Page 23 of Hot for the Hockey Player
“Go away.”
“Ugh.”
“Damon,” I called from my spot on the couch, hating that I was parenting from the sofa, but not really feeling like moving because my burns still screamed at me.“Be nice.”
“No,thankyou!”he practically hollered.
I pressed my thumb and index finger to my forehead.“That child is going to be the end of me with his moodiness.Here I thought Laurel would be the hormonal rollercoaster, but it’s Damon.”
“It was easier when the kids were at the same school,” Danica added.“Laurel knew what was wrong and could fill you in.”
Nodding, I sucked in a long, slow breath through my nose.“I know he’s upset with me for saying he had to finish his homework before he could play video games with Maverick, but I feel like there’s more to it.It’s not like I said no.”
Danica shrugged.“I wish I could help you.I’ve just got a severely anxious nine-year-old who has about one panic attack a week in school, requiring me to pick her up early.We’re still on a waitlist for a freaking child therapist via video chat.”
I frowned, then offered her a sympathetic half-smile.“I’m sorry.I know it’s rough on both of you.Poor kiddo.”
“I just want to help her.Get to the root of her anxiety.Medicate her if we have to.I mean, I’m on anti-anxiety meds.It’s not something to be ashamed over.They’ve helped me a lot.”
“Give Grayson a call.See if he can squeeze you in.He’s not a pediatrician, but he might have some insight.Or maybe Justine?At the very least, you could discuss getting her on a low dose of the same medication as you since you seem to have no side effects.It might help?”
She nodded.“Yeah, I might have to.”She cast another glance into the kitchen at the girls.“Last week’s panic attack was exhausting.Literally, the only thing that even remotely helps right now is her climbing into my lap and squeezing me as hard as she can.It’s the deep pressure that she needs to regulate her parasympathetic nervous system, but it also keeps her from hurting herself.”She leaned forward again and whispered.“I caught her self-harming.”
My eyes went wide, and I brought my voice down low so the girls didn’t hear us.“What?”
She nodded again.“Biting the heels of her hands, her fingers, and pulling on her hair until clumps started coming out.Then she’d shred the hair.”Danica’s green-hazel eyes, with the intricate whorls of browns and golds, welled up with tears.“It’s so scary, Gabs.”
I reached my hand out toward her and she sunk to her knees beside me, taking my hand.I gave her a squeeze.“We’re here for you.Don’t keep this to yourself.”
My cousin swallowed hard as one tear slid down her cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell us it got this bad?”
Shaking her head, she wiped the tear away, keeping one eye on the girls.“I just … I thought it would pass.”
“Youneedto talk to someone.Get your phone out right now and call Dr.Malone’s office.Grayson has a daughter, and even though he’s not a pediatrician, he’s not an idiot either.Maybe he has some recommendations.”
Nodding, she swallowed again and let go of my hand, reaching into the back pocket of her jeans to grab her phone.Standing up, she gave me one small, hesitant smile, then went to my bedroom to go make the call.
“Is Maverick coming back later, Mom?”Laurel asked from the kitchen.
“I’m not sure, honey.It depends what he and your brother have decided.”
A spiral of unease coiled through me at the thought of seeing Maverick again.He flustered me.And I never got flustered.I didn’t want to see him again because I didn’t want to risk spilling anything else on myself, or worse.But I also hated the idea ofnotseeing him.He brought my son out of his dungeon and was just a positive presence in our home.And that was only after one visit.
After a moment, Danica returned, a modicum of relief on her pretty face.She slid down to the floor beside me again.“Apparently there is a new nurse practitioner on the island.Specializes in children.She starts next week.They’ve got us coming in as one of her first appointments.”
“See,” I reached for her hand again, “it’s all going to work out.That’s so great.We definitely need more medical professionals on the island.Poor Grayson and Justine are worked ragged.And with only three nurses, they all must be exhausted.”
Danica exhaled and nodded.“Yeah, I think it’ll be good.We just have to make it through this week.”
“We will.Together.”
Maverick didn’t end up coming back over to play video games with Damon, and unfortunately, that just set my kid off into the worst mood imaginable.A proverbial thundercloud rumbled over his head when he finally decided to grace us with his presence.I brought out a bunch of turkey-vegetable soup I had frozen in the freezer from after Christmas, and Laurel helped me make grilled cheese sandwiches.It was still all homemade, it just wasn’tfresh.
Like Damon’s ass was filled with rocks, he slumped himself onto the couch as Laurel and I worked together in the kitchen.His face reminded me of a horse it was so long.
“Did something happen at school today?”I asked, buttering the last slice of bread before assembling the last sandwich and placing it on the griddle with the rest of them.
