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A pinched expression mars Willow’s features as she undoubtedly questions if she can live with that response. But when she looks my way, she must see the determination in my eyes because she nods.
“Okay,” she says. “Let’s go inside.”
When I turn to Tate, he holds my stare, keeping me in a standoff to see if I’ll break, but when I don’t, he sighs. “Okay. Fine.”
Relief fills me at the same moment that Tate’s body drops to the steering wheel, everything he’s been holding finally releasing now that we’re here.
He finds a proper parking space after that, and we slowly make our way inside, Willow in my arms, Tate beside me. And while I haven’t decided exactly what to say to the police, a feeling of warmth takes over me because for the first time, it feels like it’s over.
Chapter Forty-Five
Jesse
Ashiverrunsthroughme as I watch Willow sleep. And even though I know she’s getting better, it breaks my heart to see her back here. To know that I almost lost her. Again.
I never thought I’d come back to this place. I actually promised myself I’d avoid it at all costs. It holds nothing but darkness and pain. I lost Willow here, and I had to pretend to mourn a man I loathed for the sake of my future.
I shudder at the thought. It doesn’t help that everything looks the same, from the yellowing drywall to the light blue tiles. Only there's a big difference between now and back then.
Now I’ve got something to look forward to. I’ve got Willow.
The nurses all tell me to sleep whenever they come in to check on her, but I can’t. Between the uncomfortable chair and her restless mewls, I’m wide awake, needing to know she’s okay more than anything else.
Seth calls me first thing in the morning, and I rush to silence it, sneaking out of the room to let Willow sleep.
“How’s she doing?” he asks before he’s even greeted me. “And how are you holding up?”
I texted him last night to tell him Willow was in the hospital and that I’d give him more details when I could. It’s hard to explain everything that went down. It’s almost unbelievable. But I guess I’ll have to start telling people soon enough, especially considering I’m going to miss a few games.
“Physically she’s okay. They just have her here for observation. But mentally, we’ll have to wait and see.”
“What happened?”
I lean back against the wall and sigh, running a hand through my messy hair. “I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you, but it’s a story that started twelve years ago.”
“Fuck.”
“Yep.”
“I’ve told management you won’t be back this week. Told them you’d miss the next couple of games, so you’ve got around five days to get home. Does that work?”
“Yeah, I’ll make it happen. Somehow.” As the words leave my mouth, they physically pain me, making me feel nauseous. I don’t want to leave Willow. Ever. Especially now. She’s my priority. But I know she’s not going to let me give up. Not when she knows how hard I’ve been fighting, how badly I want a new contract. She even admitted that the reason she’s here is because she tried to deal with the threats alone, terrified that if I knew, it would affect my game.
“Fuck, this is hard,” I say honestly because it’s Seth. “I’m being pulled in two different directions.”
“I know, and I don’t envy you.”
“I better go. I want to be with her when she wakes.”
“Yeah, of course. Keep me posted.”
“Thanks.”
I move to hang up but he continues. “And remember, you’ve only got a few years left of hockey. Willow’s yours forever.”
He disconnects the call after that, leaving me utterly confused. Does he mean that I should focus on hockey because Willow will still be there, or should I be focused on Willow because hockey’s short term?
I want to believe it’s the latter. After all, it wasn’t long ago that he told me he once left Amber, and since they’re back together and living their happily ever after, I’d say he probably regrets his decision to leave. So, will I?
