Page 31 of Puck Blocked
His thumbs wipe the tears from my cheeks. “What if I can’t fight anymore?” I ask him.
“Then I’ll fight for both of us. I love you, Montana. I’ve always loved you and I’m going to make sure you get your life back.”
I shake my head. “My problems shouldn’t become yours. You wouldn’t even know if your mom never called you.”
“You should have called me, the first time. You should have told me, and I would have dropped everything to come to you.”
“I know you would have,” I admit.
“Why didn’t you call?”
My lips press tight together. I thought about calling him once. I even had his number dialed, and Andrew found me. He smashed my phone, and then broke two of my fingers on my right hand. He said that if I ever attempted to reach out to Luke again, he’d break the rest of them and then he’d make sure Luke wouldn’t be an issue between us. The veiled threat was enough to keep me away.
“I tried to once.” I sigh. “And he… he said he would kill you if I tried to reach out to you again.”
“I’d love for him to come and tell me that himself,” Luke hisses the challenge through gritted teeth, his jaw clenched and his glare laser-focused.
I flinch and inch off him, scooting backwards onto the bed.
“Fuck, Tanna. I’m sorry.” He holds his hands in the air. “I’m sorry. I’m angry. I can’t help it. I want to tear that asshole from limb to limb. But no matter how angry I am, I will never take it out on you. I promise.”
I nod my head, acknowledging his words. But they’re just words. He’s never done anything to make me think otherwise. I know that he's safe. But seeing him so wound up… it just scares me.
Chapter Sixteen
“What are you doing here?” I ask Gray, who is currently standing in my foyer with that permanent pissed-off look on his face.
“Welfare check. You’ve called in sick for three weeks straight. How much longer do you think the team’s going to put up with this self-imposed hiatus of yours, Jameson? 'Cause I gotta be honest. The little pull I actually have with my father is running thin. I’ve even resorted to using Graycee on the old man, which he totally saw through by the way.”
“Let them fire me then.” I throw my hands up and walk away. Of course, the asshole follows me into the kitchen.
“Yeah, you and I both know you don’t mean that. What’s going on?” Gray asks.
“It’s my fault.” Montana’s voice has me turning towards the entryway, where she’s standing with her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
“No, it’s not,” I tell her before glancing back at Gray. “I’m on injury leave. If I have to make it long-term, I will.”
“That’s not happening,” he says and then turns his attention to Montana. “You’re looking well, Montana. Why don’t you stop by the rink, watch a practice, come to a game?” He doesn’t bother looking in my direction before he pivots on his heel. “Walk me out, Luke.”
I follow him, moving past Montana, who watches us make our way down the long hall. When I reach the front door, I open it and wait. I know whatever Gray has to say, he’ll get to it in his own time.
“What’s really going on here?” he finally asks me.
“I can’t leave,” I tell him. “I can’t leave her alone.” I don’t mention why. I don’t explain that I’m fucking petrified. Worried that if I leave her alone, I’m going to lose her for good. When I saw her with that piece of glass in her hand a few weeks ago, I freaked the fuck out.
I don’t know if she’d actually try to end her own life, but I’m not about to take any chances. Not after Sean. I didn’t see it with him. I had no idea what he was planning, that he was struggling to cope with whatever the fuck was haunting him. But I’ll be damned if I lose his sister the same way.
Montana might think she doesn’t have anything to live for. She’s wrong. I’m going to show her that her life can be better. That she can be happy again. I know she’s strong enough to overcome this, and until she believes that herself, I’ll be right next to her. Reminding her every second of every day.
“What happened?” Gray asks.
“Nothing. Because I’m here. I can’t leave. Because if I do and she…” I shake my head. I can’t even voice the thoughts in my brain.
“Okay, I’ll come up with a solution, because you can’t miss any more practices and we need you out on that ice. The team needs you. I need you.”
“She needs me more,” I tell him.
“I agree, which is why I’m going to figure out a way you can have both.” He walks out the door. “And next time I call, fucking answer your phone. It’ll save me the trip.”
