Page 102 of Mine

“Starving,” I said, looking away.

“Great, I have some caldo de res on the stove,” she said, walking towards the kitchen.

“Caldo sounds amazing,” I said, following Noemi.

“Oh no, girl, go sit on the sofa,” she said, waving me away. “Get a blanket and relax. I’ll bring a TV tray.”

I looked back at the beautiful beige sofa.

“Uh, yeah I don’t think that is a good idea,” I said, as I pictured dropping my whole bowl of soup on the sofa. “Wait, did you say TV tray? Do you rich people have those? Is it made of gold?”

Easton laughed. “They are platinum.”

I chuckled as I sat down and Easton put a blanket on my lap.

“You’re going to need to talk to my friend soon. I know that's the last thing you want to think about, but the sooner you talk to a lawyer, the better,” he said, getting up and bringing me a tray. “He might be able to help you with a lawsuit about going after whoever did this to you.”

“Ok, give me his number and I’ll call him tomorrow,” I sighed.

“I also informed your boss you had gotten hurt,” he said, looking a bit sheepish. “I knew you had to work that night. I told him we were together and you had an accident. Oh, and that your phone broke.”

“Thank you.” Relief that maybe I might still have a job if they hadn’t caught wind of my story flooded through me. “Hopefully, I still have a job.”

“I’m so sorry, Val,” he said, sitting on the sofa next to me. “Hunter called me earlier too.”

I stilled, wondering what he knew. Why he would be reaching out? My mind instantly went to the worst-case scenario, and I didn’t want to deal with what he had to say.

I grimaced. “Thanks. I’ll call him when I get a chance.”

“He sounded worried,” Easton said, pulling out his phone. “Ro was with him too.”

“Let me eat and I’ll deal with them afterward, ok?” I pressed my lips together, feeling overwhelmed.

“Ok, I just want to let you know,” he sighed. “They might be able to help.”

I nodded, not sure what to say or tell him. We hadn’t talked in a few days and if the reporters had finally figured out they were the hockey players I was sleeping with. I didn’t know if they were going to want to speak to me once this broke out. I’m surprised PR hadn’t caught wind of it.

“Here you go.” Noemi set down the soup on a regular wooden TV tray. “Let me get some tortillas and what would you like to drink?”

“Can’t have caldo without a coke,” I said, breathing in the steam that smelled so fucking good. “It smells delicious, it’s been so long since I have had homemade caldo.”

“It’s a staple for us during the winter,” she said, as she walked into the kitchen. “This and albondigas.”

“Oh my god, let me know when I can move in,” I said, taking a sip and it was so fucking good. “I could get used to living in the penthouse and never leave.”

“Val,” Easton said, as Noemi came back to the living room looking concerned.

“It’s ok. That was too soon,” I said, eating and hoping they would drop it.

It was silent for a moment before they turned the TV on and they let me be. The meal was great and as much as I wanted to curl up and continue watching TV with them, I needed to go home. I took my dishes to the sink, washing them as Noemi tried to shoo me away, even though my hand hurt like hell.

“It’s the least I can do before I leave,” I said, washing the rest of the dishes because I might as well.

“You can stay here as long as you need,” she said, drying the dishes.

“I need clothes. and I just need my home while I figure out what the hell I’m going to do,” I said, rinsing the last dish.

“Ok, but if it’s too much you have a room here,” she said, as I turned off the water.

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