“If you want to give me a list of groceries or things you need, I can swing by the store tomorrow on my way home after work.”
I nodded.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” I turned to Aaron.
He shrugged. “Going to Maeve’s, I guess. Mom thinks I’ll get bored sitting at home alone. I think she’s afraid to leave me alone, even though I’m a teenager.” His expert eye roll proved his age.
I nodded again. “Maybe we can?—”
Kelcie cut me off. “You’ll be resting tomorrow. I have the instructions from the doctor. Until your concussion clears up, you are supposed to rest—at least another five days.”
I waved her off. “I’ve had concussions before. It’s not a big deal. I know when I’ve pushed it too far.”
She was about to put a cookie in her mouth and stopped to stare at me in disbelief. “How many have you had? Besides the one in college?”
I shrugged again. Honestly, concussions came with the territory, but I knew this wasn’t a discussion I wanted to get into with her.
“Fine, I’ll rest tomorrow, alright?” I mumbled like a petulant teen as I bit into my cookie.
I caught Aaron’s chocolatey smile and quiet giggle at me being chastised.
I winked at him then leaned over and whispered, “There will be plenty of time for you and me to hang out.”
He didn’t answer but just kept chewing his cookie and smiling. “My dad is coming to get me next weekend, but we can hang out before that.”
Kelcie’s head dropped to the counter, and her body stiffened.
“Whenever you want, you know where I’ll be.”
We sat quietly, and it was like déjà vu—Kelcie and I sitting at a kitchen counter eating cookies and talking shop—with the addition of an inquisitive boy who kept me on my toes.
It niggled at me, taking me down the “what if” road. What if James had just stayed away? Would this have been us?
12
Shaw
After a few tortuous days of people checking on me, boredom had become my enemy. I wasn’t someone who ran with an entourage, but even during the off-season, I usually had things to do when I got up in the morning—workouts, film, meetings, promotional appearances, etc. So just sitting here all day was killing me.
Unfortunately, until I was cleared by the doctor, Kelcie wouldn’t let me work out. She gave me a few light stretches to keep my muscles from stiffening, but because of the concussion, no cardio. I couldn’t even take a long walk yet. I wasn’t supposed to be on the computer or watch television or use any type of electronic. I had all the blinds in the house drawn shut because the brightness of the sun had been an issue, and I was held up in the house like a damn vampire. Kelcie and Aaron were at work and school, and I didn’t know what to do with myself.
Even if I didn’t have anything on my agenda, Riley usually had somewhere we “had” to go, or my agent would come up with a place I had to make an appearance. There hadn’t been any word from Riley on how things were going with her and the reality show. It was strange how things had changed so much in the last two weeks. Yet, somehow, it seemed…not so weird. Riley and I were great partners. We loved to travel, enjoyed good food, and explored new places. She respected the work I put into the season and understood the off-season wasn’t all fun and games.
Not everyone saw past her superficial veneer, but Riley was smart and driven. She had ambition besides just being my girlfriend and wasn’t looking for me to put a ring on her finger.
I missed her, but mainly, I hoped everything was going well for her.
All I managed to do today was shower and get myself dressed, which, with a broken clavicle and concussion, wasn’t easy. In fact, it took up most of the morning. But by lunch, I’d resorted to seeing how many mac and cheese elbow noodles I could fit on my fork.
So, while I valued my quiet time, not having a set agenda for anytime in the foreseeable future was unnerving.
I had too much time on my hands. Time to think.
I stood in my quaint kitchen in my hometown, living next door to Kelcie, one of my most beloved but disconnected friends.
Twelve birthdays had passed, twelve holiday seasons without her. Twelve football seasons without her smart comments or “suggestions.” And now she and her son were living next door to me. It was as if life had put her in front of me and said, “Fix this.”
Thursday? It was Thursday.
