Page 128 of Axe-identally Married
“Shh,” I said, focusing on making sure there was adequate flow into the collection tube.
I popped out the first one and shoved a second in for good measure. Then I disconnected, slapped a Band-Aid on his arm, and wrote the date and time with a Sharpie on each.
“Drink this.” I shoved a plastic bottle of Pedialyte at him. “I may need a urine sample too.”
“Why do you need my blood?”
I shot him a look as I maneuvered through town.
“And where are we going?”
“Bangor,” I explained. “I have a friend at the lab who owes me a favor. I took your blood to test so we can figure out what happened to you.”
“I don’t remember. We had practice. I put the girls through some drills.” He shut his eyes again and breathed deeply. “Then I had to make ice. I wasn’t feeling well, so I made sure to drink extra water. I close up on Thursdays and then…” He trailed off.
His speech was slow, but he was coming out of the fog.
“Drink your Pedialyte,” I instructed. “And then try to rest. I’m calling your brothers. God knows what was done to you.”
“Done to me?” He frowned, his eyes glassy. “Do you believe me? I swear I didn’t drink. I haven’t had a drop since our wedding night.”
I glanced over at him again, taking in his drawn, sallow skin. I suspected he’d been drugged, but I’d let the lab confirm that. “Of course I believe you. You’re my husband.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Cole
“How did this happen?”
“Explain it again.”
“What the fuck?”
My head spun as I sipped water and did my best to follow the conversation. Willa had called all my brothers, and after we went to the lab in Bangor, we headed home, where they were waiting.
“Why were you there?” Gus asked again, his hands on his hips. His beard was mussed, and his flannel shirt was partially untucked.
“He had practice,” Willa snapped from where she hovered at my side. “Catch up.”
“Sorry, I’ve been up all night, and I still can’t understand how the ice rink got destroyed and why my brother was found unconscious in the parking lot.”
They were all trying their best to understand, but I could see the doubt in their eyes. I could taste the questions lingering in the air.
I was asking myself the same damn ones. I knew I hadn’t bought any whiskey, and I certainly hadn’t drunk any. Willa was convinced I’d been drugged, but why and by whom?
I tilted my head back and closed my eyes as they continued to argue.
The world around me blurred. Just getting up from this chair felt insurmountable. The irony was that I hadn’t even had the urge to drink since our wedding. Ever since that day, I’d wanted to be better, both for myself and for Willa.
And the rink? I had learned to skate in that arena. Arthur used to let me come in, day or night, when I had no place to go and home was unbearable. It was the place where I’d found myself and learned countless lessons. The thought of it being ruined, that my kids wouldn’t get to finish the season, was unbearable.
Willa thrust another glass of water into my hand, which I dutifully chugged. I’d never seen her so angry and fierce. Some of the details were foggy, but I recalled her yelling at Souza and then picking me up and putting me in her car before doing a blood draw by the side of the road.
Even now, she was firing back at Gus, pacing around, and demanding they help me.
She believed me. That alone was my saving grace. She held not even an ounce of hesitation. Unlike in my brothers’ eyes, there wasn’t even a shade of doubt in hers.
By now, the entire town had probably heard. No doubt I’d already been condemned in the court of public opinion. But Willa wasn’t buying it. She had done nothing but work to protect me since she found me.
