Page 29 of Worth the Chase

Patrick was up next, embracing me and slapping my back. “This is all good stuff. Wait. Do you have a room for Clara? ’Cause I’ve already done that. You have to get your own thing,” he said, bringing our sweet niece into the conversation.

“A room? I’m going to give her a whole damn floor. Compete with that.” I shoved his shoulder, and his smile dropped instantly as he pondered my words.

“I have a dog. She’ll still love me most,” Patrick said, trying to convince himself.

“I’ll get two then,” I lied.

“Don’t listen to him,” Thomas interjected. “He’s just trying to piss you off.”

“It’s working,” Patrick practically growled.

“Go back to work, Patrick. Matthew, hold up a sec,” Thomas demanded as he headed back around his desk and sat down.

Patrick walked out, a frown still marring his face, and it made me laugh. Once he was gone, Thomas cleared his throat, and I turned to face him before sitting back down.

“What’s up?”

“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” he said.

I wasn’t exactly sure what he was referring to.

“It’s just… I know you’ve been sad since you got back. I hate to see you that way, but I understand why you are. I mean, we never ask you about it or talk about how you’re feeling, but Brooklyn said we can’t keep ignoring it.”

I shifted in the chair, leaning forward and inhaling deep through my nose. “Yeah, I’m sad. I always knew that my hockey career would end, but I never expected to get hurt, you know? I never thought about it once. Like getting hurt wasn’t a possibility for me. Other guys? Sure. But me? No way.”

He nodded like he understood completely, even though he couldn’t. Not really. “You know that we’re all here for you if you need anything, right? We love you.”

“I know that. It’s just not something you can fix for me. I have to work through this on my own.”

“Are you? Working through it?” He looked so concerned.

It reminded me of the way he used to watch me after our mom died, like I might fall down a rabbit hole at any second.

“Not really, but I feel like this is a good first step,” I said, hoping he’d accept that answer because it was the truth.

“And the house,” he said, his expression completely morphing from concern to excitement.

“It helps too.” I smiled, wanting to lessen his worry.

I hated when anyone worried about me. It made me feel helpless, like a child.

“And Bella?” he pushed, and I shot him a look.

“If I could get her to give me the time of day…” I knew my tone sounded as exasperated as I felt when it came to her.

“Seriously, what did you do to that girl?”

I gave a slight shrug. “I haven’t quite figured that out yet.”

“I know it probably sucks for you, but it is fun for us to watch.” He laughed, and I blew out a breath.

“Don’t get used to it,” I said because when it came to Bells, I was going to wear her down. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing a text from Bells about the house. “I gotta go. Let me know when you talk to Dad. And thank you.”

“Post some social media content in the meantime, brother,” he shouted as I left his office in a rush and ran straight into our dad.

“Dad. Hey…” I stumbled on my words, but he looked so damn happy.

“Matthew. Good to see you.” He pulled me in for a hug. “Where are you rushing off to?”

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