Page 10 of He Has Trouble (Boston Brawlers Hockey)
“You’re really going to make me work for this, aren’t you?”
“Anything worth having . . .”
“You’re turning into your mother.”
“That’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever given me.”
I raised my brows. “I’ll have to work on that then. I love your mother, but not that way.”
She laughed and threw her hands in the air.
“I’m leaving now.” She went to his back door and opened it, the way she’d done so many mornings, escaping from my house after spending the night to sneak back into her home before anyone in her house woke up. The well in my chest of unbearable longing to feel that bliss again, of waking up with her next to me in my bed, warm and loving and giving, almost brought me to my knees.
What the hell had I done, throwing that away?
I’d been a foolish angry kid.
The question was, had I grown up enough to deserve her now?
Or was I still a shortsighted troublemaker with a chip on my shoulder and something to prove to the unjust universe?
She glanced back at me, as if she’d heard my thoughts and aimed those soul-melting eyes of hers at me.
“I’ve missed you terribly,” she said. “I’m looking forward to spending some time with you.”
Then she disappeared out the door.
