Page 76 of The Recovery Coach
Lover side-eyed him.“Calm your tits.We’re taking things slow.”
“Could have fooled me,” Hazy mumbled, going back to prepping vegetables.
“I won’t hurt her.”
“I know you won’ttryto hurt her.But can you see yourself with her, like forever?”
Lover shrugged.“I’m more worried about her being able to see herself with me forever.”
Hazy set aside the last of the chopped ingredients and dropped his cutting board into the sink.“Once she’s in, she’s all in.If you don’t want that, you need to tell her now.”
Lover stopped what he was doing and surprised Hazy by wrapping him in a bear hug.Hazy returned the embrace, pesky little tears welling up in his eyes again.
“We are both adults who know what we are doing.”
He was probably right.If they wanted his opinion, they would ask for it.They seemed to be happy.“It’s going well, then?”
When Lover let go of him, his grin stretched ear to ear.“It’s going great, man!I can’t believe you never tried to date her.She’s gorgeous and hilarious.It’s like dating a ray of sunshine.”
He couldn’t believe he’d never tried to date her either.It may end up being the biggest regret of his life.He couldn’t say that, though.“I’m glad you’re having fun.”
“Thanks.I think we’re going out a couple of times this week.She has some botanical gardens she wants to show me?I don’t know.But she makes everything fun, so I’m sure it’ll be great.”
She’d never mentioned any gardens to him.They spent months together when he first got hurt, lazing most of the days away.If she wanted to go to some gardens, they could have gone.They still could go.“Huh, I don’t know where that would be.When are you doing that?”
“Wednesday, I think.We have a game Thursday and then game night Friday.”
It was the only free evening they would have that week.Hazy frowned.
Lover clocked his displeasure.“What?”he asked.
“I miss you,” Hazy admitted.He couldn’t admit to everything.He couldn’t have Livy.But he could at least tell his friends that he didn’t want to lose their company.
Lover rubbed his back.“I miss you too.Now can we please talk about literally anything else?”
“Yeah, okay.”
They fell into a familiar ritual of making dinner, but they normally would have chattered about upcoming games, reality TV, and social plans.It felt like neither of them could find lighthearted words.They’d been attached at the hip for half a decade, and they stood inches apart, but they might as well have been on opposite sides of the world.
Hazy couldn’t take it anymore.He cranked the volume up on their favorite playlist, hoping it would put them both at ease again.
Chapter 27
Olivia
Oliviasatinaplush armchair in a cafe close to the practice rink.She took a big sip of her white chocolate Americano, debating what to say.
Jake beat her to the punch.He never let her get away with anything and read her like an open book.“You’re in love with Hazy again, then?”
Olivia set her drink on the side table and buried her face in her hands.She groaned.
“Not again.Still.I’m sorry for how he acted earlier.I don’t know what crawled up his asshole and died today.”
“It’s fine.I’ve met him a few times before; he seemed a little off.I see what you see in him, though.Gorgeous, funny, really fucking good at hockey.”
“Ah, yes.The big three.”Olivia laughed.
“Are you certain he doesn’t love you back?He seemed weirdly protective.”
