Attacking Zone (Utah Fury Hockey Book 4)

by Brittney Mulliner

  “Large caramel latte.” I smiled and handed the drink to the customer and watched as she walked back out to the sidewalk. Dang it. I was hoping she’d stay here so Joey would drop the topic, but my last chance walked out with her.

  I turned to see Joey looking at me with raised brows, waiting.

  “We’re too different. We want different things. Our future plans don’t match up.”

  She didn’t answer immediately. I tried to make myself look busy by restocking things behind the counter.

  “You’re looking for the real deal?” Joey said. “You don’t just want to have fun?”

  I paused with a stack of cups in my hand. Was I looking for a future? The one? I had to be. That’s why I was so upset about this. If I was just interested in having some fun for a little while, I would date Wyatt for as long as it was still easy.

  “I’m not interested in playing games or casually dating. If I don’t see a future with someone there’s no point in wasting either of our time.”

  She nodded slowly. “And what makes you two so different? Does he not want to settle down?”

  “No. I’m not sure. I think he would, eventually.”

  “Okay, does he not want kids and you do? Or vice versa?”

  I shook my head. “We’ve both mentioned kids.”

  “I can’t guess all day, Kendall. What’s the issue?”

  Why was she getting short with me? It’s not like I asked for her help. She forced herself in.

  “I want to settle down in one place. Make a home. Be part of the community. Be able to travel and do things when we want. Wyatt can’t offer that.”

  “Because he’s a hockey player?”

  I nodded.

  “That’s a tough one. He can’t change his career and he doesn’t have a ton of control in what happens. I do know that he’s the heart of the Fury. I have a very hard time seeing them trade him. Would you be okay living in Salt Lake indefinitely?”

  “I wouldn’t mind. It’s beautiful and I could see myself raising a family here.”

  “Then maybe you’re creating a problem. Maybe you’re scared this might actually work out.”

  Was I freaking myself out? Focusing on the negative.

  No.

  “I spent my whole life as the child of a service member,” I said. “I know first-hand how much is sacrificed when your career comes first. I don’t want that. I don’t want my children to always come second.”

  She smiled gently. “Kendall, I can see where that could be hard, but the NHL isn’t the military. They have much more freedom.”

  “Do they?”

  She pursed her lips. “I think so.”

  I shrugged, defeated. “I don’t. I don’t think it’s that different.”

  “So, you’re going to give up your chance with Wyatt?”

  I nodded. “I have to.”

  “I’m not going to try to talk you out of it, but I think this is something you should talk to Wyatt about. I don’t think you should end everything with him because of fear.”

  With that she turned and walked away. I wanted to argue with her. Tell her it’s not fear, but self-preservation.

  My phone buzzed. Wyatt’s name was on the screen, again. This was the third call in two days. Did he not get it? I was doing this for him. We wanted different things. We had to let whatever this was, go. I just hated having to be the one to do it.

  I’d had a feeling he would make this hard on me. He was going to put up a fight, because that’s the kind of guy he was. I opened a new text and told him I needed some time and space that I’d talk to him later.

  I pressed send before I could second-guess my decision. This was it. I needed to accept it and move on. Wyatt needed to move on. It was easier this way. The sick stomach and ache in my chest was much better than the heartbreak that would come if we let this go any further.

  Ugh.

  The thought of seeing him with someone else felt like a hot knife through my chest. I’d see him again. He wouldn’t avoid the café because of me. That would be hard. I’d have to treat him like every other customer. Be polite. Professional.

  Forget about what it felt like to be held by him. Forget his warm kisses. Forget that he took me in despite everything I did to give him a reason not to.

  I could do this.

  I could be strong.

  It was for the best.

  The café was empty again, so I pulled out a textbook and began reading. My classes were kicking my butt. I was cramming in a few pages whenever I could. I wasn’t lying when I told Wyatt I was busy. I really was.

  No busier than him, though.

  And there was the guilt again.

  The guy had more on his plate than I could imagine, and he was still making time to reach out to me. Why wasn’t I relishing his attention? Why did I have to be rational? Mature?

  I read through the chapter, only half absorbing the information. My mind bounced from childhood development to Wyatt.

  I was supposed to be learning how to handle difficult situations. Looking at situations without bias and helping to find the best solution.

  It was the implementing part I was struggling with.

  Every few words, my mind drifted to our date. How considerate he’d been. How he didn’t make fun of my craving for French toast. The thought he put into getting ready for the drive in. Making sure I’d be comfortable.

  He was the kind of guy I wanted to end up with. He was a forever guy.

  I blew out a breath and set my book down. There was no point in pretending I was comprehending anything I was reading.

  Joey stuck her head out of the back door and eyed me.

  “Just go home,” she said. “I can close.”

  It was tempting, but I needed the money. “No, it’s okay. I’ll close.”

  She nodded once. “If you’re sure.”

  “I am.” I forced a smile.

  “Okay, I’m heading out then. Try to relax and get some work done tonight.”

  Those two things seemed counter-intuitive, but I understood. “I’ll try.”

  Now I had an hour to myself. Left alone with my thoughts.

  My phone buzzed and I checked the screen. Wyatt wishing me luck with the test I was studying for.

  Dang him.

  Why did he have to be thoughtful and remember details like that? It made this so much harder.

  I closed my eyes and shook away the thought. He wasn’t here right now so there was nothing I could do about the situation. Instead of standing and staring at my phone, I got the mop ready and began cleaning. Hopefully, it would be enough to distract me. At least for a few minutes.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Wyatt

  Kendall had been avoiding me. I knew it from the first missed call. I couldn’t pinpoint how or why exactly, but something in my gut told me she was pulling away. Part of me wanted to let it happen. It would be easier this way. My life was moving in fast forward. We were flying through the playoffs and the finals were coming up. The Stanley cup was in view and I wasn’t going to let anything stand between the team and that win.

  But no matter how hard I pushed myself at practice, how long I extended my workouts, how many interviews I did, she was in my head.

  I was worried about her.

  She was alone out here and probably getting overwhelmed with school. I just wanted to know she was okay. If she didn’t want us to be a thing that was fine. I wouldn’t hold that against her but ignoring all my calls and texts was a bit extreme.

  A whistle blew, and I jumped over the boards and onto the ice. I couldn’t think about her for another hour.

  I looked to my left as Malkin passed the puck to me. I dodged the defensive line and had a chance for a shot, but Erik was across from me, tapping his stick. He was open and wanted the shot. I passed it to him and watched him shoot and score.

  I clapped his back on the way back to the center. My head needed to be here, completely. I’d check in on Kendall to make sure she was fine,
then I was done. If she was moving on, then so would I.

  The puck dropped again, and I took possession getting us back into the attacking zone and skating behind the goal, waiting for my line to catch up. Once Murray was in position, I passed to him and shifted so I could be ready for a block from Olli.

  Murray scored in the five hole and I clapped him on the back for our second goal. “Keep it up guys. This is how we’re going to beat Cincinnati.”

  The guys cheered, and we resumed our spots at the center of the ice to start a new play. I spent the rest of practice actively thinking about not thinking about Kendall. I didn’t bother staying around after. If there were any problems or things Coach wanted to discuss, he’d have to call me.

  I showered and changed before heading straight to the café. I didn’t see Kendall when I walked in, so I looked for Joey. She wasn’t around either. I got in line and waited, impatiently, to talk to Matt.

  “Hey, the usual?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “No, actually I was looking for Kendall.”

  He scoffed. “Me too. She’s been a no show for three days. IF you see her tell her I’m sick of working doubles. I’ve got school too, ya know?”

  I nodded. I understood his frustration, but I was more concerned about where Kendall was. Three days without showing up for work? That didn’t sound like her. She would never blow it off like this.

  “Is Joey around?”

  “Yeah she’s in the back.”

  “Thanks.” I took off before he could stop me. Not that he’d bother. I pushed the door open and stepped into the back office. Joey was sitting at the computer and looked up when I walked in.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure, Mr. Hartman?” She smirked, and her eyes shone. She knew why I was here.

  “Where’s Kendall?”

  She shrugged. “From what her texts said, she’s sick.”

  Kendall didn’t seem like the type to lie about that. She needed this job, we all knew that. “When was the last time you heard from her?”

  “Monday afternoon.”

  Three days?

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll see you later.”

  I was out the door before she could respond. I hurried through the café and back to my car. This didn’t sit well with me. I should have come by sooner to check on her. I knew she wanted space, but who knew how bad she was because of my pride.

  When I got to her complex I found the last visitor parking spot before rushing to her door. I knocked twice without an answer. I tried yelling her name but didn’t hear anything.

  I tried the handle and it was unlocked.

  I let myself in and looked around. “Kendall?”

  No answer.

  The living room and kitchen were empty so I walked down the short hall to the bedrooms. One door was open with a disastrously filthy room. It was covered in clothes, and dirty dishes. Definitely not her’s.

  “Kendall?”

  I tried the next closed door. It was locked.

  “Kendall?”

  I tried the next door and it swung open, revealing a small but tidy bedroom. A framed picture of Kendall and an older man sat on the desk. The bed was unmade, but the room was empty.

  She had to be in the bathroom. I went back to the door and knocked. “Kendall, it’s Wyatt.”

  Nothing.

  “Kendall, I’m coming in. Yell if you want me to stop.”

  I waited a few seconds before stepping back and looking at the door. I didn’t want to have to kick it in. That would cost me a few hundred to fix, and I doubted Kendall would appreciate that.

  I looked around the frame and found a pin. I stuck it in the keyhole and jiggled the knob until it opened.

  I gently swung the door open and looked around hoping I wouldn’t see anything Kendall wouldn’t want me to.

  The room was dark, so I flipped the switch and gasped.

  “Holy crap. Kendall.”

  She was laying on the ground, unmoving.

  I bent down next to her and brushed her hair away from her face. She was pale, ashen. Her eyes looked sunken in.

  “Kendall?”

  She didn’t respond but groaned a little. How long had she been like this? Where was her roommate?

  I grabbed a washcloth and got it wet before wiping her forehead and face. She was drenched in sweat and the room smelt like she’d been throwing up.

  “Kendall, honey?”

  A phone starting ringing from another room, so I got up and checked to see if it was hers. The screen read Uncle David. Perfect.

  “Hello?” I answered hoping he wouldn’t freak out a man was answering her phone.

  “Hello?”

  “This is Uncle David, Kendall’s uncle, right?”

  “Yes, who is this?”

  I could hear the stress in his voice. He’d probably been trying to get a hold of her too.

  “This is her friend, Wyatt.”

  “Where’s Kendall? I’ve been calling for two days.”

  “I just got to her apartment and found her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s on the bathroom floor. I’ve been trying to wake her up. She’s groaned a few times, but she won’t wake up.”

  “Call an ambulance.”

  “Right. Of course. Hang on.” Why hadn’t that been my first reaction? Maybe I was used to the guys on the team. If I found them like that I would have assumed they were drunk or hung over.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed 9-1-1.

  “Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

  I couldn’t believe this was happening. “I just found my friend unconscious in her apartment.”

  “Is she breathing?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s the address of the emergency?”

  I rubbed my face with the back of my hand. “It’s apartment two-seventeen of the University Plaza complex off of two-hundred south.”

  “What is your name and phone number.”

  I told her my information wanting to yell at her to hurry and dispatch an ambulance, but I knew I had to follow their protocol.

  “Can you explain what happened to your friend?”

  “I haven’t heard from her in a few days. I went to her place of work and they told me she’d been out sick for three days, so I came to check on her. I found her lying on the bathroom floor, unconscious.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  “Does she have any health concerns?”

  Oh boy. I wanted to say no. I didn’t know of any. I put the phone down and spoke into Kendall’s. “Does she have any health problems?”

  “Kidney disease. Stage four.”

  What?

  Kendall was a healthy twenty-two-year-old. I moved to the bathroom and sat down next to her, stroking her hair. There was no way she had kidney failure.

  I brought up my phone and spoke to the dispatcher. “Stage four kidney disease.”

  “Okay. I’ve dispatched an ambulance and they’re on their way. I’ll stay on the line with you until they get there.”

  “Okay.”

  I muted her call and went back to her uncle. “The ambulance is on the way.”

  “Good. You said you’re her friend?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Does she trust you?”

  Well, wasn’t that a complicated answer. Trust? Probably.

  “I believe so.”

  “She’s seeing a doctor at the university hospital. Dr. Thompson. She’ll have all of her medical history.”

  I nodded. “Dr. Thompson. Got it.”

  “I got an email that she missed an appointment. She should have been there yesterday. I should have known something was wrong.”

  “I should have come sooner. I’m so sorry.”

  “Just focus on helping her now. I’ll try to get on the next flight.”

  “Uncle David, I know you don’t know me or have any reason to trust me, but I’ll take care of her. I won’t leave
her side. If the recruitment center won’t let you leave, I’ll be here for her.”

  There was a pause and I checked to make sure the call was still connected. “Thank you.”

  I heard sirens coming and stood up. “They’re here. I’m going to go wave them down. I’ll take her phone and keep you updated.”

  “Thank you.”

  I hung up and picked up my phone. “I hear them. I’m going to go direct them.”

  “Alright. Have a good day.”

  I hung up and hurried down the stairs to the front of the building. People had started gathering and the paramedics jumped out.

  Chatter started around me.

  “Isn’t that Wyatt Hartman?”

  “Hey! It’s our captain!”

  “What’s he doing here?”

  I pushed through the onlookers and got the attention of the first paramedic. “Over here.”

  Two of them jogged toward me while the other two followed with the gurney.

  “We’re on the second floor.”

  I rushed up the stairs and to her door. I let them in and led them to the bathroom. “Take a step back, sir.”

  I stood in the hallway watching them look her over. One listened to her heart while the other seemed to be looking for injuries.

  “She has stage four kidney disease.”

  One of them nodded. The two with the gurney finally caught up, bringing it down the hall.

  I watched in a daze as they stuck her with an IV and hooked up a bag of fluids. They had her strapped down on the gurney. They were asking me questions and I tried to focus on answering but I couldn’t focus.

  “Are you coming with us?”

  I nodded, following them out the door and back to the ambulance. I’d worry about my car later.

  The drive to the university hospital was less than a mile, but it felt like an eternity. I couldn’t take my eyes off her face. I wanted her to wake up. I needed to her tell me she was okay.

  I followed them through the emergency room and back to a private room. They continued checking things on her, hooking her up to machines, and talking to each other in a code I didn’t understand.

  I did my best to stay out of the way. I wanted to scream at them to tell me what was wrong, but I thought if I stayed quiet they would let me stay with her.