A Perfect Distraction(97)

In other words, there wasn’t a bloody thing Maggie could do but wait. And hope.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN



“MAN, I’M GLAD that road trip is done.”

Jake dragged his case across the airport parking lot to Tru’s SUV.

They’d been away for five days and played three grueling games, losing all of them in overtime. Tonight’s loss had been the worst, as they’d been up by two goals going into the final period. To add insult to injury, JB had been knocked out. Fearing a concussion, doctors had kept the kid in the Nashville hospital overnight.

Jake’s play hadn’t been bad enough to get scratched, but not as good as it needed to be, either. As hard as he’d tried, he hadn’t regained his focus. Maggie was his last thought at night and his first on waking. Plus, countless times in between.

There had been some tough moments on the trip, too: the woman with dark, curly hair who’d sat behind their bench in DC; the little girl in Nashville who’d called him Mr. Jake.

Cutting Maggie out of his life hadn’t helped him play better. It had made him ache to the depths of his soul. The road trip had reinforced what he’d realized the night of their fight—he might be the wrong man for Maggie, but she was the perfect woman for him.

He loved her. Missed her. Wanted to be with her. Wanted a future with her.

The knowledge that he couldn’t have any of that sliced through his heart like a blade through fresh ice.

“At least we have a couple of days before the next game.” Tru unlocked his Range Rover.

Jake tossed his case in the back. “And time for twelve hours’ shut-eye before tomorrow’s practice.”

“You gonna be okay?” Tru shot him the same concerned look he’d been giving Jake ever since he’d spilled his hungover guts about what had happened.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. But if you need...”

“Thanks.”

Tru backed off and started the engine.

Jake leaned his head back and stared out the window. He couldn’t talk about it. The pain was still too great. Besides, nothing anyone could say would help.

The rest of the journey passed in silence.

As they pulled up to Jake’s house, he saw the lights were on. Though he tried not to get his hopes up, his heart leaped.

“Good luck.” Tru jabbed his shoulder.

Jake nodded, his throat tight. He got out of the car and gathered his gear. Then he inhaled deeply and walked to the front steps.

Tru’s window rolled down. “Pick me up for practice?”

“Sure.” He kept his gaze fixed firmly ahead.

Jake pushed the door open as his friend pulled away.

“Hello, jackass.” Jenny stalked toward him. “Someone needs to set you straight.”

“Do we have to do this now?” He dropped his case. “It’s God-knows-what time, and I passed exhausted somewhere over Kentucky.”

“Too bad.”

Jake rotated his aching shoulders. “Why now? We could have spoken while I was away.”

“I know how distractions affect your game.”

Her words knocked the wind out of him.

He closed his eyes briefly. “I’m not doing this out here.”

Jenny followed him into the living room, her boots clicking on the hardwood floor.

He slumped onto a sofa. “Help yourself to a drink.”

She cuffed his head, then sat next to him. “That’s for hurting Maggie.”

“I screwed up.” Jake scrubbed his hand across his jaw. “I wish I could put this right, but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I’m not good enough for her.”

“Don’t make me hit you again.” Her expression softened. “None of this will make up for Adam’s death. Or bring him back.”

“I know. But it’s not fair that I lived when he didn’t. There’s a lot of truth in that saying ‘only the good die young.’”

“Adam wasn’t a saint, Jake.”

“He was a better person than me.” His voice sounded hollow. His eyes burned. “Bad Boy by name, Bad Boy by nature.”

“You’re more than a nickname.” She threw her arms up in frustration. “You’re a good friend, teammate, mentor and son. You’re honest, loyal, generous and kind.”

“I sound like a damn dog.”

“Better than the devil you think you are. What makes someone a good person is what’s inside here.” She patted her chest.

“What’s inside for damn sure isn’t good enough.”

“The hell it isn’t. Everyone who knows you believes in you. Isn’t it time you believed in yourself?”

“I don’t know if I can,” he whispered brokenly.