Page 8 of The Recovery Coach
She cut right to the chase.“I went to the bank.”
“And?”
“Our joint account is empty.I’d like my portion of the money returned so I can get a hotel room.”There.She could be polite.
Lance snorted, slamming his car door.“There’s no money.I don’t have ‘your portion.’It’sour money, and I spent it onour household.”
Bile rose in Olivia’s throat.How had he spentalltheir money?They worked hard for years to get to a comfortable place financially.
“You had no right to spend my money.”
“My name is on the account.It’s my money.You were never good with finances; maybe you squandered it.”
Olivia wouldn’t let him gaslight her into thinking this was her fault.When they first got together, she had a horrible time managing money.She’d struggled with a shopping addiction as a college student, her money disappearing before her bills came out, resulting in almost facing eviction on multiple occasions.
Money had always been tight growing up.If she didn’t spend her money as soon as she got it, she didn’t get to spend it.It would inevitably supplement the family income, going toward groceries, gas, and unexpected emergencies.She should probably see a therapist, but that cost a lot of money she obviously didn’t have.
Lance started toward the elevator.Olivia marched after him, digging through her purse.
“What the hell do you suggest I do then?”she asked.
“You can always come home,” he said, his arrogance grating on her nerves.
“You said we were over when I left.”
“I changed my mind.”
“We’re not getting back together.”If she gave in, they would fall into the same pattern they’d been in, and she would delude herself into thinking he would change.
“Bummer,” Lance’s tone fell flat.“Guess you’re on your own.”
Olivia’s heart dropped into her stomach.She didn’t know what she had expected, but it certainly wasn’t him leaving her to suffer.Angry tears tickled her nose and spilled over her cheeks.She pulled the bank statement from her purse and handed it to him.
“You took the money; please put it back.”
He scanned the bank statement, then shoved it at her, pressing the button on the elevator.The doors slid open, and he stepped inside.
“Come home, or figure it out yourself.”He pushed the door close button, and the elevator shut in Olivia’s face.
Chapter 4
Hazy
Hazyhadtoleavefor his game before he could touch base with Livy, but she would be in the stands that evening.The previous evening she hid away in her bedroom, and he heard her crying, but when he knocked, she didn’t answer.Leaving her to her own devices had been a mental battle, but he did it, knowing she would come to him if she wanted comfort.
Excitement and anxiety filled him, the same as it had every game she’d attended since he entered the NHL.Livy held the title of being his original number-one fan.In recent years she’d attended a handful of his games, and they’d always been high-event games for him.Once he’d gotten a hat trick.Most times he had multi-point games.He hoped she’d continue being his good luck charm for the upcoming battle with his team’s rival.
For years the Freeze considered the San Jose Raptors their biggest rival.The rivalry fizzled when Connor “Beanie” Greene married Daisy Mayes.Daisy was best friends with Patrick Mills, the Raptors’ star forward.It put the teams on friendly terms, their animosity toward each other dwindling into nothing without Beanie and Patrick fighting constantly.
With San Jose and Seattle playing nice it didn’t take long for the Calgary Bulls to take the reins as the biggest assholes in the NHL.Meeting the Freeze in the second round of the playoffs two years in a row encouraged some unfriendly competition.When a Calgary player served a dirty hit on Seattle’s young star, Seth Cross, injuring him, their fates were sealed.
Hazy grabbed a soccer ball and summoned Beanie and Lover from their stationary bikes.The three Connors had a game day ritual to keep.They’d already taken their pre-game naps at Beanie’s house.
Hazy juggled the ball with his knees and toes for a few bounces before kicking it Lover’s direction.
“Olivia seems chill,” Lover said.“Not what I expected, but she’s nice.”
“Leave her alone,” Hazy replied, surprised by his own annoyance.
