“You’re more than welcome. If he starts harassing you, let me know and I’ll bring it to the court. Now, I have to go pick up my kids and get dinner started.”
We say goodbye and I turn to Christa. “They served him.”
She lets out a breath. “That was quick.”
I nod. My phone rings again and it’s the sheriff from back home. I let it go to voicemail. I don’t want to deal with him.
“That Joe?”
“No, it’s his uncle, the sheriff from back home.”
“He can go get fucked. That asshole let his nephew off.”
“And here you said I sounded weird cussing.”
She shrugs. “Like your nana said, sometimes it’s called for. Go pull up Prime Video while I order pizza. My account is already signed in since I have more movies than anyone else.”
“Aren’t you afraid someone will just start ordering stuff?”
“I have a lock on it. They have to know my pin number to make purchases.”
My phone starts ringing again. It’s Joe this time. I let it go to voicemail. I don’t want to hear his voice.
Christa takes my phone. “Go turn on the TV. I’ll keep this for a while. If Hutch or Collin calls I’ll give it back. Okay?”
I nod, feeling myself start to shut down. Panic is setting in. He’s mad. I know he’s mad. Why did I let Hutch talk me into doing this? It’ll only make things worse.
My phone rings again and I jump but go sit down. My fingers fumble with the remote and it slips out of my hand its shaking so badly.
What if he comes here and no one’s home? I’m not strong enough to fight him. He’s bigger than me and has more strength than I do. He proved that the day he almost killed me. I’m not stupid enough to think he won’t kill me if he gets his hands on me again.
“Easy,” Christa whispers. “It’s going to be okay, Daisy. I promise.”
It’s a promise she can’t keep. We both know it, but I’ll hold onto it until Hutch gets here. Maybe I’ll start to feel safe with him wrapped around me.
Closing my eyes, I say a prayer and do my best to keep myself from falling apart until he gets home.
CHAPTER 35
Hutch
Daisy was right.Our first official day as a Raptor was spent doing paperwork, meeting with the marketing team, and a photographer was there as well. They’re going to do a full press release with photos of us on the ice and off the ice. Local boys and all that. Then we had to meet with the coaching team and be evaluated by the medical staff. We were fitted out with our uniforms and new skates. In my trunk is currently a lot of Raptors merch I was encouraged to hand out. We were given a training and conditioning schedule that is not nearly as brutal as I was expecting. We did more on our college team honestly. Collin was shocked as well.
By the time the end of the day rolled around, we still hadn’t gotten to meet the team. Which sucked. I really wanted to play. But there’s an early practice tomorrow and a game on Wednesday. We’ve been given a pass for tonight’s game since we weren’t able to do anything except paperwork. Coach said he wanted us there by seven am to start work. He said he was glad to have us on the team, but I doubt I’ll see him as much as I dothe coach who trains the centers on the team. I might even get to work with Shaw Chandler, my favorite player. He still makes me a little starstruck.
I pull up to Daisy’s house and cut the engine, suddenly so tired I don’t even want to get out of the Jeep. “You cool with sleeping on the couch or do you want me to take you back to the Hockey house?”
“Did you see the email from student housing? We need to be out by the end of the week.”
I expected it after Daisy pointed out we weren’t on the team anymore and they’d need the beds for actual players. Still, it’ll be a shock. I’ve lived in that house for three years.
“We need to find us a cheap apartment to rent close to Mama Kat, Daisy, and the training center.” Collin yawns. “Fuck I’m tired.”
“Me too and we didn’t do shit today.”
“Did you look over the diet plan?”
I shake my head. “I was afraid to.”
