His eyes met hers and he smiled just a little bit. Then he nodded.
“I’d be happy to. Did you talk to your teacher?”
“I did. He said getting another opinion wasn’t a bad idea. Mom said you majored in history.”
“I did. The French Revolution is pretty complex,” he said as he flipped through the paper. “But I can help you. It’s one of my favorite subjects.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Are you kidding? I’d love to help.” He looked at the first page again. “When is the rewrite due?”
“Like ten days.”
“Can I keep this? I’ll read it and we can talk about it the day after tomorrow. Is that enough time for you?”
“That’s fine.” She knew he had a game tomorrow and she wouldn’t see him. “Thanks, David. I really appreciate it.” And she did. By helping her, she knew he didn’t hate her for what happened with Jack.
“No problem, kiddo.” He leaned forward, placing the paper on the ottoman. “Something else on your mind?”
Laura had a lot on her mind, but more than likely David knew she was curious about one thing. “Is he okay?”
David blew out a breath. “It’s hard to say. He’s not talking much, but he’s not himself.”
“Oh.” Laura ran her hand under her nose as she sniffled. “I miss him.”
She felt the tears well up and spill onto her cheeks. She didn’t even try to stop them. Everything inside her hurt and it didn’t matter why it all happened. All Laura knew was that she would never, ever get over him. She was surprised when David reached around her shoulder and pulled her close. Laura gave into the sadness and rested her head on David’s chest. Her tears came a little harder. Her breathing was a little shorter.
“You must think I’m a terrible person.”
“No.” David reached behind him and came back with a box of tissues from the end table. Laura grabbed a handful, mopped her face, and blew her nose while she listened to him. “I think you made a mistake. That happens to everyone. God knows, I’ve made some big ones.”
“But I knew what I was doing. I did it anyway.”
“You screwed up, but no one’s going to die from this.”
Laura nodded and let out a shaky breath. David handed her another tissue. There were points over the last few days that she felt like dying, but she knew he was right. Nothing was fatal. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
“Are the guys on the team torturing him?”
David’s face tightened. She knew how the guys on the team treated each other. Jack had told her all about the verbal shots, and she could only imagine what they were saying about his high school girlfriend who collapsed at a party.
“He hasn’t had an easy time of it,” David said. “But I got them to back off a little.”
Laura wiped at her eyes again, fully appreciative of what David had done. “That’s good.”
He dropped his head and examined his hands as he rubbed them together. He was thinking, and Laura had a feeling it was her turn to make him feel better. “My mom is really happy.”
He turned his face toward hers. “That’s good. My goal is to keep her happy. And you, too.” He paused. “You’re okay with us being together?”
“At first it was strange, but I don’t mind. After what she went through with my father, she deserves to be happy.”
“She told you?”
“Everything.” Laura bit her lip. “He’s seriously pissed off right now. I’m worried about that.”
“I figured. That’s why I’ve been here so much.”
“I mean, I know a lot has changed, but Mom’s dealt with enough shit.”
“That’s the truth.” He looked her right in the eyes and his meaning was clear. “At least now she doesn’t have to deal with him alone.”
“Nope,” Laura said. “She has us.”
*
Jack was on the couch in his apartment playing hockey on X-Box and thinking about Laura. He should be out celebrating their win, but he didn’t feel like subjecting himself to the women who would be at the bar, and he was sick of the shit he was getting from the guys. Padre tried to get them to back off, so did Ty, but he was taking abuse at every turn. He fucking hated it and he hated how he couldn’t get Laura out of his head.
He’d left her house that morning before she woke up. He couldn’t go through another scene like the one they’d had in the kitchen. Holding her, listening to her cry, was hell. But he couldn’t let her go. They fell asleep together on the couch in her den. Well, she fell asleep. He stayed awake and held her, remembering how she felt nestled against him, how she smelled, how she sounded when she slept. He lay with her for a couple of hours, intent on imprinting everything about her into his brain. When Jack said this was killing him, he wasn’t lying. He loved Laura, he wanted her, and he couldn’t have her.
He had a clear memory of hearing the footsteps on the stairs and within seconds, Kate was glaring at him. She turned, walked out, and before he knew it, Padre was driving him home. The rest was a blur. He played the game that night on autopilot, came home, and slept through most of the next day. The last few days had been like that. No effort, he just did what he had to do.
He heard noise screaming from the TV and realized he’d been playing the video game the same way. He didn’t care. Suddenly, he heard a pounding at the door and Ty’s voice came from the other side.
“Open the door, Nelly. I can’t find my key.”
Jack walked to the entry way and threw the bolt, but barely stepped back far enough for Ty, who shoved the door and entered cursing. He stormed through the apartment, throwing his coat and knocking a pile of mail off the table. “I’ve been fucking traded.”
Jack wasn’t expecting that. “Traded? Where?”
“Long Island. I have to be there tomorrow. Which means I have to pack my shit tonight.”
“When did you find out?” Jesus, first Laura, now his best friend. This week was turning out to be a major kick in the ass.
“I’m standing at the bar at The Brick, having a drink with a goddess, and my cell rings. It’s my agent with the good news.”
“Holy shit.” Jack couldn’t help but worry that he might be next. “When did they finish the deal?”
“I dunno, while I was having my best point game of the season? I’ve fucking killed myself this season.”
“At least you’re staying in the division.”
“Oh, yeah,” Ty said. “That’s flattering. They don’t even care if I’m facing you guys on the ice.”
He dropped onto the couch next to Jack and leaned back into the cushions. “I did three years in the AHL after college. I think I’ve finally made it, and they traded me for fucking draft picks!”
“This sucks, man.” Jack grabbed the beer on the table next to him and took a drink.
“Tell me about it.” Ty grew quiet because there really wasn’t anything left to say, then looked over at him. “You doin’ okay?”
It was the first time his friend had asked him anything about what had happened with Laura. He hadn’t given him a hard time, but he hadn’t asked him anything either.
Jack shrugged. “It sucks. I’m still trying to get my head around it.”
“I can’t believe she’s seventeen.”
“I know.”
There were a lot of things hanging in the air. This wasn’t something he was going to talk about, but it was good to know someone gave a shit.
“I gotta pack.” Tyler stood up. “If I don’t see you before I leave…” Ty shook Jack’s hand and then pulled him into a quick hug. “Take it easy, man.”
“You too,” Jack said.
His friend walked a few steps and turned around. “Oh, and Nelly? Keep your head up.”
Jack nodded and grinned. That was all the warning he was going to get from his friend. When they met up on the ice, if he wasn’t careful, Tyler would check him into unconsciousness.
Ty closed himself in his bedroom to pack and make phone calls to his family. Jack grabbed the remote and started flipping channels on the TV. He stopped and reached into his pocket. He stared at his phone and without really thinking about it, pressed the speed dial. Laura picked up on the third ring.