by Kim Jones
Tommy could taste the anger in there, and he wished he knew how to calm his coach down, but he also knew the man had a point. The last thing he wanted was to be here right now, getting lectured, but the coach was well within his rights to do that.
“I’m sorry,” Tommy offered, sincerely.
“Sorry? I don’t want your apologies. I want you to get out there and do what you’re supposed to do otherwise what else are you here for? Do you have any idea how hard it is to come past an opportunity like this? Hundreds of people are observed before we choose one.”
As if he needed reminding.
Tommy nodded, his jaw set.
“Then do try to act like that,” the coach said, sarcastically. “Whatever is on your mind, you leave it all out there not here in this stadium otherwise it messes with your head. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good now get out of my sight.” The Coach waved his hand in dismissal, and Tommy scurried away, ducking his head in shame as he began to mentally berate himself. He spotted someone in the distance waving to him, and he slowed down as he squinted.
Shit.
It was Aimee.
Usually, he’d be glad to see her, but today out of all days, he didn’t want to be anywhere near her. Not in this mood.
Hastily, he made his way over to her, and he tried not to notice how good she looked in her shorts and t-shirt with her cap over her head and a wide smile stretched across her face.
“Hey,” Aimee greeted warmly as she leaned in, and he caught a whiff of her scent. She smelled like flowers and vanilla. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and bury his face in her hair. Instead, he stayed where he was, staring up at her as his mind reeled.
His mind was ziplining and zigzagging in different directions, pulling him every which way.
“Hey,” Tommy said, curtly. “I thought you said you didn’t like baseball?”
Either she didn’t notice the tone of his voice, or she was ignoring it because her grin grew even wider.
“I don’t,” she said, cheerfully. “But, I figured since it’s important to you, I’d give it another shot. It can’t be that boring.”
Tommy grunted in response and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Her expression dimmed a little, but the smile still stayed on. “No offense, or anything. I didn’t mean to insult. It just really isn’t my thing, but yeah, I figured I’d come watch and see what the fuss is about.”
“Yes, I figured that part out,” Tommy pointed out, making no move towards her even though she was leaning forward, trying to bring their bodies closer.
Stop it, he thought to himself, she hasn’t done anything wrong, and she might not know you well enough, but she will pick up on your antagonism sooner or later. Girls are perceptive like that.
“How did it go yesterday? At the police station?” She asked, carefully, her blue eyes concerned as they ran over him.
“Fine,” he said, shortly as he shifted from one foot to the other.
“Really? That’s good then,” she spoke, uncertainly. She leaned back and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, giving her a more vulnerable look. “I was worried, but I wasn’t sure if I should call because I don’t know how long these things take.”
“Okay,” he dragged out the syllable, and it tasted weird in his mouth. He knew he was being an ass, but he couldn’t seem to help it. A headache was already forming in the back of his skill, and he just wanted to smash something.
“Are you okay?” She peered at him, closely, placing her hand atop his in an effort to comfort him. “Is this about what happened yesterday? I can’t imagine how awful it must’ve been, but I’m here for you.”
Tommy’s gaze snapped to hers. “Why?”
Aimee reeled back in surprise. “What do you mean why? I want to help you.”
“We’ve know each other for all of what—a week? I don’t need your help, Aimee. I’m not some charity case.”
“I never thought you were,” Aimee protested, dropping his hand as she’d been electrocuted.
“We come from two completely different worlds, Aimee, and I don’t mind that. I liked the way things were before when I knew my place in the world and what was expected of me then you came along.”
“What are you talking? What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you don’t belong here,” Tommy continued, punctuating each word with a pause as he watched her expression dim. She took a step backwards in shock, her features dazed as she angrily shoved back an errant lock of hair, making her look more vulnerable.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I can’t afford to blow just because I’m focused on some girl.”
Aimee’s lower lip quivered, and she pressed her lips together. She swallowed but didn’t say anything as she continued to stare at him.
“Some girl?” She echoed. “Is that all I am to you?”
Unmistakable hurt rang out in her voice as she blinked.
“What do you think?” He gestured between them. “This can’t work. I’m about to start playing for the Coyotes, and I need to keep my head in the game.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” Aimee protested, her tone gruff.
“No, but you would eventually, and I honestly can’t deal with this shit right now. I’ve got enough on my plate without adding this drama, so why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Aimee nodded, abruptly bent down to pick up her back and walked away, her shoulders set squarely. Tommy watched her walk away, a knot forming in his stomach, wishing he could go after her, but thinking that this was for the best.
Chapter 10
Aimee’s hands shook as she tried the doorknob several times, but it just wouldn’t budge. She cursed as she pushed her hair angrily behind her shoulders and rammed her shoulders repeatedly against the frame, causing her shoulders to scream out in protest.
Nothing.
The stupid door wouldn’t open, and that was just one more thing Aimee could add to the long list of things that had gone wrong.
She didn’t understand how everything had gotten so bad in such a short amount of time. This morning, she’d woken up, excited about seeing Tommy and spending time with him. Now, she was standing outside her house, unable to stop the tears from falling.
Frustrated, she blinked rapidly to try to keep the tears at bay, but they steadily fell as she leaned her forehead against the wood and breathed heavily.
Out of all the possible outcomes she’d envisioned, walking home by herself, unable to stop crying certainly wasn’t one of them. Today was supposed to be a happy day. They would both spend time together and forget about the rest of the world.
She hadn’t expected his anger, nor his vehemence, and she couldn’t help but wonder what she’d done wrong. Was Tommy somehow, right? Had she been treating him like a charity case without even noticing it?
Or was he just angry about something else and taking it out on her? Either way, it hadn’t been fair. He hadn’t even given her a chance to defend herself, and instead of fighting him on it, she’d taken the easy way out and ran away.
What else was she supposed to do?
He clearly wanted nothing to do with her, and she couldn’t force him to stay and listen. Not while he was in that mood in any case, so she would have to wait and see what his next move was.
The door swung open, and Aimee stumbled forward, blindly reaching out to steady herself, and her hand connected with something smooth and solid. Warm flesh.
“Aimee, what’s happening? Why are you banging on the door like that?” Gina ushered her daughter in, leading her towards the living room. Too tired to protest, Aimee let her, and her legs gave out beneath her as she gratefully sank into the couch, tossing the baseball cap to the side of the room as if it had offended her.
“I couldn’t get the door to open.” Aimee’s voice sounded strange, even to her own ears—hollow and empty.
“If you forgot your keys, all you
had to do was knock,” Gina said, matter-of-factly as she climbed over Aimee’s legs. The couch shifted underneath her mother’s weight as Gina studied Aimee carefully.
“What happened? You were fine this morning, and you were on your way to spend some time with Tommy.”
“I was,” Aimee confirmed. “Nothing happened.”
Gina raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean nothing happened? Obviously, something did. Did you two have a fight?”
Aimee turned her head to face her mother. “Not really.”
Gina’s brows furrowed together in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Aimee shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I’m going up to my room.”
Without waiting for her mom to respond, she stood up, and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time. She used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears, barely making it to her room before she slammed the door shut and leaned against it, sliding to the floor with a thump.
She drew her knees up to her chest and rested her head against them, sucking in huge gulps of air. Her hands clenched and unclenched restlessly at her side as her body shuddered.
Why would Tommy say those things?
The words kept replaying themselves in her head, like some kind of bad dream she couldn’t escape, and the harder she tried to drown them out, the more prominent they became.
If she been treating him that way, then she certainly hadn’t meant to. Tommy was the best thing that happened to her in a long time, and he made her so deliriously happy that she only wanted to make him feel happy half as much as she felt.
Clearly, they weren’t on the same page, and for the life of her, Aimee couldn’t figure out why. They’d been doing so well up until the scene at the stadium.
Aimee lifted her head up and pushed herself off the floor. Her feet dragged as she made her way to the bathroom and washed her face, hoping the ice-cold water would ease the burning ache she felt in her heart. Her face was dripping wet when she emerged a few minutes later and threw herself onto her bed, curling up on the side.
She had no clue what she was supposed to do now. Was she supposed to call and demand to know the truth, or would that make things worse? Tommy was certainly going through something, and even if Aimee wasn’t the most qualified person to help him deal with it, she certainly cared.
She doubted there was anything she could do now except wait. He’d either call, or he wouldn’t, and Aimee would have her answer then. She shifted on her side, staring at her phone and willing it to vibrate to signal a call.
Her heart felt heavy in her chest, and her body felt drained, as if she’d spent a mile running then dragged through hell. Her body shook and trembled as the tears came in, but this time, she let them.
Her shoulders heaved with effort, and her eyes burned. She reached across the nightstand and blew her nose into a tissue, tossing it into the bin as a loud hiccough sounded in the room.
Tommy was an idiot.
And he’d better have a damn good apology ready if—when he called because it would take a hell of a lot of groveling for her to forget what was said. Her heart thudded dully in her ears, and she rolled over, so she was lying flat on her back.
Someone rapped on the door. Aimee glared at the door as if that could somehow make the person go away. She faced the wall and curled up against the pillow, running her fingers over it softly.
“Go away,” she yelled, gruffly.
Thankfully, she had the good sense to lock the door because the person on the other side tried to jiggle the door open.
“I don’t want to talk,” she added, her voice thick with emotion as she pushed back the tears. “I mean it.”
“Honey, please open the door,” her mother’s voice floated in, all genuine concern and motherly affection.
Aimee squeezed her eyes shut. “No.”
“Please. We don’t have to talk. We can just sit quietly.”
Aimee’s eyes flew open. “Why?”
“Because you can’t keep things bottled in,” her mother said, softly.
“Is dad with you?”
“He came and asked about you. He was the one who knocked first, but he had to leave. They paged him in for an emergency.”
When it came down to choosing between his family or his job, Alan made it clear which came out swinging, every single time. As a young girl, Aimee admired her father’s work ethic. As she grew older, she began to wonder if he buried himself in a mountain of work on purpose just to avoid coming home.
No one worked that hard unless they were trying to run away from something or escape it. Of course, she’d never had the chance to ask him directly, but it wouldn’t have mattered because she guessed he’d give her a lecture about the importance of making sacrifices for the greater good. In this case, he provided them with a good life, and the ability to choose.
Aimee understood that and was thankful for it, but he still wasn’t around, and that had taken a toll on her. Caring or not.
“I made you hot chocolate,” her mother cajoled, a smile in her voice. “With sprinkles and marshmallows, just like when you were little.”
Aimee couldn’t help the smile that sprung to her face. Once upon a time, it had been her favorite drink, and her mother would often make it for her as they chattered about different things.
Aimee reluctantly peeked one eye open and stared at the door. She sighed, swung her legs off the bed and padded softly to the door. It clicked open, and she shuffled back to her bed, pulling the covers on over her.
Her mother placed the hot chocolate in front her, turning the mug, so it faced her, and she perched on the edge of the bed, trying not to hover anxiously.
“Is it that bad?”
“He doesn’t want to see me anymore.”
“Did he say that?”
“He said he doesn’t want to be distracted because playing for the Chicago Coyotes is a big deal to him, that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, something he can’t get back if he blows it.”
“Did you make him feel like you weren’t supportive?” Gina asked, gently.
Aimee scowled. “Of course not, mom. Why would I do that? I think it’s great that he’s so passionate about something, and I may not like baseball, but it doesn’t mean I won’t be supportive.”
Gina hummed. “Maybe it’s something else then. Was something else bothering him? At home maybe?”
Aimee lifted her head up, curiosity getting the better of her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had a heart to heart with her mom, and now that she was here, it was hard to think of why they stopped. Unlike her dad, her mom was supportive, kind and not judgmental.
In that moment, Aimee felt like she could tell her mom anything in the world, and she’d offer her a hug and sage advice.
“He had to go the police station the other day,” Aimee revealed. She caught the weary look that crossed her mom’s face, so she hastened to add, “To identify the shooter who killed his dad.”
Gina’s hands flew to her mouth. “That’s awful. His father was gunned down?”
“Yeah, they were on their way home, and the store next to them was being robbed, so they got caught in the crossfire. Tommy’s dad saved his life.”
“I guess that’s hard for Tommy, living with that knowledge,” Gina mused. “Poor boy.”
Aimee hesitated. “Mom, I know Tommy is from the other side of the tracks, but he isn’t like that, I swear. I just don’t understand why he’s pushing me away all of a sudden.”
Gina cocked her head to the side. “It’s probably because he’s afraid, and I’m guessing seeing his father’s killer couldn’t have been easy on him. You just need to give him some time to sort through his mess on his own.”
“Isn’t there anything I can do to help him?” Aimee questioned, desperation seeping into her tone.
Gina shook her head, sadly. “No, I’m afraid not, dear. You just have to trust he’ll come back to you.”
“How do I do that?”
“The ri
ght one usually does. Your father did when the time came.”
Aimee’s eyebrow climbed up to her hairline. “Dad? He’s always so sure about everything.”
A wistful smile made its way to Gina’s lips. “He wasn’t always like that. Your father came from the South side too, you know, and just like Tommy, he clawed his way out.”
Stunned, Aimee leaned back against the headboard. “I didn’t know that.”
“It’s not something he likes to talk about, but now, you understand where he’s coming from. It’s not blind prejudice that drives him forward. It’s fear. He doesn’t want that fate for you.”
“Then he of all people should know,” Aimee protested. “Right?”
“Deep down, maybe he does, but his mind is screaming at him to protect you.” Gina covered Aimee’s hand with hers. “In the end, you have to go wherever your heart leads you.”
“What about dad?”
“You’ll figure out how to help him see things your way.”
Chapter 11
One foot in front of the other.
That’s what Tommy kept telling himself. Just keep doing that until you reach your destination. Then he could think about how badly he’d messed things up. He shifted the grocery bag from one hand to the other, flicking his hair out of his eyes.
He wasn’t even sure what happened.
Sure, he’d been angry, and he wanted to take it out on someone, but he never dreamed it would be Aimee. Of all people. He never should’ve opened his mouth. Then those shitty things wouldn’t have been said.
He wondered if she could forgive him, and even if she could, where would he start?
There was so much to say, and he had no idea how to say it.
In his mind’s eye, he could still see the hurt look on her face, replaying over and over, taunting him. Just what he needed after a day like today. Not only had he messed up during practice, but he’d also potentially lost Aimee forever.
No, he couldn’t think like that.
He’d call her once he got home, ask if they could meet, and he’d explain everything. Surely, she would understand. She had to. He had no other clue how to win her back. What was that saying?