Chapter 57: Puck Me Secretly: Chapter 56

FOUR HOURS LATER, Lolita sat in my living room, being interviewed by one of Vancouver’s biggest sports reporters in an exclusive interview.

Katrina and I stood in the kitchen, watching from the doorway.

I chewed my bottom lip. “Can we trust this guy?”

“He’s the most trusted guy in the business.”

Brian walked into the kitchen from the deck. “How’s the interview going?”

Katrina smiled over her shoulder. “She’s killing it.”

“Did you talk to the Minnesota police?”

He nodded. “I did. They are eager to arrest the bastard responsible for Lolita’s assault. The DA said they have an airtight case as long as they can match the DNA to a perp. They will question Joseph Flanynk and will subpoena his DNA, but there is one hitch.”

“What?”

“He’s on the road with his team. They can arrest him on the road, but with crossing state lines it could get complicated. So, their preference is to wait until he gets back to Minnesota.”

“When will that be?”

Brian winced. “Late tomorrow afternoon.”

“The trade deadline is two days from now.”

He held up his hands. “I know but that is what we are working with.”

I turned to Katrina. “Will your reporter sit on this until they take him into custody for questioning?”

She crossed her arms. “He promised.”

I rubbed my temples. My headache felt like a tight band around my head. “I need to find Max.”

Me: PLEASE call me. I need to talk to you

KATRINA LEFT with the reporter and Brian left after that. Then it was just Lolita and me. I found her curled up in a chair in the living room.

“I ordered dinner, if you’re hungry.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Thanks. I should get back to my hotel.”

“Are you okay?”

She shrugged. “That was harder than I thought it’d be.”

I sat down beside her. “I think you were brave.”

Her eyes searched mine. “Will it help Max?”

I nodded. “I hope so.”

She began to cry. “I want to go home.”

I put my arm around her. “Okay. I get it.”

“My flight isn’t for three more days.”

I pulled back and smiled into her eyes. “Here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to feed you some dinner and tuck you back into your hotel room for the night. And tomorrow, I will pick you up and take you to the airport. And there will be a flight waiting for you.”

“Really?”

“Unless you want to fly back tonight, but I think you could use some rest.”

She nodded and continued to cry. “I’m sorry. I always cry. It’s the hormones.”

I pulled her into a hug. “Thank you for doing this for Max.”

“I hope it helps him.”

Me too. God, me too.

AFTER DINNER, I ensured Lolita got back to her hotel room. I booked a new flight for her and then stopped by the hospital. I felt so exhausted, I almost couldn’t cope.

I found Mom in the waiting room.

“How’s Dad?”

“He’s sleeping.”

“Has he heard the news?”

“What news?”

“Baxter fired Max and is bringing in Joseph Flanynk.”

“Rory, do you think I care about this?”

“Dad would care.”

“We’ve moved the TV out of his room. Anything to do with hockey right now upsets him. We wanted him to avoid all the news about Max.”

I rubbed at my head. My head felt like it was about to explode. “Baxter fired me.”

“What?”

“He fired me. He banned me from the stadium.”

“Rory, come on. Stop being so dramatic.”

Mom’s level of denial made this conversation impossible. “What do you want me to do?”

She sounded baffled. “Well, I don’t know.”

“You have to get me reinstated.”

“Maybe it’s better if you’re not involved.”

“What?”

“With that horrible business with Max. Rory, we taught you better.”

I wanted to scream. “Mom.”

“Do not tell your father.”

“You’re not going to do anything?”

She crossed her arms. “I have one priority right now and that is your father. I want nothing to upset him.”

I hated that she was right. Right now, the only priority should be Dad’s health. And the one way I could help him was to shelter him from the shit storm that was blowing up around us. I prayed I wasn’t too late. I wanted to help Max. It felt like my entire future depended on that.

“Rory, you look exhausted. Why don’t you go home and take a hot bath?”

I realized that Mom was incapable of dealing with anything but Dad. The shit storm would hit and we’d deal with it when it happened.

“What about you?”

“I will head back to the hotel in a few minutes.”

“Why don’t I leave the car for you.”

The hotel was only across the street, but I hated that she’d need to walk across the street in the dark. “That’d be nice.”

I kissed her forehead. “I’ll be by tomorrow.”

IN THE CAB RIDE HOME, I dialed a number I had hoped I’d never had to call.

“Ronny here.”

“It’s Rory.”

A long pause. “I was expecting your call.”

The sound of his warm voice made me want to burst into tears. “Things are shitty here.”

“I’ve seen the news.”

“I can’t find Max. He’s not taking my calls.”

“I know.”

“Have you talked to him?”

“I talked to him this morning.”

Tears blurred my voice. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s been better.”

“I’m trying to help him, but he won’t talk to me.”

“It’s not you, darlin’. Max’s demons are raising their ugly heads.”

“I’m so worried about him.”

“Give him time. He’ll come around.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“He’s tucked away at some hotel.”

“In Vancouver?”

“Yup.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was still in the city. “I have a team of people working to help him.”

“I know.”

“I’m going to do everything to get his life back.”

“You’re his life.”

“He ended it with me.”

“I know. Just… be patient with him. He’s going through some stuff.”

I started to cry. “I want to be there for him.”

“He knows that. When he comes back, be open to what he has to say.”

“What if he doesn’t come back to me?”

“He’ll be back. Try and be patient.”

I prayed to God he was right.

“How are you holding up? I hear your Dad’s in the hospital.”

“He’s rallying. He will make a full recovery.”

“Seems like Baxter Nicols is trying real hard to take over.”

“He’s more than trying. He’s succeeded.”

“It’ll all work out.”

“I hope so.”

“You sound tired.”

Exhaustion washed over me. I felt so beaten down, I wasn’t sure I would ever get up. “I’m okay.”

“Get some sleep. You may have lost a few fights, but the big battle hasn’t been decided.”

Talking to Ronny made me miss Max. “Thanks, Ronny.”

“If I talk to Max again, I’ll let him know you called.”

“Thanks.”

We disconnected, and I spent the rest of the trip home working to not bawl. I knew how much Max was hurting and it killed me that I couldn’t help him.

Once I got home, I sent one last text to Max.

Me: I know you’re hurting and this situation sucks. But I love you. And I’m doing everything to fix this mess we’re in. Please don’t give up on me

I stared at my phone for an entire hour, but no responding text came back.