Page 85 of From Ice to Home
“You were engaged?” I ask, not wanting to pry. With what I’ve seen from her and heard from EJ, she’s had a rough year and I’m sure she’ll open up when she’s ready.
She nods, not meeting my gaze. “It ended almost a year ago, and then I moved to New York.” Avah takes another bite, tucking her feet beneath her on the couch. “You know, I might get used to watching a game like this. It’s time EJ gets himself a wife, so I don’t have to be the dutiful sister and attend every game anymore.”
Following her lead, I let her revelation go, but not before I reach out to God. A sort of soul-whisper, asking that He’ll hold the pieces of her heart that’s still healing.
I focus on her other words, allowing them to pull me back to my home in Georgetown, where my siblings are. Thesiblings I helped raise, drive to school or take to football practice.
“I know all about being the dutiful sister,” I say, holding my spoon out, and she clinks hers against mine. “It can be hard sometimes. But we love them anyway.”
“True,” she says with a sigh. “I can’t sit here and pretend EJ didn’t save me this year. Watching his games and going to him with events, seems small in return.”
I turn to her in time to see a look of pure heartbrokenness play on her face for a few seconds before she buries it behind another bite of chocolate ice-cream and ginger beer.
The need to reach out and help in some way stirs in my chest. I have no idea what she’s gone through, and the last thing I want to do is push when she’s not ready to share. But I want her to know that I’m here for her whenever she needs someone.
“Avah—“
The sound of loud knocking echoes through the house, interrupting me. My head whips around. “Who on earth…”
Getting up, I make my way to the front door, just when loud horns blaring on the screen tells us that the Canucks scored another goal. Avah groans out loud and my heart sinks thinking about Lucas and how the pressure just doubled.
Opening the front door, I’m met with high-pitched voices. “Surprise!”
Liz and Mona are standing in the doorway. Mona’s hands are in the air as she lets out a shriek. “It’s Mrs. Lucas Walker!” She throws her arms around me in a dramatic hug before letting herself in. “I can’t believe you got yourself a house and a husband since we left you in Vegas. You move fast Han, I’ll give you that.”
Shock and excitement mingles through me as I give Liz a hug.“I thought you weren’t coming back to New York foranother week?” I ask, her familiar frame and warm smile sends a wave of comfort through me.
“We changed our plans,” she says, hugging me extra hard. “Plus we brought more of your stuff.”
Over her shoulder, I spot two bags standing in the driveway. I’m so grateful that they thought to bring me more of my clothes, but I also know that it could’ve waited for another week.
“You saw the article,” I deadpan, dragging the bags inside before closing the door behind them.
“We did and we brought reinforcements.” Mona digs inside her giant designer handbag before pulling out my favourite box of chocolates and a bottle of champagne.
“Now you see this box is small,” she waves the chocolates in front of me. “Because we’re not going to wallow in things we can actually change. I told you to get that man to buy you a ring. This could all have been avoided if you followed my advice.”
Walking back toward the living room, I ignore the comment. I have a ring, and even if it had a six-carat diamond, it would probably still be buried in my bag upstairs.
Both of them follow me as I change the subject. “How did you find me?”
“Well, the friend tracker is still kind of running,” Mona says. “Good thing too. Who knew we’d have to look for you in a whole different state after a night in Vegas.”
“Who’s at the door?” Avah’s voice comes from the living room before she steps into view, horns blaring in the background. “The Canucks scored again, the guys aren’t doing so good.”
My heart sinks as I walk toward the couch, my eyes glued on the screen where they’re showing a replay of the Canucks player intercepting the puck in the Rangers zone and making his way down the ice, going up against Nikolai alone. Nikolaisplits, blocking the entire net, leaving the Canucks wing to lift the puck over his pads and into the net.
“This is Liz and Mona,” I say, waving to my friends behind me, watching the second replay in slow motion to make sure that really was a goal. “They’re from New York, but study with me in Durham. What’s happening out there? Who was on the ice when that happened?”
“That was on the penalty kill,” Avah says, motioning for Liz and Mona to take a seat. “Nice to meet you. Make yourselves comfortable, there’s pizza, ice-cream and lots of drama.”
I keep watching the television, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucas. The camera shifts to the Rangers bench where the coach is talking to the guys while they’re chewing on their mouth guards. Lucas looks distracted, nodding along, but his gaze is fixed on the players skating in front of him.
“I wish I was there,” I murmur, hating that I can’t be there for him after the game.
Mona moves to the kitchen, no doubt in search of glasses for the champagne. If it were anyone else, I’d jump up and play the perfect hostess, but with Liz and Mona it’s never been necessary. They’ve always been comfortable enough to make themselves at home, because my place is theirs and vice versa.
“So, how did you two meet?” Liz asks, grabbing a slice of pizza. Her dark hair falls across her shoulder as she studies Avah a bit more intently. “You look familiar,” she adds, her brows furrowing.
