Page 62 of Breakaway Heart
“I’ve come to realise that, in some ways, I’ve been a coward my whole life. The only time I wasn’t was out there on the ice. It’s time to be that in the rest of my life, too.
“And, you know, my Dad is here! For the first time in years. She did that. And you’re going to see the real Randall Jackson from now on. It’ll take time. But one thing I know is that you don’t just get second chances, you have to earn them.
The interviewer shot back at him, “So Randy Jackson is a different man?”
“No. I’m just going to be the man I’ve always meant to be. And Lucy, where are you?”
Randy held his hand up to block out the stadium lights.
“I want to thank you.”
I looked up at him on the screen, glistening with sweat and exertion, and I had the sweetest feeling that tonight was about more than just winning the game. It was about healing, about growing, about owning up to your mistakes. There were other victories that meant just as much as the scoreline tonight.
“You said I have everything. What was it?‘The money, the fame, the girls’but the truth is, Lucy, without you in my life, I’m not sure I really have anything. And I’m not running away when it gets hard.”
Kensy’s eyes sparkled as she watched my face, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be so sincere and cute.”
“Oh, God. Am I meant to go down there? I don’t think I can.” I said, swallowing down a nervous gulp.
“Luce,” Hannah said, with a knowing expression on her face. “Why else would you be here unless you turned up for him? If he can be honest, so can you.”
I stared at her, processing her words, his words, my feelings. She was right. Itwaswhat I wanted. And not for Randy, forme.
“So, go get him already,” Kensy leaned over and said.
Nodding, I took a breath and began to walk down the row and then the arena stairs toward the ice.
“So Randy, what was the moment out there that…”
“I’m sorry,” Randy said, taking the mic from the interviewer as his eyes found me. “I have someone I have to see right now.”
The interviewer turned on his heels to follow Randy’s eyeline, and then everyone else in the crowd began to turn their heads to see what they both were looking at. A spotlight was hastily cast on me, near blinding me, and then there I was on the jumbotron, clumsily walking down the steps toward the ice, the light in my eyes. All I could think was…This is it. The moment. This is the real moment.
Right up until my heel wobbled under my foot and I started rolling down the stairs. The last sound I remember hearing after that was a crack and a collective groan from the crowd.
27
SOUP
Spending an hour being attended to by an EMT for my rapidly swelling ankle and the growing bump on my head was not what I’d had in mind. But then, neither was having Randy as my home nurse.
After the game, I’d been strictly told not to be left alone, in case of a concussion. I’d tried to wave it off, but Randy had insisted. So, for two days now, I’d been holed up inside his apartment with my new carer.
“I bought you soup.” He said cheerfully.
Ugh, he wasenjoyingthis.
I grimaced as a sharp shot of pain shot through my swollen ankle. Meanwhile, he sat down next to me and lifted a spoon to my mouth.
“I’m not dying, Randy. Icanfeed myself.”
The smell in that bowl sure was intoxicating, though. He caught my expression and grinned.
“Turmeric, cardamon, a hint of paprika. A little fenugreek in there too. That’ll heal you up in no time.”
I glared at him, wondering if he was making fun of meor not. Meanwhile, Jefferson stared at me from the floor and humphed. Clearly not a soup fan.
“You know, I’m not sure Jefferson actually likes me.”
