Page 64 of Hat Trick
She has to know she's loved, right? She has to know how hard all three of us have fallen for her. Right?
Fuck. I need to have a talk with the guys. I need to make sure we're all on the same page. That we all love her like I think we do. And then we need to tell her. But even I know telling her isn't enough. We need to tell her, every day. Show her, every day. Until there's not a doubt in her mind that we're all in it. And forever.
Chapter thirty-six
Emily
The boys are out of town for another away game, but it's only one night. They fly home tomorrow for a rest day. It's well earned. They've been playing their hearts out and I know they're tired and sore.
A late-season hurricane has just touched land and we're already getting rain battering against the windows. I collect all of the flashlights and candles I can find in the living room, just in case, and charge my cell phone.
Annie took longer to go down than normal, I'm sure upset by the storm raging outside. Once I'm confident she'll be out for a while, I head to the living room to watch the rest of the boys' game I had recorded.
Suddenly, the ring of the doorbell causes me to jump out of my skin. I rush to the door and fling it open without thinking.
"Nancy!"
Sweet Nancy is on the front porch, drenched with rain, her head hanging down and her hair hanging slightly in front of her face. I grab her by the arms and drag her inside before shutting and locking the door behind me.
"What happened?! Are you okay!?" I'm panicking right now, though I'm not sure why.
"Emily. I'm so sorry, I called Carter, but I think he's still playing." Her voice is tight with emotion, and I'm convinced she's been crying.
"Oh my God! Let's get you dry and warm and then you can tell me everything, okay? Chuck off your shoes and I'll get you a towel."
Together we get her down to her underwear and bra and wrapped in the largest bath towel I could find and a blanket. I guide her down to the couch before she looks up at me and I finally see her black eye. I gasp before I can school my reaction. She winces. And now I feel like an asshole.
I hold her cold hand in mine. "You don't have to tell me a thing. Let's get you a hot shower, I'll scrounge up some clean clothes for you and change the sheets on my bed. Are you hungry? I could make us a sandwich?"
The older woman looks up at me with a sort of dull gratitude. She must be in shock. I lead her to my shower and show her where everything is. While she's in there, I grab a clean t-shirt and athletic shorts from Carter's room and leave them on the bathroom counter for her.
When she finally emerges from the shower, her cheeks are clean and a little flushed from the heat, but her eyes are less red.
"Carter will never forgive me." She whispers as she sits on the edge of my bed.
"Are you kidding?" I gasp, incredulous. "Forgive you for what? Carter has been dying for the opportunity to take care of you for years. He's felt responsible for you but couldn't ever take care of you the way he's wanted to. You're here now, you're safe. Carter will be so happy. Just..." I pause, contemplating how to say what I'm feeling. "Just...don't go back to that man. I think that would break Carter's heart."
She shakes her head sadly. "No, I don't think I can now. For years I held onto the hope he would go back to the man I fell in love with. But the man I fell in love with, loved me back. He loved me so hard.He never would have raised a hand to me. He would have died before letting someone hurt me. The man back there? He's not the man I fell in love with anymore. And I can't keep waiting for him to change."
My eyes burn with unshed tears, and I wrap my arms around Nancy and hold her for a long time. When I finally pull back and look her in the eyes, I burst with things I want to say.It'll all be alright. Carter will treat you like a Queen. You deserve to be treated like a Queen.You're safe now. But Nancy's eyes look distant, and I know she needs time to process everything.
She confirms once again that she's not hungry, so I leave her to go to bed and grab my phone from the kitchen to call Carter. Their game should have ended half an hour ago so hopefully he's done with the press.
He picks up after the first ring. "Hey baby girl, everything alright? Did the power go out? Are you guys scared? Fuck, I wish I could be there for you."
I smile at his thoughtfulness. God truly broke the mold with Carter Rhodes.
"No, sweetheart. We're good. Thank you. I just..." Fuck, what do I say? If he knows his mom is hurting, he'll be on the next flight home. "Do you trust me?"
"You know I do. What's going on? You're scaring me." He brings his mouth closer to the phone and it sounds like he's walking away from a crowd. He probably doesn't want to alarm Luca and Gabe, too, if they're nearby.
"I need you to trust me and know that everything is fine. Your mother's here...she...has a black eye." I hear Carter let loose a string of muffled curses and wait until he's done.
"How bad is it?"
"It's...not great...but I made her shower and she's tucked in to my bed. I've locked all of the doors in case he tries to get to her. And I'll sleep on the couch so if there's a noise I can call 911." Another muffled string of curses.
"I can't ask you to do that, Emily. I can't ask you to put yourself in danger to protect my family."
