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“Same,” I manage to breathe out.
Not just handsome but a freaking famous professional hockey player.
Who just brought my drunk dad home.
I’m overwhelmed again by deep embarrassment and duck inside my apartment. My heart hammers as I lean against the door and try to figure out if my life can get any more complicated.
CHAPTER 3
Boone
I’m restless asI pace around my downtown Pittsburgh condo. I’m all packed and ready for the early-morning flight to Detroit. It’s a there-and-back game and a win will clinch a first-place division spot for us. There’s one more home game and then the first round of the playoffs starts on Saturday.
I should spend the rest of the evening relaxing, which for me might include playing my guitar or drawing to let my mind decompress.
It needs to unwind because I can’t stop thinking about Aiden and Lilly. Or Steven, for that matter.
I have a connection now to all three of them.
Aiden’s a very sick little boy who needs all the love, support and friendship he can get and I’m grateful I’m able to spend time with him.
Steven is my father in many ways. The reasons for drinking may not be the same but they both hate themselves for their weakness. Like my dad, Steven isn’t in denial and that means there’s hope he can get sober.
And then there’s Lilly. She reminds me of my older siblings, Damien and Claire. They were there to protect and shield me from the nastiness of my father’s alcoholism. I saw plenty but I wonder how much I didn’t see because they were always whisking me away from it.
But Lilly is so much more to Aiden. She’s his primary caretaker as he navigates the treatment for his disease. This I learned from Steven when I got him home and it surprised me since I’ve only ever seen Steven at the hospital when I’ve visited. Granted, it’s only been a few times, but today’s the first time I’ve seen Lilly there.
When I got close to the address Lilly gave me, I was confused to find the deli and not an apartment. I had to shake Steven to rouse him enough to get him to tell me they live above the restaurant and direct me to park in the back.
I was able to get him out of the car and while he was quite wobbly, he was at least awake and chatty as I helped him up the stairs.
His words were slightly slurred but I understood him just fine. “I’m really sorry you had to do this, Boone. I’m so ashamed of myself.”
“Yeah, well… that’s definitely a legit emotion to have,” I replied as I put my arm around his waist to steady him up the staircase.
“My kids deserve better,” he bemoaned.
“Agreed.”
“Aiden needs a dad he can count on.”
“Also agreed.”
“My poor Lilly.” Steven lurched to a stop halfway up and turned to me. “She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Works her ass off to keep the deli’s doors open, spends her evenings with Aiden and then has to deal with me. I’m sure she hates me.”
“She loves you,” I replied. Even though I didn’t know Lilly at all, I was certain of this because I saw how worried she was about him at the hospital. Yes, she was horrified and embarrassed, but more than anything, there was concern born of deep love in her eyes.
I urged Steven the rest of the way up. I barely took notice of the family’s small apartment as I helped him to his bedroom and eased him into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. He stared at me silently as I squatted to remove his shoes, his head hanging low. I then swung his legs onto the mattress and situated the pillow more comfortably behind his head. I’d watched my mom do this for my dad on more than one occasion.
I also watched my mom have the tough conversations with him, but they made more of an impact when he was sober. I didn’t know whether I’d ever see Steven again, so I took the opportunity.
Standing over his bed, I made sure his bloodshot eyes were focused on me. “You have to stop drinking and I’m more than glad to help you. Lilly and Aiden need your support and you can’t give it while you’re drunk. You’re putting too much strain on them.”
“I know,” he said morosely. “But I can’t. I’ve tried.”
It would be so easy to say,Try harder, but that’s not how alcoholism works. “You need professional help. I can get you into a rehab facility but at the very least, you need to find an AA meeting to go to. Preferably today when you sober up. I’ve got a friend who could find you a good sponsor.”
Steven nodded but I wasn’t sure if he was agreeing with what I was saying. I know I can’t make him do anything, just as I know it’s not my place to get involved, but I still extended the offer. I got Steven’s phone number with the promise to send him some resources and soon he was fast asleep.
