Page 63 of Game Changer

“You sure?”

She nodded.

“You can stop running, you know?” he spoke softly as he looked into her eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you’re a part of my life here, Lis, you don’t need to run.”

“I was scared and embarrassed… I don’t like causing a scene. I’m not supposed to be your girlfriend.”

That doesn’t mean you aren’t. Or that I don’t want to be entirely yours. No Canadian wife in the way. I really want you to be my wife, Lis.

She paused and looked at him. “I guess I haven’t quite figured out how to behave in public with you yet. I knew you’d follow and I knew I couldn’t fall apart in your arms in the bar. I didn’t want your friends to see me upset. I didn’t want any more trouble than had already been caused.”

Christ, AJ. She feels guilty at how her behavior may reflect on you. You do not deserve this woman.

“Shhhh…” he soothed, stroking her cheek. “You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I love you. I want to be with you. My friends know the truth about Britt, and about you. You don’t need to bite your tongue or hold back. My friends are a welcoming bunch, they’ll love you ‘cause I love you. They’ll protect you, because it’s just what they do. You’ll be part of the family. It’s a tight-knit group to crack from the outside, but you’re with me, and that’s enough for them. If you want it, it’s there. It’s up to you, Lis. You can be as involved as you’d like in my life, the door is open. But, as far as everyone is concerned, you’re here for the long-haul. I know you, you’re a fighter. You’re the strongest person I know. And you may feel like youneedto run away, to hide who you really are from me, and from my friends, and it’s ok if you do. But I need you to know that it’s ok to run towards us, too. I’m not going anywhere. I am yours. My sister already likes you more than she likes me. The others likely will, too. But you need to be yourself. Speak up if you’re hurt or angry, and don’t shy away from them. I already know who you are and I’m ready for the rest of the people in my life to know the strong, spunky and outspoken Irish badass I fell in love with. Just be you.”

Tears trickled down her face as she buried herself in his shoulder. “I’m struggling, AJ. It’s a lot to process. I feel like everyone’s waiting for me to fall apart, but I already am falling apart inside. This isn’t quite how I imagined our life to be once I stepped off the plane and met your sister.”

“I know and I’m so sorry for that.”

So goddamn sorry. It’s not how I imagined our life to be, either. In my defense, you hopped a flight and surprised me.

You don’t have a defense. You married your oldest friend behind your girlfriend’s back. That’s indefensible.

“It’s ok to be overwhelmed and to feel like you don’t know which way is up. You don’t have to put on a brave face for the team, or my family, or even for me. I’m not ok with being fake-married right now, either. It’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling. You don’t need to hide or run away.”

“Thank you for always being there to dry my tears,” she told him between sniffles.

“Well, since I’m largely the cause of them, it’s the least I can do,” he half-joked. “Plus, I’m kinda hoping you’ll dry mine someday when I need you to.”

“Deal,” she answered, and kissed him through her tears.

Chapter 19

If he was honest with himself, AJ was concerned. His stomach felt tight with anxiety as he skated out onto the ice for the game. While the game was important, he’d promised Lisa he’d stay the hell away from Dwight and wouldn’t beat him to a bloody pulp on the ice in front of a few thousand fans, just for fun.

I’m already regretting making that promise.

Anger bubbled inside him and he was restless and irritable. He couldn’t shake the pained look on Lisa’s face from the previous night after Dwight had assaulted her. She’d eventually calmed down and fallen asleep in his arms, but was obviously upset.

And rightly so. What’s so difficult to understand? No means no, it’s pretty simple. It’s one of the first words we learn to say – we all know what the hell it means.

As the game progressed, it began to descend into chaos. Both teams were sloppy and by the start of the second, a higher than normal number of players had spent time in the penalty box. AJ was frustrated. He had deliberately avoided spending any length of time on the ice with Dwight. He was holding his promise to Lisa, while simultaneously having a pretty good game.

If I do say so myself,he thought as he caught a pass from Jeremy behind Mike’s net in his own zone.

Wait. Is that Lisa scream-

He felt a shunt from behind, but couldn’t stop himself colliding with the thick plexi glass.

***

When he came to, he was disorientated and confused.

My mouth is so damn dry.

---