Page 53 of Hat Trick
“Oh.” I play with the ends of my hair. Heaviness fills the space between us and I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. I’m not sure there are any.I’m sorrysounds insensitive.I understandsounds disingenuous, because Idon’tunderstand. I’ll never understand. “I never thought of it that way.”
“Please don’t throw me a pity party. I’m doing that enough on my own, and I really don’t want you to start. Not when I’m used to you kicking my ass.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t bring up the streamers and balloons I keep in my car.”
I get a half smile, and it makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I take the break in conversation to look around his living room, noticing the bright blue paint and a wall of windows. There’s a bookshelf full of romance novels in the corner and some LEGO designs on the middle shelves. I spot an easel with a half-finished canvas propped up on it, and it looks like he’s trying to paint Starry Night.
“Snooping?” Riley asks.
“Is it considered snooping if I do it without trying to be sneaky? This is my first time in your apartment.”
“It’s nothing special, but it’s home.” Riley grabs a decorative pillow and sets it in his lap. “I’m sorry for ditching today. And the other days. I met Lamar, the guy who was driving me the night of the accident last week, and then Coach and I had a really good heart-to-heart. My therapy sessions are going well. I was ready to change my shitty behavior and get back on track with my rehabilitation and with you. I got up this morning and got dressed. I was even looking forward to seeing—” He stops abruptly. “To trying new exercises and pushing my body, and that’s the first time that’s happened. But then I just… I couldn’t.”
“Thank you for telling me, and I’m sorry I didn’t consider things from your perspective. It won’t happen again.” I scoot closer to him, and his fingers graze my shoulder as he adjusts the cushions to make room for me. I shiver at the surprising contact. “Maybe we can make an effort to be more honest with each other? If you need a day off, you’ll tell me. And I’ll listen.”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “I’d like that.”
“You said you meet up with Lamar? How did that go?”
“I cried three times,” he says, and my smile matches his. “It was really fucking good to see him.”
“I met him the night in the hospital. He stayed there with us. He was so distraught, and I know he wanted to make sure you were okay. Oh, Riley.” I put my palm on his knee without hesitation, and he rests his hand on mine. “It’s such a sensitive situation to be happy about, but I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too. He told me he stuck around with you all and…fuck.I needed to see him to know he was okay. To put an end to all of this resentment I’ve been carrying.” Riley squeezes my hand, and I like it so much. “Marcus told me they set a trial date for the guy who hit us. It feels like everything is finally moving in the right direction.”
“It’s about time, isn’t it?” I knock my knee against his, and I’m met with soft laughter. “The universe needs to give you a break for a change.”
“You’re telling me. For a while there, it seemed like I had a streak of serious bad karma.”
“I’d never wish for you to have to go through that kind of turmoil again,” I say, and I swear he drags his thumb across my knuckles. “But watching how you’re prevailing even on the days where you think you aren’t? It’s so cool to see, Riley.”
“I told Lamar I’m a work in progress.”
“You are. We all are. You’re not alone.”
“I know I’m not.” He gives my hand another squeeze and pulls away. “Thank you for being patient with me.”
“Patience is something I’m working on,” I say.
“And showing up is something I’m working on.”
“I’m really proud of you.” I can tell he’s ready to move on to something else, and I smile, pointing to one of his bookshelves. It’s practically overflowing, and I spot some of my favorite titles organized by the color of their spines. “What are you reading right now?”
The boys on the team have a book club, a monthly meeting where they talk about the stories they read. I’ve never been to one, but I hear they’re passionate about their choices. There have been heated debates. Arguments and even a food fight. Grant didn’t talk to anyone for a week because they made fun of his obsession with a fictional character.
I’m glad they have a hobby away from the ice. Something that entertains them when they’re not playing one of their eighty-two games, and that keeps them out of trouble.
“I’d rather not say,” Riley answers.
“Why not?”
“It’s, ah, kind of dark?”
I grin. “Now you have to tell me.”
“You can read it yourself. I finished it last night.” He stands and walks to the bookshelf, grabbing a paperback with a black cover and handing it to me. “Check the trigger warnings. They’re there for a reason.”
I flip to the first page and my eyes widen. “Oh, shit. ‘Exhibitionism’? ‘Gruesome murder’? Two of my favorite things. Can I really borrow it?”
