Page 71 of When Alec Met Evie
Rightly so, since he still has no idea how my conversation with Theo went.
Through the rearview mirror, I watch as Theo pulls a pair of headphones out of his bag and slips them over his ears. He folds his arms over his chest and closes his eyes.
“Sorry, man,” Carter says under his breath. “He isn’t usually such a jerk. He’s just…going through some stuff.”
I glance at Carter. “Yeah. He told me about your dad.”
Carter’s eyes widen. “He told you about him?”
“Just that he passed away,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
Carter nods. “Is that…all he told you? That he died?”
“There’s more to it?” I ask, and Carter breathes out a sigh.
“Theo was driving,” Carter says, his voice almost too soft for me to hear. “It wasn’t his fault. They were t-boned. The other driver went straight through an intersection. But…I think he still blames himself.”
“Carter, that’s—I’m really sorry, man.”
He nods. “Thanks. It…sucks. Theo hasn’t really been the same since.”
“Has he talked to someone about it?”
“What, like a shrink or whatever?” Carter says. “Mom tried but Theo wouldn’t do it. I can’t even get him to talk tome,and he talks to me about everything.”
“How areyouholding up?”
He looks over his shoulder at his brother. “I’m the oldest. Only by a few minutes, but I’vealwaysbeen the oldest. One of us has to keep it together, right?”
I drive in silence for a beat, considering Carter’s words. He’s a good kid, and I understand well what it feels like to look out for a younger sibling, to be strong so they don’t have to be. But he has just as much right to grieve as his brother.
“I think he just misses Mom,” Carter says more to himself than to me. “But he’ll be all right. I’ll make sure he is.”
“Carter, doyouneed to talk to someone?” I ask. “There’s no shame in it.”
“Nah,” he says, his Texas drawl a little more pronounced than it usually is. “I just need to skate. Stay busy. I miss my dad, but…I know what he’d want is for me to play, focus, make something of myself. So that’s what I’m trying to do.”
“I can respect that,” I say. “But it doesn’t have to be one or the other. If you need to talk to someone, there’s a therapist the team uses. A lot of guys go. I’ve been a few times myself. Just say the word, and I’ll make it happen. Or if you don’t want something so official, you can always talk to me.”
He nods. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“Can I give you some advice about hockey?” I ask, and Carter nods. I’m going out on a limb here, guessing at the dynamic based on my observations, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. “I know you want to take care of your brother. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But you have just as much potential to be a star as he does. Don’t treat him like he’s your only shot at making it to the NHL. I’m glad you told me what he’s going through. And I respect your desire to take care of him. But at least when itcomes to the team, don’t fight his battles. It won’t help you any more than it helps him.”
Carter is quiet for a beat before he says, “I just don’t want him to get himself in trouble.”
“I get that,” I say. “But he’ll take you down with him, Carter.”
“Then I’ll go down with him,” he says. “Because I won’t play without him.” He clenches his jaw as he shifts his gaze out the window, and I know our conversation is over.
When we pull into the parking lot at the Summit, I watch Theo with new eyes as he shoves his headphones into his bag and climbs out of the truck. Knowing what I know now, it’s hard to blame him for the way he’s been acting.
Evie’s words echo in my mind.Don’t give up on him.
I’m his captain. It’s my job to look out for him. I just have to hope he’ll let me.
CHAPTER 18
EVIE
