Page 89 of Dreams
“Don’t forget Maggie and Elijah.” He laughed. “Maggie might kick your ass if you do.”
“We’re going to need a bigger boat.” She laughed as she stood and pulled him up with her.
“Yeah, like a cruise ship.”
He slipped into his shoes and grabbed his coat off the hook by the door before following her out.
“Come on.” She hooked her arm through his. “Let’s get there before Chris and Ethan eat all the chow.”
“Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be the athlete in the family?”
“Not anymore.”
Josh pinched her in the arm and she yelped.
“Too soon?” She laughed.
“Just a bit.”
“You know it’s going to be okay, Josh, right?” she asked, suddenly serious. “You’re going to be okay.”
“That depends.”
“On?”
“What happens next.”
* * *
Josh woke early the next morning. He’d ended up spending the rest of the day before with Michaela and Chris, finishing up a few wedding things. It was the distraction he’d needed, and now he was ready to face everyone else.
The rational part of him knew that the people at the wedding wouldn’t know his career was over before it’d even really started. But there was something about standing up in front of hundreds of people in a town where your success was all that mattered. The wedding of Michaela Matthews was a big-time event. Well, soon enough he’d have to face a lot more than just this town. Try the entire hockey community.
He’d already gotten a few texts from guys he knew across the league, mostly guys he played with in juniors. That was only the start of it. The team was only saying it was an upper-body injury. When the news broke that it was so much more, he wouldn’t be able to escape it.
Ethan and their mother were already at the table, eating breakfast, when Josh came down.
“Morning, Mom,” he said, bending to give her a kiss on the cheek.
She looked at him with surprised skepticism as he straightened up and sat next to her.
“What’s up, Ethan?” he asked with a nod.
“Someone’s in a good mood.” Ethan caught his mother’s eye before glancing back at Josh.
“Molly,” their mother called with a wave of her hand.
Molly, one of the maids, appeared a moment later with a plate of food for Josh. He looked at her and smiled.
“Thanks, Mols.” She’d been working for them most of his life. When he was younger, there were many, many early morning hockey practices and games she’d driven him to. His parents weren’t the type to do that, but they’d provided someone who would.
Molly ran her hand over his head in sympathy until his mother’s scowl made her disappear.
Josh wanted more than anything for people to stop acting like that around him. It only made everything harder when he knew they all felt sorry for him. His smile wavered, dropping altogether for a quick moment, before he forced it again. He was determined not to bring the day down. Today wasn’t about him.
“I’ve got to eat quickly before I head off to meet up with Jason, Chris, and Elijah,” he said in between bites.
“Do you need the car?” his mother asked. “Because I have a hair appointment this afternoon.”
