Page 74 of Tripped Up

“Is this a family affair?” Henry asks. “Can anyone join?”

My best friend sighs. “What the fuck. Why not? Who else wants to join?”

I glance at Riley curiously, but he shakes his head. “I’m not going to touch this situation with a ten-foot pole.”

“Probably a good idea,” Viggy says, reaching over to shake Mitch’s hand. They work out together in the offseason. “We’ve been taking care of her.”

My best friend relaxes a little. “Good. I’m glad.”

“She’s family,” Henry chimes in, surprisingly serious. “Family means we look out for each other. On and off the ice.”

A wave of affection washes over me. “You’re not so bad, Henry.”

He winks at me. “Shh. Don’t tell anyone. You might ruin my reputation.”

Aaaand that’s the guy I’ve come to know.

“Okay, Mitch and I are going to hang out now,” I announce. “We can go for dinner later.”

Taking him by the arm, I lead him over to the couches where Bex and I passed out a few weeks ago.

“Tell me everything that’s been going on with you,” I demand as we get comfortable.

“Nothing’s going on,” he mutters. “I’m not the one who moved halfway across the country, started a new job, and started dating a total asshole. I want to hear about you.”

I make a face. “Don’t be like that.”

“Seriously, Els?” He shakes his head. “There are so many guys out there. Hell, he has twenty-two teammates you could have gone out with. Why’d you have to pick him?”

With a shrug, I focus on meeting his eye. “I didn’t want to.”

“But you did.”

“It just… happened. I couldn’t stop it until I was in too deep. And now I don’t want to.”

I like Wyatt. I could easily see myself falling for him.

And I’m almost certain he won’t break my heart again. Almost.

“He’s good for me,” I tell Mitch now. “He pushes me.”

His eyebrows go up. “Pushes you how?”

“To go outside my comfort zone, to try new things.” Glancing around the lounge,I make sure none of the players are paying attention to us before lowering my voice. “He talked me through a panic attack. He talks with me. I feel like I really know him.”

“But do you?”

“I think so, yeah.”

He’s told me things, stuff I don’t think even Bex knows about her brother. His frustration with their family is only the tip of the iceberg. He’s talked about his anxiety, about the ways his therapist and sports psychologist have helped him.

What we haven’t talked about is what he wants after hockey. Does he expect a nice little wife and a bunch of kids running around? Does he want to coach or go into broadcasting?

I have no intention of giving up music. It’s my career. I’ve worked hard to get here, and I plan to keep playing for as long as I can. Eventually, I might go back and get my PhD. Given how he feels about his family’s education, will that be a deal breaker? I’m not asking him to go back to school. I respect his decision that it’s not a priority for him. But that doesn’t mean he’d be comfortable with me going for a doctorate.

And at the end of the day, my education is mine. It’s my decision. I can’t let him influence that. I don’t think he’d tell me not to do it, but if he’s uncomfortable or feeling emasculated by my career path, that’s not good, either.

I really hope I have a future that includes him. Whatever that looks like… I want him by my side. I want him to support me as I reach for my goals, just as I would do the same for him.