Page 20 of Mr. Broody

Conor cringes. “Okay, I lost at darts, so I was nominated to see how you’re handling it all.”

“What do you know?” I ask, thankful to have friends who care. Especially Conor, who’s newer to the group but feels like we’ve known him forever. At the same time, I don’t share a lot about Jade because it’s hard to explain to someone who wasn’t there for it all.

“Just what I saw on Saturday.”

“And what’s that?” I open the door and slide into the car.

He joins me in the back seat, his knee pressing into the back of the passenger seat. Now he knows how it feels since he slid it all the way back.

He studies me with genuine concern. “That she’s really important to you.”

Understatement of the fucking year.

Eight

Jade

“So, Reed mentioned that you saw Henry?” Mom asks with her head facing down, staring into a mirror that’s angled to reflect the television so she can watch the morning show.

I knew Reed would tell her, but I don’t want to have another conversation about Henry. “It’s not a big deal.”

The only good thing about her being stuck in this face down position is that she can’t guilt me into telling her since she’s unable to give me that look she always does that makes me cave. “That’s funny. I think if I were you, it would be a big deal.”

“No worries, Mom. I’m not going to give up my life and stay here to be with Henry.” I cross my legs and grab the remote to turn up the volume, but her next words stop me.

“I just didn’t want you to be like me with your father. But Henry made the right decision when you graduated college. Made me think differently.”

I blow out a breath, my mind floating back to that moment when Henry broke me and saved me at the same time.

We dated all through college. There were nights I was his masseuse after a hard practice, his cook for a late dinner after an away game, or the one he sought comfort from after a bad game. Sometimes I felt as if I was a spectator in Henry’s life. I was there only when he could squeeze in an hour here or there, but I never wanted to not be with him, and I loved the time we spent together. He never made me feel like second best. It was just the nature of him pursuing his dream. If he could have, he would have chosen to be with me more than he was.

And watching him discover the player he was born to be was amazing. To be the one who saw him go from hardly playing to being the captain and star of the team. Walking hand in hand across campus as people said things to him about his performance, congratulating him on the wins. But all that made it harder to actually spend time alone with him. Everyone wanted to be his friend, and every girl wanted to steal him away from me. But I never worried about them. Henry would never cheat on me. I was his, just like he was mine.

The Chicago Falcons drafted Henry before he could legally drink. But with Reed’s encouragement, he decided to stay at Minnesota to earn his degree. I think Henry knew that was the right decision for him long term, especially since his scholarship took care of tuition.

When graduation came, the Falcons came calling again. Henry had already set up a bunch of coaching and training to prepare him for the national league when he got back to Chicago. We drove down, returning home, and found a one-bedroom apartment to rent.

I had no idea what I was going to do with my Bachelor of Arts degree. I loved photography and concentrated on it during my time in Minnesota. I wanted to be with Henry, I really did, but the closer the move got, the bigger that pit in my stomach grew. I was restless and confused about the future, but nothing could have prepared me for the night he knocked on my door to deliver the news of what he’d been carrying in his heart.

I was slowly packing my last box, watching some reality television show, taking too many breaks because of the addictive drama unfolding on screen. The knock on my door surprised me since my roommate had moved out the week prior, and Henry had said he was going to be late because he was going to get some drinks with the guys.

When I opened the door, Henry stood there with his hands in the pockets of his worn jeans, rocking back on his heels. He was nervous, and his smile didn’t come close to the one I usually got from him. I didn’t really understand the ins and outs of how hockey contracts worked, but there was no way Chicago could have changed their mind, right? Just the thought made tears well in my eyes for him.

“What’s wrong?” I pulled him into the apartment, shutting the door behind him.

He looked around at the boxes, and my heart sank. Instead of excitement and anticipation that we were going to start the next phase of our lives together, I saw only sadness and trepidation on his face.

“Henry, what is it?”

He glanced behind me at the couch. “Can we sit?”

“You’re scaring me.”

I followed him to the couch, and he sat down, picked up the remote and turned off the television, then swiveled to face me.

“Is it the Falcons?”

He shook his head, and relief lowered the panic coursing through my veins. I could deal with anything. As long as he had hockey, we’re good. Hockey was the one thing in Henry’s life that I didn’t think he could live without. After a horrific car accident that took his parents too young, he deserved to get everything he wanted. And he wanted a career in hockey, so I wanted him to have it.

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