Page 126 of Voices

Standing, I pull the blanket over his shoulder and bend down to kiss the side of his head.

“I love you, beautiful.”

I leave my room, keeping the door cracked, finding Ryder in the kitchen making a sandwich with the last of the turkey.

“Still no luck?”

I shake my head as I sit on one of the bar stools at the island.

“He’ll come around. I’m sure it’s just his body’s way of healing. Give him a few days.”

“Yeah.” I take my hat off and scrub my hands over my short hair.

Ryder comes around the island and sits next to me, sliding a sandwich in front of me.

“Thanks.”

He slaps me on the back. “No problem, man.”

We eat in silence for a few minutes before he turns his head to me with a sly grin.

“What’s that look for.”

“Jack had to drive Benji to the game yesterday. The dumb fuck didn’t even know his car was missing until fifteen minutes before warmups. I heard him talking to someone on the phone, offering a thousand dollars for them to find it.” He rolls his eyes and takes a bite out of his sandwich.

“Think you guys can get him alone today? I want answers but I don’t want to leave Charlie if I don’t need to.”

He nods as he finishes off his sandwich. “Matt said he’s seen Benji at the bar right off campus on Sundays to watch football with a couple of guys from the team. I know one of the waitresses and can get her to flirt with Benji and have her tell him to meet her in the alley behind the bar where we’ll be waiting.”

“Sounds simple enough. But make sure Matt keeps his hands to himself. We can’t have him getting kicked off the team, for his sake or ours.”

“I’ll do all the talking plus I don’t think Ash will let him get within three feet of Benji,” he snorts. “I only need Matt for his size to scare Benji from trying to run.”

I finish my sandwich. “Let me know how it goes.” Grabbing our plates, I quickly rinse them off and add them to the dishwasher.

“Matt said he and Asher are ready,” he holds up his phone. “I’ll see you later with some answers.”

We fist bump and he heads out the door.

I’m walking back to my room when I get a text from Lily.

Feisty pants: I’m coming over!

Me:

Feisty pants: That’s it? Just a thumbs up? No witty response?

Me: Not feeling it today

Feisty pants: I’ll be there in like ten minutes.

I peek into my room, checking that Charlie is still asleep. I watch him for a few minutes, wishing I could do more. I don’t even know what’s happening, but I can feel a heavy sadness surrounding him. I thought he was feeling better yesterday when he sat up for more than a couple of minutes and his eye was open for most of the morning. Now it seems like something as simple as speaking takes more effort than it should.

A sudden wave of anger hits me, my jaw tensing, fists clenching at my sides. I’m ready to hurt someone. I don’t care who it is. Someone needs to pay for doing this to Charlie. I’d throw my chance at getting into the NHL if it meant beating the absolute shit out of whoever did this.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, and slowly let it out to calm myself. My hands have a slight tremor as I step away from my door.

I let the fury I just felt settle deep into my soul, where it’ll be waiting.

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