Page 88 of Play of Love
“Oh.” She released a breath and brought her hand up to her cheek. “Of course. I’m so silly, I actually forgot. But yes, we should go back.”
We.I was happy to hear that, but it was likely that she still wasn’t thinking straight. She didn’t need to go back.
“Notwebaby. Just me. You need to be here with your mom.” I gave her hand a soft squeeze as she held my gaze. I could tell she was processing it now, and the clarity of the situation was revealing itself to her.
“I. I…”
“You need to be here for however long she needs you.”
She looked at our hands joined together, then lifted her gaze back up to meet my eyes. “I don’t know what to say to you. It’s so stupid that I didn’t remember you had to go back. I completely forgot that the first game is just weeks away.” A tear ran down her cheek. “There’s so much to do and organize.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine. I will. And I’ll call you every chance I get.”
“You promise?”
“Of course.” I nodded. More tears ran down her cheeks and I wiped them away. I pulled her in for a hug and kissed her.
Then it was goodbye. I thought I’d leave quickly because prolonging my departure would be harder.
Hours later I got back to L.A. As I stepped into my empty house I felt odd.Itfelt odd. The life that Amy brought to it would no longer be there.
I was alone, again, and left to my devices.
It was easier to change my ways and find strength to beat my alcohol addiction when she was here. She made me a better person. She balanced me and gave me something to look forward to on a daily basis.
I wasn’t about to fall back into old habits—no, definitely not—but I didn’t know how I was going to do anything without her.
I remembered that week when Corey came by and implied that a good woman was what I needed. I had thought the idea of being with one woman was completely absurd. My thoughts had dramatically changed after I first kissed Amy. Now all I could think of was her.
I got very little sleep that night and woke earlier than normal. I’d even cleaned up the rose petals and other stuff I had lying around for the special night I’d planned for her. By the time Hilda came in there wasn’t much for her to do.
“How is she?” she asked. I’d filled her in over the weekend.
“She’s fine, and her mother should make a good recovery.” I smiled, doing my best to hide my emotions.
“How long is she going to be away?”
That was a good question. “Well um, the doctors said her mother needed ten weeks to recover, but she…um. Well, she doesn’t need this job anymore, really, I suppose.” I brought my hand up to my stubbly chin and ran it over my face.
Hilda offered me a kind smile. “But she will come back for you.”
I looked at her and appreciated her kindness. “I don’t know, Hilda. I don’t know if she sees me like that. I might not see her again.”
Hilda shook her head. “Josh, it’s Amy, of course you will.” She looked at me like the thought of that Amy not coming back was ridiculous. I wished that I could see it that way. I wished I could see what Hilda saw, but right now the possibility of not seeing Amy again scared me. “Trust me. Just give her some time to get over this incident with her mom. That was a real good thing you did for her. You’re a good man, Josh. I know she’ll come back.”
I pulled in a breath and hoped for the best.
* * *
Amy
* * *
Hearty laughter rippled through the air, travelling on the edge of the warm summer breeze along with the delicious aroma of an assortment of food.
