“Like I said, we probably won’t see each other again.I’m busy with work and Arne and the family, so…”
“Yeah,” I repeated.I should tell her I still needed to get over the past, and that she was a big part of it, if I was going to be able to move forward and focus on hockey.The words stuck in my throat.
“Well, thanks for talking to me.I hope you have a good life.”
She walked out of the living room while I stood there, arms still crossed.My brain was skipping between the way she used to be, the way she was now, the fight, and the confusing mix of emotions that skipping back and forth was causing.
I followed her to the door, watched as she headed down the walkway.She looked back for a moment at the car door and I waved my cast, like an idiot.Then she got in and drove away.
Fitch came up behind me.“So that’s a ghost, is it?”
I didn’t want to talk about it, but Fitch had come here with me and put up with my moody ass.“Maybe the biggest one.”
I headed for the kitchen, getting a drink for something to do.
Fitch followed me.“How long did you two go out?”
“Three years.”
I took the water pitcher out of the fridge, carefully using my left hand.His forehead creased and his eyes narrowed.“This was before you went to New York, right?”
I nodded and reached for a glass.
“You were pretty young.”
I shrugged and took a long drink.
“I assume it wasn’t a good breakup.I don’t want to pry.But if you want to talk…”
I leaned back against the counter.I didn’t want to talk, but it was not-talking that got me in trouble.“It was just after the Denbrowski Ponzi thing.”
He tilted his head.
I repeated the details—scholarship, Mia’s family, lost our money, went to New York.
“No wonder you punched Alek.”
That surprised a laugh out of me.“It was satisfying.But the consequences?Not worth it.I let the team down.”
“It wasn’t our year.Ducky, you, Cooper—even if we’d had you, I don’t think we could have gotten over losing our captain.”
We’d never know.But I was damn sure we wouldn’t have been swept in the first round.
“Is the ghost laid to rest now?”Fitch asked.
“I wish.”It would be nice to think so, but the way my brain was racing and my hands sweating, this one was still haunting me.
Chapter8
You’re Not That Pretty
Mia
I made it around the corner before I pulled the car over and dropped my head on the steering wheel.My hands were shaking and I had to fight down the urge to cry.Seeing Justin brought back what happened eleven years ago like it was yesterday.Feelings I thought I’d worked through surfaced again.Anger.Pain.Regret.
I’d been a different person then.One with dreams, for my career and for my life with Justin.He’d been the first person I could relax with.He loved me, full stop.I didn’t have to do anything to earn it, he just gave it to me.
He’d left for New York immediately after we broke up, which meant he hadn’t been around for the fallout.I wasn’t a celebrity, but he was a top NHL draft pick and locally he was big news.So many people had been curious.So many had felt comfortable asking intrusive questions.What happened?Did he dump you?No wonder, you’re not that pretty.There were enough mean-spirited comments that I’d turned off social media.