Page 76 of Penalty to the Heart

“You can’t forgive him for what happened to Jack,” I reply, saddened for them both.

“I’m trying. Fuck knows I’m trying. But every time I see Jack lying in that hospital bed, lifeless and unresponsive, I get angry. Which I know is my default setting when things I can’t control happen.” I smile at that, proud for him to have progressed enough to decipher his triggers on his own. “I know that’s my baggage, not Caleb’s.”

“I’m so pleased you referred to it that way. Like I said, you’ve come a long way.”

“Sounds like you’re proud of me, Doc,” he replies shyly.

“Shouldn’t I be?”

“I guess.” He shrugs. “But I can’t take all the credit. Lottie has helped me tons to figure out my feelings and shit. I mean… stuff,” he quickly corrects. “As have you. Not sure where I’d be without either one of you when life was kicking my ass left and right. I guess I got lucky.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it. You’re the one who has put in the work.”

“Yeah, well, I’m still a long way from where I want to be. Maybe that’s why I’m so torn apart by this whole Caleb thing. I’m just scared he’ll do something foolish without his support system.”

“More than starting a fight in a qualifying game?” I counter with a grin, only to have it fall flat with Nathan’s next words.

“One thing I’ve learned since I’ve been friends with Caleb is to never underestimate his tenacity for creating chaos.”

All I needed was the right muse to get me there.

Want to venture a guess who I’m talking about?

“Hmm,” I hum pensively, recalling our earlier impromptu encounter. “I’m inclined to agree with you there. Caleb can be—”

“Recklessly impulsive?” Nathan interjects with a sad smile. “He’s that and then some. That’s why I wanted to know if your sessions with him were paying off.”

“If you’re this worried about him, that means you still care for him a great deal. The more reason for you to reach out to him and get the answers you seek.”

“Like I said before, I love the idiot. He’s like a brother to me. He’s family. The thing is… they both are.”

When guilt and shame mar his facial features again, I start to understand the crux of the matter at last.

“Nathan,” I call out his name to gain his attention back on me, trying to divert him away from his guilt. “You can be loyal to both of them, you know? There is no shame in grieving for one friend while helping the other one out.”

“I know you’re right, Doc. Lottie keeps telling me the exact same thing. I’m just not there yet.”

My frown deepens at that.

He’s struggling.

Struggling with the decision of who he should give his loyalty and friendship to since, in his mind, there can only be one.

The friend who lies helpless and unresponsive in a hospital bed?

Or the friend that has done everything he can to push him away?

“Can I ask you a favor, Dr. Seymour?” he asks after a long, silent pause.

“Of course, Nathan,” I reply with a reassuring smile.

“He doesn’t know it yet, but there’s something coming. Something in the works that Caleb is not going to approve of,” Nathan begins to explain, with a pained look on his face.

“That sounds rather ominous.”

“It’s not. It’s something that happens all the time in sports teams. But just because something is expected doesn’t mean it won’t tilt Caleb’s whole world on its axis. I, myself, have had a hard time accepting what’s about to happen, but the GM and the new team owner aren’t worried about me. Caleb’s the loose cannon as far as they’re concerned.”

“Fair enough. What favor do you need then?”

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