Page 16 of Wildflower and Whiskey
The band switched from a slow acoustic set to a faster beat, and soon enough Kristie was tugging me toward the dance floor. Amélie and Chantal trailed behind, drinks sloshing as they lifted their glasses in mock toasts.
I moved my body and it felt so freeing. Kristie swung me around by the wrist, her curls bouncing. She was gorgeous, bold and exactly the kind of woman who thrived in this scene. She kept drawing the attention of men at the bar, winking at them, making exaggerated faces to me when one got particularly bold.
Amélie pressed close and shouted over the music, “I missed this! You’re not allowed to disappear on us again for years.”
I laughed, breathless, but didn’t answer. The truth was, I felt out of place and rooted at the same time. The air smelled of beer and perfume, and for a few minutes I let myself just exist here.
Back at the table, Kristie downed another cocktail too quickly. Her laughter grew louder, her cheeks flushed. Chantal ordered another round without hesitation, and Amélie egged her on. I stuck with my Sprite, my fingers tracing the condensation on the glass.
When Kristie slumped against the table with a grin and slurred words, I knew what was coming.
“Guess who’s driving?” I said lightly, jingling her car keys when she dropped them into my palm.
“Boo,” Amélie teased, clinking her glass against mine.
I smiled, but the minutes ticked by too slow. The girls dragged me back to the dance floor again and again, their laughter blending with the music. I played along, moving when they pulled me, but the truth was, I wanted to be home where I could watch Braden sleep, his tiny fists curled by his cheeks. I wanted to stop pretending this is who I was because, on many levels, I wasn’t this girl anymore. I didn’t want to pretend. I didn’t want to party. I wanted to be home in the quiet enjoying my son.
By the time the night stretched toward last call, Kristie was draped over a guy she met near the bar, Amélie was dancing barefoot, and Chantal was trying to convince everyone to stay just a little longer.
I didn’t complain or pout or make a scene. I just sat at the edge of the booth, quiet, sipping what must’ve been my fourth Sprite, and waited until they’d laughed enough, until they’d danced themselves out, until they were ready to stumble toward the door.
We finally left the bar, and I drove all the ladies home. I was bone-tired, all I wanted was to kiss Braden’s cheek, crawl into bed, and breathe. Instead, as soon as I stepped through the front door, I found Luc storming toward me, his expression sharp.
“Why didn’t you tell me Papa lost his mind?” he demanded. His voice was low but fierce, and the words made my stomach sink.
My heart lurched. “What are you talking about? Is Braden okay?” I blurted, already starting for the stairs.
“He’s perfect. Fast asleep,” Luc said quickly, but his eyes pinned me in place.
I froze, halfway to the steps, and turned back toward him. “Then what happened?”
“He came home drunk off his ass,” Luc said, fury bleeding through every word. “Some black car dropped him off. Izzy was here helping me, and he went off on her about how she looks exactly like Helen. Then he went off on Braden, called him the spawn of Satan. Scared the shit out of Izzy. She thought he might hurt him.”
The room tilted. My throat closed as tears stung my eyes. “I had nowhere else to go, Luc,” I whispered, the confession ripped its way out of me. “Don’t look at me like that, like you’re judging me. You don’t know what I’ve been through.”
He shook his head, his jaw tight. “I’m not judging. I’m trying to understand why you’d stay in this house with him like that. If you were in trouble, you should’ve told me. I can maybe get a loan, enough to cover a rental. But staying here with Braden isn’t an option. Papa needs to be admitted somewhere. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
“I don’t know what happened,” I choked out, the words tumbling as tears finally broke free. “Ever since I came home, he drinks more. I thought Braden would soften him, maybe make him stop, but the opposite happened. I don’t let Braden out of my sight, not for a second. I sleep with a baseball bat in my bed, Luc. I had a plan.” My chest heaved, shame and exhaustion colliding as I broke down into ugly tears.
Luc’s face softened as he stepped closer, pulling me into his arms. “Shit, Elyna. You need to be honest with me.”
I buried my face in his shoulder. “I want you focused on school and hockey. We both need you in the NHL. All three of us do now.”
“I’m focused,” he murmured, holding me tighter. “I work hard on the team. I’m doing the best I can.”
“I know,” I whined through my tears. “I know.”
He leaned back, searching my face. “We’ll figure it out, but we can’t stay here with Braden. Izzy’s scared, and honestly? So am I.”
My whole body ached with the truth I’d been carrying. “I’ve been worried sick too,” I admitted, voice raw. “It’s eating me alive.”
Luc brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away tears. “You need to promise me you’ll never keep secrets again. You and Braden are the only family I have left.”
I nodded, my throat feeling like I had a noose around it.
“Say it, Elyna,” he pressed gently. “Say you promise.”
“I promise,” I whispered. I swiped at my eyes and forced a shaky laugh. “Sorry it ended up being such a late night. Kristie drove. Everyone drank including Kristie, so I had to drive them all home. Tomorrow I’ll figure out a way to get her car back to her.”
