“I had no right to say the things I said to you the night I left. I was hurt, and I lashed out.” I heard him sigh before he continued. “I wonder if things have changed for you.” Both him and Thomas were asking that.
“Brett, I, um…” I stumbled. “It’s more complicated than just not wanting to date a hockey player.”
“I’m a thousand miles away now, Elizabeth. And you can’t see me. You might as well tell me.” When I didn’t immediately respond, he added softly. “Please, tell me.”
Tears welled in my eyes. I shook them free. And then I told him. I told him how my sister had known my hockey player boyfriend before me, but they’d never dated. “I hadn’t even known she knew him.”
“Does he still play?” I didn’t respond and he asked, “If you worked for and left the Avalanche, then he was a player. Who is it?”
I didn’t want to tell him.
“Elizabeth, I’ve already played them three times this year. We lost, but now I might just kick his ass.”
I quickly thought about what he might find on the internet. I’m sure if he dug deep, he would find it. But I also knew that Brett wasn’t that kind of guy.
“I’m not telling you who it is.”
“I might not know who he is, but one day, he’ll know I beat him.”
I laughed softly. Okay, maybe he was that kind of guy. Some innate part of me was flattered that he felt like he should defend my honor.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Brett. Truly. I’ve moved on. I went home for their engagement party a few weeks ago, and I’m over him.”
“I’m so sorry. That must have been really painful for you.”
At his sentiment, I did cry. Just a little, but enough that I had to sniffle. “Thank you.”
“So now what?”
“What do you mean, now what?” I yawned.
“Are you going to stay in Alaska? Are you happy there?”
Was I? I didn’t know. Suddenly, he felt like my best friend in the whole world. He felt like the safest person. I turned off my lamp and snuggled down farther under the covers.
Quietly, I said, “I don’t know. I ran here because it was far enough away that they couldn’t get to me easily. Now, I just feel isolated. I guess I need to figure out what I really want.”
“Whatdoyou really want, Elizabeth?” His voice was like caramel, thick and rich. It poured over me, in the darkness.
“To be happy, I guess.” I yawned again.
He asked, “Do you want me to come up?”
“Ask me tomorrow?” I said sleepily.
“Sleepy?”
“Mm-hmmm.” My eyes were already closing.
“Good night, Elizabeth.”
I clicked off the phone and fell fast asleep.
Chapter 13
Brett called firstthing in the morning. I was with a patient and he left a voicemail. “Do you want me to come up?”
In the light of day, I realized I was still terrified of my feelings. I texted him back,It’s not a goodtime