Page 79 of The Do-Over Girl

After we’re both dressed and I take my dose of pain meds, I walk to the gala with Kali down the street to the big gallery overlooking the bay.

“Does it hurt?”

“Yes.” Then I laugh at her instant expression of concern. “Don’t worry, I’ve been through a lot worse. I was inoculated to the trial of injuries at a young age. I wasn’t kidding when I said it’s the cost of doing business. The hockey business isn’t for the faint of heart.”

“And we both know you’re anything but faint-hearted.” She has her tongue in her cheek, testing my resolve to limit the PDAs tonight.

Then she says, “Your ex showing up was a surprise,” and that helps cool me off. “Though maybe not. When she called you that morning, she told you she wanted to talk about getting back together, didn’t she?”

“Bingo. I met with her in Portland, and we had a heart-to-heart, but it was pretty one-sided. I wasn’t truly interested. Besides, she still doesn’t want children, even if she pretends she’ll consider it.” I look into Kali’s eyes. “Truthfully, even if she wanted to have a dozen of my babies, I didn’t want to get back together with her.” Then I stop talking while Kali stares at me, waiting for the rest.

But I can’t say any more or explain how I got over my ex so completely and quickly because the words don’t form, and the reasons won’t congeal into actual sentences. Whatever is stopping me from going back with my ex hides like a mysterious secret, the kind I don’t want to try too hard to figure out because there’s too much at stake. I don’t know what my problem is besides some kind of emotional paralysis.

All I know is as long as I’m in the here and now with Kali, I’m okay. So, that’s where I’m staying.

* * *

To kickoff the Save Andrews Point Gala, the Trustees do most of the talking, thanking people for their support and acknowledging the contributions of Nikki, Archie, and Kali. Then they acknowledge the team, with high praise for Dylan Zappola, and even acknowledge his dad for the work on the rink.

And just when I think I’m off the hook, old fleshy face calls out my name, followed by a whole lot of applause and a whole lot of praise.

That’s when I’m asked to take the stage and say a few words myself. There’s no way out of it. Nikki warned me this would happen, so I’m prepared.

Short speech. “And there’s one person in particular who I’m grateful to above all others. She knows who she is.” I wink at Kali, throwing her into the spotlight to let her shine because she deserves it. She’d made me promise not to mention her name, which I didn’t technically, but I know I’ll take shit for it later.

Once the symbolic oversized check passes hands between the Trustees and Nikki and the speeches are done, I melt back into the crowd. Kali sticks by me, watching out for my shoulder like a lineman protecting the quarterback’s blindside.

Until she sees someone in the crowd and then dashes off, saying she’s going to the ladies’ room, but that’s not where she goes. I watch her as she hurries in the opposite direction, circles around, grabs some dude by the arm and drags him into an anteroom. Well, fuck.

I follow. Because what the fuck?

But as soon as I see the man—who must be Brad—embracing Kali like he has a right, I regret my decision. I back away like I’ve seen a ghost. I’m the one who has no right. Maybe I should back away altogether to let her go back to her life in New York. With fucking Brad.

The vile idea disappears as soon as I stalk back to the bar, and anger takes its place.

Archie findsme there as I order a shot of whiskey.

“Is that wise with the meds you’re on?” he says in a low voice, looking around.

I give him the finger surreptitiously, and he laughs.

“Thought so.” He turns to the bartender and says, “I’ll have what he’s having.” Archie joins me for a shot, unlike Kali, who would never have let me have whiskey.

But then again, it’s kind of her fault I’m feeling the need. I slug it down the back of my throat in one gulp and hang onto the burn. Archie does the same.

“Want a ride home?” he asks. “You’re done with all the official speeches and shit. Let’s go.”

“Why not?”

“There you are.” Kali sweeps in, her voice, her scent, her energy lighting me up before I even look at her.

“Never mind,” Archie says, giving Kali a smile and saluting me.

“I was just about to leave,” I say to her.

“Why?” She leans against the bar, eying my empty shot glass.

“You seem to have other plans with some polished guy who looks like he’s straight up from New York City. If I had to guess, I’d say his name is Brad.”