I was going to destroy this phone as badly as any hockey player on the ice might. “I’m an adult. I’m following the goals I set a long time ago. I am smart enough to make my own decisions and decide what is best for my future on my own. And whether that’s to get my PhD or to drop out and get a job selling burgers, that’s my call.”
“Oh, Katie-bug. No. You’re so smart. Don’t waste that.”
Did they think I was intelligent or not? “Just not smart enough to make my own decisions?”
“I think we’re getting a little off topic here.” I wasn’t sure what topic my dad thought we were on. “We wanted to be sure you weren’t getting involved with Joshua again.”
They really did think I couldn’t think in Josh’s presence. Or they had no faith in me.
“Again, that’s my decision. You have no say over who I do or do not date. But do you not realize he’s a big fu—fudging deal here? He’s one of the top players in the NHL. He’s making more money in a year than I’m likely to in a lifetime. Why would he want to entice me off my path to academic glory?”
Another silence. Mom sighed. “You’re right. It’s not like you’re back in high school or have anything in common. We didn’t mean to upset you—his mother made it sound like you two were together and we worried.”
That didn’t make it right. My hands were shaking, and I was in danger of saying something I couldn’t take back. If I ever saw Mrs. Middleton again…
“Moving on—how is Nora doing?” Since Nora hadn’t spilled the beans about my kissing Josh, better for them to think she and I hadn’t talked recently.
My folks might not be happy that she threw away being a doctor for being a mom, but they loved their grandson. I managed to keep the topic off my possible love life for the rest of the call and hung up before they could get back around to it again. After all, I had an academic career taking up my time, so I needed to work.
I was still vibrating with anger an hour after that. Josh’s mother, interfering, trying to break me and Josh up before we could get together. Assuming I’d forget everything that had happened. And my parents—their opinion of my common sense that low…
Well, last time they’d managed to write the script for Josh and me. This time, I was going to make my own decisions. If I wanted to keep seeing Josh as a friend, they could just live with it. Before I could second-guess myself, I sent another text to Josh.
Want to get together when you’re back in town?
Josh
The answer was obviously yes. But getting a time worked out was more difficult.
We had a couple of evening games once we were back, and I didn’t want to have a rushed get-together after I got out of the arena. The way we were losing, we weren’t feeling good after our games.
The next couple of nights that I was free, she had an evening class. Then Cooper had everyone over for a team social event. I was not allowed to bail. I’d asked Katie if she wanted to come, but she said we should talk first.
I spent way too much time trying to work out what that meant. What did she want to talk about, and was that good or bad?
Finally, a week and a half later, I had a night with no game, no team commitments, and she didn’t have anything either. Her roommate was out, so she invited me over. I picked up Thai on the way.
Katie was quiet when she opened the door. “Come on in. Thanks for getting dinner.”
I smiled at her, wanting her to be comfortable. She shouldn’t ever feel bad around me. Whatever she said, I wasn’t going to be angry. Disappointed maybe, but not angry.
I followed her to the kitchen. She had plates and utensils out on the island, so I set the food down and started to pull out the containers.
“Want a beer?”
“Sure. Whatcha got?”
That got a grin out of her. “Keith’s. Madeline also has a couple of craft beers and some wine if you’d rather.”
“Keith’s for sure. Cooper had some of that expensive shit at his place the other night, but why pay more for something that’s only half as good?”
“Exactly. Madeline says I’m brainwashed.”
“The guys tell me the same thing. Too bad—they’re the ones losing out.”
Katie set my beer in front of me and settled on a stool. For a minute, we were busy sharing the food.
She took a bite and moaned. “That’s so good.”
