After the game, Beau had continued messaging and calling me.
Nonstop.
I didn’t answer.
Then, he started calling Jillian’s phone. She’d picked up the first time, wondering if maybe something was wrong. But he’d just asked to speak to me.
“He’ll give up soon,” I said on a large, loud yawn. I hadn’t slept much, and it was beginning to catch up with me.
“G, please,” Jillian begged, pulling a pillow over her head and groaning, “make it stop.”
I let out a sigh as my stomach twisted and ached. Then I grabbed her phone and answered, “You need to stop calling. Jillian doesn’t turn her phone off at night like I do.”
“Finally, fuck—Geneviève are you all right?” Beau’s voice sounded jagged and raw. It made my heart squeeze to hear the concern in it.
“I’m fine.”
“You took a pretty hard hit. Did they do the concussion protocol on you?”
“Of course.”
He exhaled loudly, like he was relieved. “How do you feel? That tank came up from behind you. How many times have we gone over your weak left? You’ve gotta be more careful.”
“I said I was fine.”
“Christ, it’s good to hear your voice, honey. I miss you so much. I’m sorry for not telling you what was going on. Honest to God, I was only trying to spare your—”
“I’m fine. You’re fine. Can you stop calling so we can get some sleep?” I asked in a snippy voice. All I wanted to do was take some ibuprofen and try to fall into a dreamless sleep.
“We can work this out. Can’t you listen to me for five minutes?”
“It’s been a long day. I need to sleep.”
“I can’t sleep without you beside me.”
I closed me eyes and let the pain of that go right through my heart. “Goodnight, Beau.”
“Geneviève, wait! Talk to me a while longer, please? I want you to meet the boys when you get back.”
More shooting pain struck me right between my rib cage, and it had nothing to do with the crappy body check from Meredith. “That’s not a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea. You’ll love them.”
“There’s no point.”
A moment of silence lingered between us before he spoke again, “You’re my girlfriend and I love you. Of course, there’s a point to you meeting my kids. They’re going to be in our lives from now on.”
“They’re going to be in your life. We aren’t together anymore, so, like I said, there’s no point. Now I really need to get some sleep.”
“You aren’t breaking up with me.”
“It’s over, Beau. You already know that. I’m serious about not calling Jillian’s phone. You’re using her and preying on her good nature. I won’t allow it.”
After that, I ended the call and set her phone on the nightstand.
“You’re one tough cookie, G.”
“Nope,” I said, feeling the tears start again.
“You guys need to talk this out when you get home.”
“Nope.” I sniffed and wiped my eyes. Then I took my ibuprofen and hoped I’d conk out quickly into a dreamless sleep.
Instead, it took forever.
And all night, I dreamed of dark haired, cute, smiling boys.