Page 85 of Treacherous
This is progress, right?
Willow doesn’t break the hug, clinging to me tighter. She whispers two words against my skin over and over.“Thank you.”
Eventually, the rest of the team heads toward us with the coaches, forcing us to break apart. I move into the locker rooms lighter than before. There is a chance that Willow is finally understanding the lengths I’ll go to when she is involved.
All I need is that chance.
Chapter 33
Willow Rogers
“Icommend you for coming in today, Willow.”
Dr Gray’s praise is soft and I welcome it. She is an older lady with short black hair, a plain white tee shirt and colour, patterned pants. Her office is cozy–the perfect atmosphere for people to embrace their emotions in a safe place.
I sink into the navy couch, praying that this will be exactly that, a safe place. I thought about running away and not coming to this appointment, but since our games on the weekend my past is playing heavily on my mind.
At the moment, I’m putting it down to the fact that big changes are coming, and I can no longer bury the emotions and trauma I’ve experienced.
It’s time I face my fears.
“Thank you,” I pause, swallowing. “I admit I wasn’t going to come, but I’ve bottled my emotions up for too long. And now I might have ruined something good,”
Dr Gray smiles. “Let’s start with why you came in, then we can work our way back.”
“Okay. For the past five months, I have been in a…” I pause, searching for the right word. “Situationship, I guess. We’ve known each other for most of our lives but we used to hate each other,”
“Hate is a strong word,” Dr Gray comments.
“Okay, maybe dislike is better. We always seemed to clash, which is part of the reason we started–” I stop. Am I seriously about to talk about my sex life?
Dr Gray chuckles. “So, it was meant to be only sex?”
My cheeks flush slightly. “Yes, we had rules but I suppose it didn’t matter in the end.”
I pick at my fingernails, bringing them to my lips. I sniffle, my mind flashing pictures of Jayden. It feels real like I could reach out and touch him.
I couldn’t help but cling to him on the weekend after he introduced me to two icons of women’s hockey. Sarah and Logan have represented American at the Winter Olympics and not to mention playing in the league in Canada until it folded a few years ago.
There is a chance for me to play professional hockey, and I can’t help but attribute it to my move to Lakewood. Coach West and Harris have pushed me further than any other coach has, while I built undeniable friendships with my team.
Then, there is Jayden.
“Willow?”
I snap up, eyes meeting Dr Gray. “Sorry.”
She offers a soft smile. “Don’t apologise. Where did your mind go? If you don’t mind me asking?”
I swallow. “Jayden, the guy I was sleeping with, we are teammates, playing for the Lakewood Hawks. On the weekend, we played the first round of finals. We won and now we are through to the semi-finals.”
“Congrats, that’s an amazing achievement.”
“Thank you.” I bite my bottom lip. “He introduced me to these female hockey players, who are scouting talent for a new league. The PWHL. They want me to join them next year.”
“That’s an incredible opportunity. How do you feel about that?”
“Good. Excited,” A stray tear sliding down my cheek. “I just don’t understand. Jayden, with the help of our coach, still did that for me. After I ran away from him.”
