Page 77 of Waiting For Fate

“Dove…” My brows knit together as she becomes slightly frantic, looking around the room.

“Shoot, look at the time, I really better go. Don’t wanna be late.”

“Dove?” I try getting her attention again, but she goes on ignoring me.

“Oh look! My keys.” She grabs them out from behind a plant sitting on the table next to us and pulls her jacket and bag off the hooks on the walls.

“Leah!” My voice is as firm as I can make it without shouting trying to get her attention but her eyes just fall closed. “What is going on?” I plead with her to tell me.

“Sawyer, I really need to go. Can we talk later?” When she looks up at me again her eyes are glossy, and my heart physically aches to know what happened to put her in this state. I want to argue and say I won’t leave here until I know what’s wrong so I can fix it, but I know she really does need to leave now to get to work on time.

“Of course. Call me later?” It kills me to say, but I don’t have a choice. She nods and reaches up to kiss my cheek, holding the door open for me to leave first.

I stay in my truck, watching her lock up and pull off down the road, all the while replaying our conversation over and over again.

What the hell did I say?

I just wanted to bring her coffee and see her before work, but I feel like I somehow ruined her day before it even had a chance to start.

My focus is complete shit the rest of the day. I went home and laid on my couch, staring at the ceiling replaying my morning until it was time for me to get up for practice.

“Wherever your head is, Clark, get it back on before tomorrow’s game. You’re a hell of a good defenseman but you played like shit today.”

Tell me how you really feel, Coach.

“Will do.”

“Everything good man?” Matty grabs his stuff from the locker next to mine.

“Yeah, just a little distracted.” I check my phone again but still have no messages or missed calls from Leah. It’s past five at this point so I know she’s done at school.

“Would this have anything to do with that gorgeous new wallpaper of yours?” Matty smirks, nodding to my phone. It’s face up with a picture of Leah and me from the other morning.

“Yeah. It’ll be alright. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I stand and gather my things, not in the mood to discuss what’s going on in my head with anyone but Leah.

I pull up to her house and park in the same spot I was in earlier, wearing the same exact thing I wore earlier because I’ve been unable to function like a normal human being ever since I left here this morning. When I notice her car isn’t in the driveway I begin to worry.

It’s nearing six o’clock and though I’m sure she could be out with the girls, at her parents’ house, or literally doing anything else she wants—my brain only knows how to go straight to the worst-case scenario. Just as I’m grabbing my phone to call and check on her, she pulls into the driveway. I breathe a sigh of relief, but it’s quickly followed by the same feeling of worry I’ve had all day that she may not even want me here.

Too fucking bad, cause here I am. And I’m not leaving until I know she’s okay.

I hop out of my truck and run over to take the box she’s just pulled from the back seat from her hands.

“Let me help with that.” When she smiles up at me it instantly relieves some of the tension I’m holding in my shoulders.

“Thanks.” She’s quiet as we walk up to the front door, and all the way inside to the island. “You can just set that on the ground there.” I do as she’s asked and when I stand back to my full height she looks as nervous as I feel. Her arms are crossed over her chest as she avoids looking me in the eyes. All I want to do is pull her into me and fix whatever is wrong.

But I have to know what that is first.

She glances at the door and her brows draw together. “Have you been here all day?” That makes me laugh.

“No, I left shortly after you did.” She nods in understanding. “I came back straight from practice because I didn’t like how we left things this morning. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” I test my luck and reach for her arms, and she lets them fall, allowing me the opportunity to take her hands in mine.

“So, are you? Okay?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is small, like she’s hiding from the question.

“Really? Because you practically threw me out the door this morning.” I laugh, hoping to break some of the ice around us.

---