Page 97 of The Chemistry Coach
Connor followed her into the restroom and twisted the lock on the main door for privacy.Daisy was already crying, and she would hate for anyone to see.The sniffles coming from the bathroom stall were enough to shatter him.His bruised and bloody heart would never heal at this rate.She opened the stall door upon his arrival, but when she recognized him, she tried to slam it in his face.He stuck an arm out, blocking the door open.
He pushed into the stall and grabbed her arm, dragging her into the main part of the restroom.She didn’t fight him, so he pushed his luck and pulled her into his arms, doing the very thing he told himself he wouldn’t and wrapping himself around her.She was stiff for several long moments before returning his hug.
Deep sobs wracked her body, and Connor couldn’t help his own tears falling in response.They stood in that public bathroom for a long time, holding each other and crying, both of them crushed and helpless.When her shoulders had stilled and sniffles had quieted, she pulled away from him and said, “I’m sorry.”
He cupped her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe away tears and the smudged makeup beneath her bloodshot eyes.
“Oh sweetheart, what are you sorry for?I’m the one who left.”
Lingering tears streaked down her face, and he pulled her into his chest, not ready to relinquish his hold on her.
“I could have answered when you called.I could have messaged you.Or told you how I felt.”
“I could have done those things too.That first night.But I didn’t.It took your personal bodyguard hunting me down and kicking my ass for me to grow the balls to say a single word to you.I fucked up.I’m the one who should be sorry.”Connor rubbed her back in slow circles and planted soft kisses on her hair.
Her fingers knotted in his shirt, her forehead against his chest.They were both crying and dripping snot, but for the first time in weeks he felt whole.If this were all he would ever get from her, he’d take it.
“I love you.”He whispered his confession so softly he doubted whether she had heard it until she started sobbing again.
“I love you too.”She told him through gasping, shaky breaths.He led her to the sink and helped her splash cold water on her face before repeating the process for himself.
She stared dead-eyed into the mirror and sighed.“I can’t go back out there,” she told him.
He agreed.He looked like death.The whole group would worry if they went out there looking like this.He tapped out a text, and a minute later a light knock sounded.Connor unlocked the door, and Valentine stuck his head in the room.“I brought your keys.Are you two okay?You’ve been in here for a while.”He lowered his voice to what was supposed to be a whisper but was still loud.“There’s like a really long line out here.”
Daisy laughed, a high-pitched hysterical sound, and walked toward the door, her steps unsteady.Connor looped his arm around her waist and led her past Lover and out the back door.
When they got to Daisy’s apartment, Connor invited himself in.If she told him to go, he would, but if she was willing to be in his presence, he would soak in every possible second.
Before he could shut the door behind him, Daisy stripped out of her clothes, dropping pieces behind her as she stumbled toward the bathroom.He didn’t follow her.She loved him, but the logistics wouldn’t work out.The shower started, and he listened intently, worried she would fall.The alcohol hit her hard on the way home.
Connor wandered her living room while he waited for her to shower.He tried to absorb every detail, to see it through new eyes.He memorized the books on her shelves, the games, and the snacks spread out on the coffee table
When he got to her pyramid of hockey pucks, he picked one up.It had a smiley face drawn on it in familiar silver ink.He went through the stack, smiling at every Love You, and Darlin’, and stick figure.When he’d gone through the last of them, he re-stacked them as he’d found them.
Daisy took a long time in the shower, so he knocked on the door to check on her.“Just a minute!”she yelled.
For lack of anything better to do he plopped on her couch, marveling at how comfortable he’d come to be in this space.He dug around the cushions for the remote and thought he’d found it when he pulled out yet another hockey puck.The sloppy scrawl on it read, ‘Daisy loves Connor’.For a second he considered pocketing it, stealing a little reminder that this was real.
He smiled and set it out on the coffee table, continuing his search for the remote.His search came up empty, but only because it got interrupted by a soaking wet, naked Daisy exiting the bathroom.She stomped over to him and demanded his hand, using it to drag him to his feet.
“You’re wearing so many clothes,” she whined, the words slurring together.
“And I’m going to keep my clothes on.”Connor told her.
“Whyyy?”Daisy wasn’t happy with that news.
“A few reasons, but mostly because you are drunk out of your mind.”
“I’m so drunk.”Daisy gave an exaggerated nod of agreement.“I’m also naked!”she twirled in a circle, hands raised to the sky.
Connor laughed, “I see that.”
She pulled him by the hand toward her bedroom.“Tuck me in!”
Connor grabbed a towel from the bathroom and wrapped it around her, rubbing her down so she wouldn’t soak the bed.He pulled her knotted mess of a blanket off the bed and waited for her to lie down before draping it over her and tucking the edges under her body.Then he kissed her forehead and moved to leave, but she caught his wrist.
“Please stay with me.”Her voice was small, but she seemed more lucid than she’d been moments before.
