Page 36 of Last Boy

“You love her though,” he says, and when I turn around, he’s watching the TV screen. “Even though you hurt her feelings. And made her sad when you left.” He looks at me, shaking his head. “You knucklehead.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” I look out the window again and watch as the bus stops in front of her and opens its door.

She climbs up the stairs, and I can hardly see her through the darkened windows as she walks through the aisle and finds a seat.

I don’t know how to be there for her without being overbearing. And she isn’t the easiest person to help through things.

“Van was sad. He’s better now.” There’s no mistaking the pain in Jake’s voice as he talks about his brother.

And I’m sure telling him was the hardest thing Poppy has had to do. She loves Jake more than she loves anyone or anything. She’d never want to hurt him.

Walking toward him, I take a seat on the couch. “I think so too.” I look down. “Wish I could have been there for him. And for you and Poppy. I’m…I’m sorry, Jake.”

He looks me in the eye for a moment before looking away. “Then…be there for her now. And don’t leave.”

He’s right. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m not a patient man. Not usually anyway. But I’m beginning to learn that Poppy needs patience from me.

So, I’m about to be the most patient fucker anyone’s ever seen.

11

Walker

The bus ride home from Florida is long, and I’m thankful we’re only fifteen minutes from Brooks now. I’ve texted Poppy an embarrassing number of times since we left for our away games on Friday morning, and all I’ve received back are a few one- to two-worded responses.

Between all the shit with Van and then add in that Cade Huff has left Brooks and is in rehab, it’s been one shitty week. This whole season, he’s been battling drug addiction, and no one knew. Well, besides me, and that’s only because I saw him at Van’s.

Van overdosed and died. And that fucking sucks for Poppy and Jake. But if he hadn’t died, I keep wondering if Cade would have ever gone to rehab. He could have died instead.

Life is so fucking crazy sometimes.

We won our games, but everyone could feel Cade’s absence on the ice. The team is a big, slightly dysfunctional family. And without him, our family isn’t complete.

I peer over the seat at Coach LaConte, who is staring out the window. I think out of everyone, he’s taking it the hardest. He’s always had a soft spot for Huff. And I think, in a lot of ways, he feels as though he failed Huff by not seeing the signs.

I know one thing: he’s going to be upping how much he piss-tests the team. He’s made it clear that this sort of thing isn’t going to slip by him again.

It’s been five days since Van passed away. I don’t know if Poppy is planning a funeral or if she isn’t having one. All I know is that whatever she’s planning, I want to be there for her and Jake during it.

Even if that pisses her off.

I’m thankful that Jake isn’t hanging the past over my head. He’s just happy to have me back around. And when I look around at everything he’s accomplished, I understand why his sister did what she did.

Three years were wasted with me hating her because I was too fucking stupid to think about everything from her side.

The other night, I got to taste her and bury my cock inside of her, all in the same hour. I’m forever a changed man, and I’m pretty sure any future hookup will be ruined. I knew that was what would happen. I’d thought about doing what we did for years. Then, it happened.

Now, I can’t stop thinking about her.

I’ve spent the past few years sleeping around, hoping it would get her out of my brain. But I don’t want to forget her anymore. Who am I kidding? I couldn’t even if I wanted to.

“I think the entire ride back from Florida, you’ve maybe said five words,” Hunter says after sliding his headphones onto his neck. “You seem off. Is it because of everything with Cade?”

“I guess,” I mutter, knowing there’s a lot more going on with me, but not wanting to explain that right now. “Have you heard from him?”

“Huff?” He shakes his head. “Nah. He can’t talk to anyone for the first few weeks there.”

“Fucking sucks,” I utter.

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