Page 89 of Perfectly Faked

“What do you mean, you’re done?” I ask, my hand still holding the money out. “You lost your job. You’re going to need something until your ankle heals.”

“I won’t take a dime from you anymore,” she cuts me off. There’s something in her eyes that tells me I won’t change her mind. “I don’t want you to help me because you feel obligated. I don’t want to be your burden anymore. I can’t fix the past—butI’m not accepting anything until you understand that’s not why I come around to see you.”

“You’re not a burden,” I reply, even though I know it’s a lie. I made Tina feel like a burden every time she tried to reach out to me. “You don’t have anyone else.”

“I know. But I’d rather figure it out on my own than have you resent me.”

The money in my hand suddenly feels like a cheap excuse for a relationship. This was never how it was supposed to be. Relationships aren’t transactional.

I tuck the money back into my pocket. “I don’t resent you,” I say, quietly.

“You do. I can see it every time I stop by.” Her eyes meet mine, softer now. “Leo, I don’t want your money or for you to fix my mistakes. I just want a relationship with you, whenever you’re ready. That’s why I’ve followed your career and moved to wherever you were playing. I was proud of you.”

“Tina,” I sigh, sitting on the bed. “How can I help you so that this doesn’t happen again?” I motion toward her injured ankle. “Because until you get your life under control, I don’t know how we can make this work.”

She frowns. “You think I had an accident because I’d been drinking?”

“Isn’t that what happened?”

She shakes her head. “No, a cat ran out in front of my car, and I swerved and lost control.”

“You didn’t have anything to drink?” I ask again.

She shakes her head. “I haven’t had a drink in seven months.”

I blink, still not believing her. “But I thought you lost your job because of it.”

“No,” she says. “I overslept for work because I had the flu. The assistant manager didn’t believe me, so he fired me. Later,the manager found out I had a valid reason for missing work and was furious that I got fired over it. So, now he’s giving me my job back—well, as soon as I recover from this.” She waves toward her injured ankle.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.

“I’ve been trying,” she says. “Why do you think I kept asking to meet with you? I wanted to tell you what I’d done all on my own. And that I need some accountability, so I don’t turn back. But every time I tried to talk to you, I could tell you didn’t want to listen.”

I feel awful for pushing her away like that. All this time, I assumed the worst of her, when really, all she wanted was my support.

“Tina, I owe you an apology...” I say, slowly.

She shakes her head. “No, you don’t. I’m the one who owesyouan apology.”

“No,” I insist. “I meant for how I’ve been treating you—for brushing you off. It wasn’t right. I should’ve believed the best about you, but I didn’t even give you a chance. Instead, I assumed the worst, and that’s on me.”

“You had every reason to,” she sighs. “I haven’t exactly proven myself in the past. But I want to show you I can be trustworthy.” She looks at me hesitantly. “Can we try again?”

Something beats against my rib cage, and I realize Victoria is right—I do have a heart, even if I don’t like to admit it.

My lips curve into a small smile. “I’d like that more than anything.”

THIRTY-FOUR

leo

The next week feels like a blur of exhaustion. Between hockey practice and helping Tina, I barely have time to think, let alone breathe. Most nights, I’m crashing into bed, and the only moments I see Victoria are when she swings by the house with takeout.

Since I haven’t found someone to help Tina yet, I finally sent a letter to Coach Jenkins requesting a short leave of absence. I didn’t include details about Tina—the fewer people who know, the better. I can’t risk her situation getting leaked to anyone outside of those I trust, and I know the coach’s wife isn’t exactly my biggest fan. He’s going to have to trust that I’m asking for this leave for legitimate reasons.

So when I show up for the game tonight and see Zach, the GM, standing beside Coach Jenkins, my stomach sinks. They exchange a few words, and Zach’s eyes flick toward me.

While we’re doing pre-game drills, Coach’s gaze shifts across the rink to where Victoria has just arrived, wearing my jersey,sitting next to Jaz in the stands. She gives me a small wave, her smile lighting up the arena like a ray of sunshine through clouds.

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