Page 17 of Pucking Amazing

The dark circles under his bloodshot eyes match the invisible weight dragging his broad shoulders into a slump as he settles into the chair across from me. I study him, my relief at finally seeing him after the missed sessions tinged with unease.

Tomas runs a hand through his rumpled hair.

“Sydney, hey. Sorry about flaking on you before. Things have been...” He shakes his head, not meeting my eyes. “Complicated.”

I lean forward, offering what I hope is an encouraging smile. “It’s okay, Tomas. I’m just glad you’re here now. Do you want to tell me what’s been going on?”

He’s quiet for a long moment. When he speaks, his voice is ragged at the edges.

“It’s Gina. My girlfriend. Ex-girlfriend, I guess. I don’t know anymore.”

A chill prickles my skin. I know that lost, hurting look in his eyes all too well. “What happened?”

“She’s always had a temper. But lately it’s gotten bad. The things she says...” He swallows hard. “That I’m pathetic. Stupid. Lucky she puts up with me. I try not to let it get to me, but...”

My chest tightens, Tomas’s words hitting too close to home.

Memories of Paul’s cruel taunts echo in my mind—how he’d tear me down one moment then beg for forgiveness the next until I didn’t know which way was up. I take a steadying breath, focusing on Tomas. I can see the desperation in his eyes and I choose my words carefully.

“Tomas, I want you to listen to me. What Gina is doing—the yelling, the insults—that’s verbal abuse. It’s not okay, and it’s not your fault.”

He meets my gaze, his dark eyes glassy. “I know. Deep down, I know that. It’s just hard...” Tomas takes a deep breath. “I need to break away from her. I can’t keep letting her control me like this.”

I nod, my heart aching for him. Escaping an abusive relationship is never easy. He has a long road ahead of him.

“Have you ever reached out for help before now?” I ask. “A support group, or therapy?”

Tomas runs a hand through his hair again, his expression conflicted. “I mean, I know I should have but...I don’t know. I guess I’ve been too ashamed to admit that I’m in this situation.”

I place a reassuring hand on his arm. “Tomas, there’s no shame in seeking help. It takes courage to acknowledge that you need it.”

A small smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he meets my eyes. “Thanks, Sydney.”

We spend the rest of the session discussing different resources he could explore in addition to his sessions with me.

By the time Tomas leaves, he looks exhausted but determined. We have a lot of work still to do—aside from going over coping strategies that don’t involve alcohol, we barely touched on Tomas’s substance abuse. But we made a good amount of progress in just one session.

While I pack up my things for the day, my mind wanders back to Paul and our tumultuous past together. He had been my first serious boyfriend in college—charming and charismatic at first, but slowly revealing his true colors as our relationship progressed.

It wasn’t until years into the relationship that I realized how bad everything had gotten.

How he’d convinced me that I was worthless and unlovable.

My heart breaks for Tomas because I know exactly how hard it is to break free of a toxic relationship. How easy it is to convince yourself that you’re the problem.

As I lock up my office and head out into the chilly evening air, I remind myself that I’ve done it. I’ve broken free from my own personal demons. I got away from Paul and have started rebuilding my life. But Selena’s words echo in my mind.

“You deserve to be happy in a relationship again.”

Maybe it’s time to admit that I’m having trouble believing that.

CHAPTER 6

TYLER

We’re heading home from a bruising away game, and as the plane hurtles down the runway, I grip the armrests like they’re the only thing keeping me from plummeting to my death. My stomach churns, a cocktail of post-loss misery and pre-flight jitters.

Those damn pucks slipping past me replay in my head on a sickening loop.

---