Cooper patted himself down, then turned around spotting it on the island. Walking over to grab it, he rolled his eyes at what was no doubt a stream of messages.
Drew piled another heaping spoonful of mac and cheese into both our bowls. “What are you up to after this?”
“Not much, Molly’s coming over tonight because she doesn’t have an early start tomorrow.”
“Xbox then?”
I shook my head. “Actually, I have a better idea. I need to walk, so if you come round the block with me we can brainstorm foundation ideas.”
He grinned. “Done.”
I’d just started dozing on the couch when my phone rang and I scrambled around for the remote to mute the Blackhawks game as I answered.
“Hey there, doctor of my dreams.”
“Hey and wow, that was cheesy. I’m sorry, I’m running late. I’ll be another hour.”
I checked my watch, it was almost nine p.m.
“Babe, it’s fine. I’m not going to sleep. The door will be open, so just let yourself in. It’s going to take me that long to get up the stairs and shower before getting into bed anyway.”
She sighed, deep and heavy.
“Are you okay? What’s happened?”
“Nothing, my surgery took longer than I thought it would. I’m sorry.”
“Mol, stop saying you’re sorry. As long as you get into bed with me at some point and we wake up together, I don’t care what time you get here.”
“Okay.”
I sat up, straightening out my good leg. “Finish what you need to do, I love love you. I’ll see you soon.”
I could almost hear her smile, which made me smile, it was that infectious.
“I love love you too.”
I flicked the volume back on when she hung up just as the Blackhawks scored, taking them to a four-nothing lead. Avery Jones, the new grinder traded from San Jose, had owned two of them, and he wasn’t bad at all. Not at all. He was still in his rookie year, but his precision and speed was something else. I rewound the live, watching again and again. The way he flicked his wrist had the puck flying through the air so fast and with so much power that even on slow-mo it was hard to see. This kid was one to watch, and San Jose were gonna be pissed they let him go.
Felix: You watching the Blackhawks game?
Drew: No, I’m with Luck, but I have it taped
Felix: Watch this new kid, Jones
Drew: Yeah, I heard rumors last week we were going to get him, but Coach wouldn’t give it up
Felix: Huh, didn’t know about that
I’d only been out of the game a few months, and even then, bar the past few weeks, I’d been at the club every day. This was the type of stuff I would have known about before anyone else. I switched off the tv, trying to figure out why it didn’t bother me more that I hadn’t already known and slowly headed upstairs, grabbing a bottle of water on the way.
I stayed under the shower for as long as I could, letting the powerful stream pummel the muscles across my shoulders, easing the ache that had returned with the crutches, before stepping out into the steamed-up bathroom. It was pitch black outside. I could just about make out the trees in the garden, whipping in the wind.
I wrapped a towel round my waist, then sat in the edge of the bathtub, drying my leg before putting the brace back on. It was definitely easier than it had been when I’d first broken my leg. Or maybe I was more adept. Either way, I was done quicker than usual and could manage to stand holding one crutch while I brushed my teeth. I threw my towel over the hot bars and hobbled to bed, picking up my book while I waited for Molly. She was already coming up to the hour late she said she be, and I wouldn’t put it past her being another hour.
I was just about to start a new chapter when she appeared in the doorway, her soft smile breaking through the dim bedroom light like the glow from a full moon. My breath caught, because I had no control over any reaction my body gave when she was close by. The novelty of seeing her like this, of knowing I’d be touching her, kissing her within seconds, was still holding a strong grip around my heart. Still the reason it beat. Beat to the drum of Molly Marks.
“Hey.”
