. “Are you going to watch the events? At least the game?”
“I never do, Dad.” She glanced at her watch and then put the cap back on her water so she could take it with her. “I really do have to go, though. Have fun.”
Her building was far enough away from her dad’s house so she could use a little speed and a lot of loud music to take the edge off the post-Lamont mood, but she was still a little edgy when she got home. And she only had about forty minutes left before Will showed up to take her out to dinner.
After pinning up her hair and taking one of the fastest showers ever, she put on a pair of black leggings and a blue tunic top the same color as her eyes. How Will was dressed would determine which accessories she paired with it. If he showed up in jeans, she’d throw on comfy boots and a coat. If he dressed up, some dress boots, jewelry and a scarf would fancy her up enough to match.
Will was a few minutes early, and she was glad she hadn’t put on a little black dress, because he was not only in jeans but wearing a Baltimore Harriers hoodie. She didn’t say anything about it, but it struck her as odd because he preferred to blend in and not draw attention to who he was, especially in a city that hated him.
He paused to kiss her on his way through the door, and she noticed how tired he looked. Not just physically tired, either, but a weariness that showed in his eyes. It could be his shoulder, she thought as he hung up his coat and set his boots on the mat.
“You smell delicious,” he said, pulling out a kitchen chair to sit in.
“I took a quick shower to wash the workday off. How did your day go? You look beat tonight.”
He gave a little shrug that did nothing to dispel the impression he was exhausted. “One of those days, I guess. Sometimes it’s incredibly rewarding but really hard at the same time.”
“Did you get in a fight today? Maybe punch a guy in the face and knock him out?”
He gave her a long look she couldn’t quite decipher. “Something like that. You know how hockey is. Just a bunch of guys slamming each other into the boards.”
It washurtshe heard in his voice. Not pain from his shoulder or offense at her dismissal of his sport. There was more to it than that.
She sat sideways on his lap and draped her arm around his shoulders. “Tell me what actually happened today.”
“I thought you already made up your mind about that.”
“I was being a bitch because I had to go see my dad today, which always makes me feel shitty about hockey all over again, and I’m sorry.” She ran her fingers up into his hair and scratched his scalp with her fingernails. “Tell me what happened today. Is it your shoulder?”
“No.” He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. “I went to the children’s hospital to visit a little girl.”
She stopped scratching, dropping her hand to rub the back of his neck. “What is she there for?”
“Leukemia. Her family moved here two years ago from Baltimore, and she’s still a diehard Harriers fan. When the hospital found out I was in town, they contacted the Skimmers’ office.”
“She must have been beside herself when you walked in.”
He picked up his cell phone and pulled up a photo of him with his arm around a little girl sitting on a hospital bed. She was pale and a Harriers knit cap covered her head, but her smile practically lit up the picture. And that explained why he was wearing a Harriers hoodie around Boston.
“She looks like she’s having one of the happiest moments of her life.” She tilted her head so she could see his face. “Thanks to you.”
“I don’t even do anything.” His jaw clenched and then relaxed as she stroked his neck. “I love visiting the kids. Their lives are so hard right now, and if I can cheer them up, I’m in. It’s awesome to see them smile. But it’s also…tough.”
“It must be nice for their parents to see them light up like that, too.”
