Page 86 of Game Changer

“Hell no, I didn’t hit my headthathard!”

Ana burst out laughing.

“I’m kidding,” he laughed. “I probably will make more of an effort with them, though. Even just more phone calls, or, something.”

“She’ll be so glad she doesn’t have to ask me how you’re doing any more. Though now you have Lisa in your life she may start fishing for things like when she’s getting grandbabies instead!”

“Someday.”

“Really?” she asked, shocked again. “What is this girl doing to you, Pim? What happened to no marriage, no kids, never ever? Except for the brain-fart Canadian wife thing, I mean.”

“Oy!” AJ laughed. “Lisa happened.”

“I guess so. So, I’ll tell mom that grandkids are back on the table for you then. She’ll be thrilled. She can stop looking at me with grandbaby-hungry eyes and refocus on you. Thank fuck!”

He gave her another comforting squeeze and she lay quiet on his chest until she fell asleep. Having decided that he had been given a second chance at life and he wasn’t wasting it, he was determined to enjoy even the smallest of things. Like having an open conversation with his little sister about things he wouldn’t normally have dared talk to her about, for example. He felt lighter, more relaxed. Whether he liked it or not, she had grown up and he couldn’t protect her like he did when they were kids. But he could be her friend, he could be there for her, and he had every intention of doing just that.

Chapter 26

He was almost asleep when the door opened and Jeremy entered his hospital room.

“Is she here?” Mike, the team’s goaltender, asked at the same time AJ asked, “Is she ok?” and exactly as Lisa walked into the room.

“Later dudes,” Mike said to AJ and Jeremy. “Bye again Lis.”

“Bye, Mike, and thank you,” she replied. “I really am sorry,” she called after him.

Whatever you did, you can fix things with Mike, Lis. Don’t panic. He’s a good guy and he knows things are shit right now.

Jeremy walked over to the bed and hugged AJ. “Dude, hands where I can see them,” Lisa called jokingly.

“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya Irish. I’ll get my lovin’ when he gets outta this place! Peace out, peeps!”

“Later,” AJ replied. “And thanks!”

“Sure,” Jeremy answered as he hugged Lisa.

They’re hugging and she’s not strangling him. What kind of bizarro alternate universe is this?

“Go easy on him,” he warned. “He’s delicate.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “He’s been in a coma for a week and had his head cracked open!”

Lisa sighed, and laughingly dug his ribs with her fist.

“’Cause I’ve not been here for that?”

Play fighting? They’re play fighting. It’s like I’m watching Ana and me right now. This is so, friggin, weird.

“I’m just saying!” Jeremy answered, rubbing the spot she’d hit him.

“Skedaddle,” she instructed.

“Eeeeesh. Bossy! Ok, ok, I’m goin’!” Turning back to AJ he asked if Mike had left his pads.

Lisa chased him out and closed the door and hesitated for a moment or two before turning around to face AJ. He patted the bed beside him, indicating she should join him there. She dropped her bag and coat on the chair and sat on the bed.

Ok, breathe. She seems pretty calm, no longer blood-lusty and screamy. Just explain it to her so she gets it, she’ll understand.

“I –” he began.

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