Page 8 of Scoring the Mountain Man

“Then allow Brey to help you. Plus, you were getting grumpy, and I remembered how you used to say she could bring light into anyone’s dark day when we were kids.”

“I never said that,” I tell him.

“Yes, you did and I figured that was the type of medicine you needed. So how did it go?”

“Have you not spoken to her?”

“I did before your appointment, but not since. I thought I would call you and see how it went.”

“It was fine. She had me do some exercises that I need to do for the next two weeks before I see the doctor again,” I say, letting out a sigh.

“Good. That’s good. You need to listen to her, because man we need you back on the team.”

“I’ll do what needs to be done to get back on the ice,” I tell him.

“I’m glad to hear it, and don’t be so grumpy to Brey. She’s only trying to help you get better.”

“Man, I would never do anything to disrespect your sister, but she may want to dial down her positivity until we see if it all helps,” I tell him.

I hear him laugh and it grates on me.

“Dude, you need all the positivity you can get right now.”

“I need to go,” I mumble, no longer wanting to talk.

“Fine, but do those exercises like she told you.”

“Yeah,” I say before hanging up.

I look at the sheet that Aubrey left sitting next to me and shake my head. This is going to be harder than I thought and not because of the exercises, but because of my heart.

I have two weeks before I see her again to bury my feelings inside me, for her sake and the sake of my friendship with Wes.

Two weeks later

“Mr. Wilde, you are healing nicely, and I see you have been doing the exercises your physical therapist has prescribed?” he asks, rather than stating.

I nod my head.

“Good. I see no reason that you can’t move onto the next phase of therapy. I’ll be sure to let your therapist know.”

“Thanks, Doc, I appreciate that,” I tell him as I gently get off the exam table and make my way to the door.

Wes is waiting for me in the waiting room and stands when I walk out.

“How did it go?” he asks, concern etched in his eyes.

“Good. Doc says I’m ready for the next phase of therapy.”

A smile breaks out over Wes’ face and I can’t help but see Aubrey’s same smile in my mind. They really do look alike. Same blond hair, same smile, but different eyes. Wes has their mother’s brown eyes, but Aubrey has their father’s blue eyes. The color of a clear blue sky.

I shake those thoughts out of my head as Wes and I slowly walk back to his car so he can drive me back home.

Aubrey should be coming by tomorrow to start the next phase and I need to figure out how I am going to get through this.

“Hey, can you stop by the grocery store before we head up to the cabin? I need to restock while I’m here in town, since the doc hasn’t cleared me to drive yet.” I ask Wes.

“Of course, man,” he says enthusiastically.

---