Page 107 of Across the Boards

It’s not entirely true—there is something to worry about, or at least something to discuss. But it’s a start, an attempt at the honesty that forms the foundation of the relationship I want to build.

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of work and preparations for Seattle. I book my flight, confirm my hotel reservation, review my panel notes. Normal, productive tasks that help push thoughts of Jason to the background.

At 6:45, I change into jeans and a comfortable sweater, nothing fancy but still presentable. This isn’t a date; it’s a conversation. An important one.

Brody arrives precisely at 7:00, a small bouquet of daisies in hand. “Thought these might brighten your day,” he says, kissing my cheek as he enters. “You seemed stressed in your texts.”

“Thank you.” I accept the flowers, touched by the gesture. “They’re lovely.”

“Not as lovely as you, but they try their best.” He follows me to the kitchen, leaning against the counter as I find a vase. “So, what did you want to talk about? You had me a little worried.”

I take a deep breath, arranging the daisies before turning to face him. “I got texts from Jason today. Vaguely threatening ones.”

His expression darkens immediately, the bruise along his jaw seeming more pronounced as he tenses. “What kind of threats?”

I show him the screenshots I took before blocking the number, watching his face carefully as he reads. His jaw tightens, a muscle ticking near his temple, but he remains outwardly calm.

“He knows about Seattle,” Brody says finally, looking up. “How?”

“Hockey gossip network, probably,” I say with a shrug that aims for casual but falls short. “Sarah thinks someone mentioned I’d be away, and he connected the dots.”

“And Miami plays Seattle on Wednesday.” Brody hands back my phone, his movements controlled, deliberate. “Convenient timing.”

“It’s probably just intimidation tactics,” I say, though I’m not entirely convinced. “Jason likes to feel in control, especially when his ego’s been bruised.”

“And I definitely bruised it.” Brody rubs a hand across his jaw. “I’m sorry, Elliot. This is my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” I say firmly. “Jason’s behavior is his responsibility, not yours. I just... wanted you to know. No secrets.”

He studies me for a moment, something warm flickering in his eyes. “Thank you for telling me. I know that wasn’t easy.”

“Sarah may have pointed out that hiding things isn’t a great relationship foundation,” I admit. “She can be annoyingly wise sometimes.”

“Remind me to thank her.” He steps closer, hands settling lightly on my waist. “So what’s the plan? Do you want to skip Seattle?”

I blink, surprised by the question. “Skip the conference? No, absolutely not. I’m moderating a panel. It’s important for my career.”

“Just checking,” he says with a small smile. “Some guys might expect you to cancel. I’m not one of them.”

Another stark contrast to Jason, who viewed my career as a hobby, something secondary to his own professional needs. The acknowledgment that my work matters, that it’s not negotiable—it means more than I can express.

“I’ll be careful in Seattle,” I promise. “Stay in public places, keep my phone handy. Jason’s a lot of things, but he’s not stupid. He won’t try anything overt.”

“Still, maybe I could?—”

“No,” I interrupt, guessing his train of thought. “You’re not changing your road trip plans or trying to get to Seattle. That’s exactly what he wants—to disrupt our lives, to show he still has power.”

Brody sighs, conceding the point. “You’re right. But I don’t have to like it.”

“I don’t like it either,” I admit. “But I refuse to let him dictate my choices. Again.”

“That’s my girl.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Strong, stubborn, and smarter than all of us.”

“Don’t forget grammatically superior,” I add, trying to lighten the mood.

“How could I? Your semicolon usage is irresistible.” He pulls back slightly, expression turning more serious. “We’ll figure this out, Elliot. Together. Jason’s not going to mess this up for us.”

The conviction in his voice, the steady assurance in his eyes—it settles something in me, a fear I hadn’t fully acknowledged until it began to ease.

---