Page 97 of Hat Trick
“What are the odds, right? He used to be a firefighter, and he was severely burned after rescuing a family from their home. That was, hell, fifteen years ago? Maybe twelve? Being an amputee is second nature to him now, but I’m still learning.”
“And you’re doing a damn good job.” Lexi pulls away and puts both hands on the center of my chest. “He’s going to be so proud of you when you see him next. How could he not be?”
Compliments from her mean more than they do from anyone else. It might be because she doesn’t give them out freely; she’s not Piper, who is a constant a ray of sunshine and loves to be nice to everyone.
Lexi is tougher to crack. She’s a little jaded, sharper around the edges, and it’s becoming more and more clear she has walls up to protect herself because of a situation that’s happened in the past. There’s something holding her back, and I doubt I’ll ever figure out what it is.
“Thanks,” I murmur. “I thought about not coming tonight. Lots of people, lots of physical activity. But I’m glad I did.”
“Why’s that?” she asks.
“Because I got to see you,” I say, and her eyes meet mine. “I’m always glad when I get to see you.”
“Has today been a good day?”
“Yes,” I say without thinking. The word comes naturally when she’s around. “It has.”
“I’m glad. You deserve all the good days, Riley.”
We dance together for another song, only pulling away when the pain in my leg becomes distracting. After, we sit at a table and laugh at my teammates, trying to gauge who’s had the most to drink and who will be the one to shut the party down. When Piper invites her over for a sleepover, Lexi squeezes my shoulder and tells me she’ll see me on Monday for another one of our sessions.
I watch her go, a single thought echoing in my brain.
Funny how all my good days include her.
TWENTY-EIGHT
RILEY
Lexi
Merry Christmas Eve Eve!
I have a gift for you.
Me
You do?
Lexi
Yeah. It’s nothing big, so don’t get your hopes up.
But I wanted to get you something.
Me
I have a gift for you too.
Lexi
You do?
Me
Yup.
I’ll bring it with me to our session today.
