Page 66 of Light It Up Red
“You don’t have a choice—that’s how. You need to give her the space she’s asking for. She needs to work through her issues in her own way.”
“You think she will?”
“Liliana can be stubborn, but I think she’s going to come to the conclusion that she’s better off with you than without you.”
I nod my head. “Okay. Can you just…? She’s going to be safe here, right?”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just fucking ask me that,” he growls at me. “My nephew will drive you home.”
I walk into the house, my steps echoing off the walls as I enter. I haven’t bothered to furnish it yet. I was waiting for Lili to make it a home.
“Nice place. Guess the NHL pays well.” Enzo whistles as he looks around the foyer.
“I need your mother’s number,” I say as I pass him and head for the kitchen.
“What the fuck for?” he calls out after me.
“Lili mentioned your mom’s an interior designer. I want to see if she can get it done sooner rather than later.” I pick up the bottle of Jack I left on the counter and raise it to my mouth.
Enzo swipes it out of my hands. “That’s not a good idea. You’re doped up on pain pills,” he says before placing the bottle back on the counter.
“I don’t care.” I grit my teeth at him.
“I don’t really give a shit if you kill yourself either, but my cousin will.” He lifts one shoulder up and down. “I’ll call Ma and let her know you want her services.”
“Thank you.”
“You need some fucking furniture.” Enzo looks around the empty living space.
“Like I said, Lili wanted her aunt to decorate. I wasn’t going to buy a bunch of shit just to have to throw it out later.”
“You really do have it bad.” Enzo laughs.
I roll my eyes. I’m past the point of caring who the fuck knows how I feel about this girl.
“Catch ya around. Oh, and do me a favor, would ya? Try not to die.” Enzo waves a hand in the air as he walks back out the way we came in.
I manage to get up the stairs and to the bedroom. It’s the only space that’s furnished. Then I fall onto my bed and dig my phone out of my pocket. Ignoring all the missed calls and texts taking up my screen, I tap on Lili’s name and type out a message.
Me:
I love you, Lili. Always. I don’t care how long I have to wait. I will be here when you decide to come home.
Sweet Lili:
I love you too.
I read her reply over and over again. I don’t doubt that she loves me. I know she does. But, fuck, her ability to push me away right now is messing with my head. Because all I want to do is pull her closer. I want to hold her and never let her go. I feel like my lungs are struggling to breathe, like I’m stuck underwater, and I’m drowning every second I’m not with her.
I’m about to tell her as much when my phone rings in my hand and my coach’s number flashes across the screen.
“Coach?” I answer his call because I’m not a fucking idiot. If I don’t, it’ll be a lot worse later.
“Where the fuck are you, O’Neil? Because I’m at the hospital right now, and they’re telling me you checked your ass out.”
“I’m at home.” I sigh.
“You’re at home?” he yells down the line. “Against doctors’ fucking orders?”
