Page 87 of Fever Dream
“Yeah, okay,” I falter, not sure of what to say. I turn to leave and then swivel back, needing to know. “Is Harrison …”
“Harrison’s gone home. I told him to take the day off,” Coach tells me, eyes a heavy weight on me.
“Oh. Right,” I stammer. I turn to leave again before Coach calls me back.
“Callie? If you need to talk you know where to find me. We’ve got people who can help.”
I just nod and then turn and leave the room, not trusting myself with my words or emotions.
Ben is in the treatment room, out of place where Harrison should be. I miss him so much, the last few hours already feeling like days.
“Up you get, Callie,” Ben says, voice kind as I climb onto the treatment bed on autopilot. I miss Harrison’s soothing tone as he works on me with those magic, sensual hands. I miss his soft smile and that cute red headband that fails so badly at holding back his gorgeous curls.
Ben doesn’t know the spots like Harrison does but he’s still a great physio. I don’t say a word as he gets to work on me. In all honesty, my adductor issues are almost a forgotten memory these days. I’m getting through training days with no effort at all and it’s only really after a full game day that I feel the twinges anymore.
That’s all on Harrison too. I suddenly miss him with every atom in my body.
Izak finds me in the locker room afterwards. Most of the other guys have gone home already, just a light recovery session today. Izak eyes me as I pull on my shoes, but he doesn’t look overly worried, more contemplative.
“You know, I always thought there was something between you and Harrison. I convinced myself I was seeing things but I guess I was on the money,” he mulls.
“Would it bother you if there was?” I ask, just testing the waters. Izak’s offended face has me feeling slightly better.
“Course not. What do you take me for?” he huffs. “You know I got your back, right?”
“Thank you,” I say, letting him see how much I mean it.
“It is true though, right?” he asks, just to be sure. “You and Thornfield?”
“Yep. Every last sordid detail.”
“Well. I’m happy for you both,” he shrugs. “Not for this shitshow that has followed but I’m glad for you and Thornfield. He’s a nice guy.”
“Thanks, man,” I say.
“Definitely explains all those times you disappeared from our hotel room,” Izak laughs. “Sounds like youdidget a bit of west coast action after all.”
“And south coast. And east coast and northeast coast,” I add just because I can.
Izak barks out a laugh. “Good for you. I was worried you were turning into a monk when you first moved here.”
“Definitely not a monk,” I chuff. “But not a word to anyone else, yeah?” I add, eyeing him like I mean it.
“Course not. Consider me a vault.”
“Thanks,” I repeat. He pulls me in for a brief man hug and we go our separate ways. Sonny has texted to see where I am, worrying about me like a mother hen. I text him back that I am fine and don’t need a police escort back home.
Besides, I have no intention of going straight back home. I have someone to see first. As soon as I am confident I don’t have anyone on my tail I turn the car towards his apartment.
Harrison takes a while to answer my knock, but he hurries me inside once he does, checking over my shoulder to make sure none of his neighbours saw me.
“No one followed me,” I assure him, still not quite believing those words have come out of my mouth.
“Casey,” Harrison worries at me. “You shouldn’t have come here. It’s too risky.”
“I don’t care about that, Harry,” I say, stepping forward to wrap him in a hug. He sighs but doesn’t stop me, sliding his arms around me to wrap me up just as tight. We don’t let go for a while.
“Listen, Case,” he says. And just that tone tells me I’m not going to like what he says next. I start to protest but he steps away from me, silencing me with his words. “I know this sucks, okay? Because it really, really does. I’ve asked the Fever for the week off and they’ve given it to me.”
