Page 14 of Puck Blocked
“I… I don’t…” I choke on my words.
It’s a simple question, Montana. He’s asking you about school. You should be able to answer him. As I chastise myself, I can feel my heart rate pick up. I’m spiraling out of control.
“Hey, Tanna, it’s okay.” Luke takes hold of my arm. “Just breathe. You’re okay. You’re safe,” Luke says, squeezing my hand.
I count to six, out loud, over and over until my breathing returns to normal. I don’t know how long it takes, but Luke doesn’t move. He stands on the stairs, holding my hand.
“Why six?” he asks when I finally look at him.
“I don’t know. I just like the number six.” I shrug.
“Out of all the numbers you could choose, six is the one that you use to calm yourself.”
“It’s just a number, Luke.” I don’t let go of his hand as I continue to make my way up the stairs.
“It’s also my jersey number, but you know that.”
“It’s just a number,” I repeat. The fact that the number six seems to be what helps me has nothing to do with him or his jersey.
I’m about to turn and walk into the guest room, but Luke keeps walking, my hand still locked in his as he guides me into his bedroom and then the bathroom. Where he leans across the oversized oval tub, sets the plug into the drain, and turns the faucet on.
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
“Running you a bath. It’ll help with the pain,” he says, opening the cabinet and pulling out a bag of salts. “I use these after a particularly brutal game. Always does the trick.” He pours a generous amount of the salts into the water before grabbing a small bottle of lavender. He adds a few drops of that too.
“You want me to take a bath?” I ask him.
“You soak, relax. I’m going to go make us some lunch.”
“I can make lunch. What do you want?” I’m already turning to walk out of the bathroom when Luke stops me.
“I’ll make lunch. You relax.” He reaches out an arm, tipping up my chin and forcing me to look at him. “Please, just hop in the bath and enjoy it. Trust me. You’ll feel so much better afterwards.”
I glance at the tub that’s filling up before refocusing on Luke. “You’re not staying in here?”
He smirks. “No, I’ll be in the kitchen… unless you want me to stay?”
I shake my head while my fingers wring the hem of the sweatshirt.
“Okay.” Luke turns around and walks out, leaving me alone. With my thoughts and that tub.
It’s just a bath. You can take a bath, Montana.
I give myself a mental pep talk as I close the bathroom door and strip off my clothes. Then I step into the tub and sink down. The water’s hot, but it feels good against my sore muscles. I focus on my breathing as my eyes flick around the bathroom. The opulent fixtures and expensive tile work.
I’m in Luke’s house. Andrew can’t find me here.
I turn off the water, lean back against the tub, and allow my lashes to flutter closed. I will my body to relax as the warmth encompasses me. My mind is whirling. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know how long I can stay before he starts looking for me. The only thing I do know is that I can’t let the mess of my life touch Luke. Because I also don’t know what Andrew would do if he found out where I was.
I’m not afraid for myself. He could kill me for all I care. It’s Luke I’m worried about. What Andrew might do to Luke, how the drama might affect his career.
Me? I can handle it. I’ve been handling it for the past three years. Whatever he dishes out as his punishment, I’ll survive it. And if not, well, at least my hell will be over with.
I close my eyes and count to six in my head.
Hands clench around my shoulders, pushing me under. I fight to come back up, my body thrashing around the water as I struggle to break the surface. My fingers claw at the arms that are holding me down.
My lungs burn, and as the last bit of fight drains from my body, I’m lifted out and I suck in a lungful of air. Gasping, coughing, and sputtering. “Andrew, please, stop,” I beg through strangled breaths.
