Page 19 of There is No Try

“They won, Leo scored the winning goal. Gav is staying the night at their house tonight. But how are you? How’s your leg?”

“Not good,” I groan. “Nasty ankle sprain, I have to keep off it for weeks.”

“Fuck, Luc. I’m so sorry. What does that mean for your contract?”

“I don’t know yet. But even if they release me, I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”

Two weeks and no less than a hundred angry phone calls later, I’m forced to break my promise to the love of my life.

CHAPTER 10

BRIDGET

Asmall part of me knew it was a possibility, but seeing Lucas go hurt more than I ever thought it would. I don’t blame his club for trading him back to Brisbane; they need a hooker who isn’t warming a bench. My heart shattered into a million pieces the morning he boarded his plane for Australia, and for the past few days, it’s taken everything in me to not burst into tears. Trying to remain strong for Gavin is more difficult as each day passes.

Nora was kind enough to pick up Gav from school and drop him at home this week. The moment they’re here, the boys scurry off to the bedroom. Once they’re out of earshot, I allow myself to fall apart.

“Bridge,” Nora sighs, bringing me in for a warm hug.

Doing my best to stifle my sobs, I admit, “I miss him, so fucking much, Nor.”

“You can go see him,” she offers. “Gavin can stay with Ronan and me. We have the space and Leo would be thrilled.”

“What good would I do? Luc is living on the other side of the world for at least a year. It’s better if I stay here and forget he ever came to Cork.”

Nora releases me and laughs. “He’s your husband. It’s a little hard to forget him.”

“True.” I chuckle, wiping my nose on the sleeve of my shirt. I could never forget him, even if we weren’t married.

“You’re miserable. Go visit your husband. Lucas isn’t able to play yet, and though Ronan isn’t supposed to share conversations from therapy, he did tell me Luc’s bloody miserable without you. Ronan’s still a little upset about you and Luc, but I think it’s mostly because he wants to walk you down the aisle and hasn’t had the chance yet. Also, seeing Lucas broken hearted softened him a bit.”

“Ronan has no room to be angry about anything,” I huff. “He knew you dated his goalie when you were younger, but he still pursued you. This is no different. Lucas knew who I was the day he stepped foot in Cork. It isn’t as if we slept together and he found out I was his mate's sister after the fact.”

“I know, the hypocrisy is ridiculous, but I really feel he’s come around to all of it. Lucas is a good man, and it’s clear he wasn’t using you.”

I blow out a long breath and nod. “Maybe a quick trip?”

“There’s nothing quick about a full day of travel in each direction,” she deadpans.

I check my watch and it’s about time to eat before Gav’s football practice. Nora and Leo stay for a quick dinner and I’m gratefulmy husband’s name doesn’t come up again. We get the boys to practice and once we’re back home I sit Gavin down for a chat.

“I’m thinking of visiting Lucas,” I begin.

“When are we going?” he asks excitedly, shifting in his seat. “I miss him.”

“Oh, I was thinking of going by myself. Nora offered to have you stay with them while I go.”

“No. I think we should move.”

“What?” I bark out a laugh. We have been trying to move for months, but the housing market hasn’t been in our favour... and then Lucas left. “I don’t think it’s the right time.”

“Not here. We should be where Lucas is.” He says it so matter-of-factly, he’s clearly given this some thought.

“You’d want to move away from your friends, from school, from family?”

“Lucas is our family too. He tried to stay. He would’ve stayed. Cork didn’t want him, but you do. And so do I.”

I pull Gav in for a tight hug, willing myself to not cry. My brilliant son is smarter than I am most days and if he’s up for a big change, then so am I. With nothing standing in our way, I book two one-way tickets to Brisbane for three weeks from today.

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