Chapter 21

Chapter

Twenty-One

GRACE

I watch him sleep, knowing that those pain meds have knocked him out completely and he will stay that way for a good while longer. Marriage. I can't believe that not only has he asked, but that I've agreed.

I've never done anything this wild, this reckless in my entire life. Hayze was a mistake, but it wasn't wild. It was life changing, but only because he stole from me, cheated, and lied. This is different. But as my gaze scans his face, I can't imagine not staying with Otto. I've fallen for him.

Guilt crawls up my throat, threatening to choke me as I continue to replay the conversation that happened last night. The last thing I want in this world is for Otto to give up anything at all that he loves. And I know he loves not only hockey but this team. Leaving these men, this world, this life, is not an option for him.

And it shouldn't be.

Even though my father thinks I am just like her, I'm not my mother. I will not allow Otto to be miserable in order to appease me . That's something she would demand and expect to happen. Everything is on her terms. Nobody else matters. But I don't want him to lose this part of him.

So, I need to leave. I don't want to leave, but I know I have to. There's just no other way around it. Otto's happiness is the only happiness I care about right now. My personal stuff is just a tornado of unfortunate events, and I cannot bring him down with me. Which is exactly what's been happening since the moment I walked into his life.

Gathering my things, I leave his pills, the doctor's instructions, and a full glass of water next to his bed. The longer I stay, the more I'll never want to leave. I want to accept his proposal. I want to marry him, but I know that the best thing for him is me leaving.

So, I do.

I slip out of his house and am thankful not to be seen by anyone as I make my way across the street and into my own house… or my house for now. Because I have a feeling that I'm going to be packing my bags and driving somewhere else very soon.

Not only can't I afford to rent the room without my dad's help or a new job, but I know that being this close to Otto will make it impossible to stay away from him. He is where my body and soul crave to be.

When I step into the house, I'm not surprised to see Brooklynn standing in the kitchen, a cup of coffee in her hand. Her eyes flick up from the phone in her hand to meet mine. I start to move up the staircase, but she clears her throat, and I know she wants me to stop and chat.

"I didn't expect you back for a few more days at least," she states.

I'm not sure how to respond to her. I certainly can't tell her the truth. Rocking back on my heels, I let out a sigh.

"You need to ignore your dad's voice. Push it out of your head. Otto cares for you."

Chewing on the corner of my bottom lip, I debate not telling her about the marriage proposal, but it comes out, and as much as I want to stuff it all back inside, I can't.

"He asked me to marry him."

Her eyes widen, and I watch as she slowly places her coffee and phone down on the counter.

"Grace," she exhales.

I can see the questions swimming in her eyes. I know she probably doesn't want to ask them, though. But she does say one thing before I respond.

"You hardly know one another."

I inhale and hold a deep breath before I let it out slowly as I look across the room to her. She nibbles on her bottom lip, her eyes wide, her brows raised as she watches me and waits.

"I know. I said yes, but I can't."

"Grace," she hisses. "What do you mean you can't?"

Shaking my head, I close my eyes slowly, then reopen them, finding her gaze with my own. "If I go through with it, I will do nothing but ruin Otto's life. I have to walk away so that doesn't happen. I can't let it happen."

Brooklynn's brows snap together, and she takes a step toward me, then another, continuing until she's directly in front of me. Her fingers curl around my shoulder.

"How could you think that you would ruin Otto's life? That man is the most even-keeled, calm, and levelheaded person I know. If he asked you to marry him, it's because he knows that you're the one for him."

Biting the inside of my cheek, I try not to let her words sink in. I already know all of that. Otto is calm and kind. He's the best person I know. Which is why I know that I don't deserve him and that I can't ruin his life.

"It's not him. It's my connection to the team. It's my father. Otto said he'd be willing to be traded to another team, and I can't let that happen. Those men, this place, this is his life. I cannot be the cause of turning his life upside down and ruining everything he loves."

"Shit," Brooklynn hisses. "Don't go. He's out for a while, right? I bet everything will work out the way it's supposed to. I believe in things happening for a reason and falling into place. I mean, look at June and Lorelai. Those men moved in across the street, and their love stories began. They've all turned out to be amazing."

"I can't take that chance, not when it comes to Otto's future," I argue.

My decision has been made. My life was forever changed by him, but I cannot stand by and allow his life to be ruined by me. So, I know that I need to leave, and that is exactly what I do.

There's no waiting.

There's no plan made.

I step back from Brooklynn and walk upstairs to my room. I hear her call out my name, but if I stand around and talk about the situation, then I'm going to be talked into staying. It's not like it would take much to talk me into that. I'm teetering on the fence as it is.

My brain is telling me to leave, but my heart and body are begging me to stay.

OTTO

My cheek aches, but I don't reach for the painkillers. I need to stop using them, or I'm going to want them, and that's the last thing I need to happen. Sitting up, I throw my legs over the side of the bed, blinking a few times as I scan the room for Grace.

I'm alone. I stand and make my way into the bathroom. Once I've taken care of business, I take a chance at my reflection in the mirror. Hissing at the sight of my appearance, I let out a grunt.

I look rough as fuck. I'm glad I shaved my beard when I did, though. Otherwise, I would have had a bigger mess on my hands. The good thing about this scar placement is that I'll be able to grow my beard back out again, and it won't be very noticeable.

Ignoring my desire for the painkillers, I make my way downstairs and go in search of Grace and food. The house is quiet. The guys are probably all at practice or lessons. Checking around the downstairs, I frown. Once I realize that I'm completely alone, I start to wonder where Grace has gone.

I move toward the window to look out at the house across the street. Her car isn't there.

Maybe she went to the store…

The thought trails off as I grip my cell phone in my palm. I look down at the device. No new notifications. The phone unlocks at the sight of my face, and I find Grace's name in the messages app.

There aren't any new texts or calls. There is nothing. I decide to send her a text.

ARE YOU AT THE STORE?

I stare at the screen, hoping to see those three little bubbles that will notify me she's responding. But there is nothing. So, after about two minutes of staring, which feels like an hour, I send her another message.

ARE YOU OKAY?

Once again, I stare for what feels like a lifetime, but is probably only a solid minute. She doesn't respond, which worries me. Instead of sitting around and waiting for her to answer me, I decide to walk across the street and find out if she's home.

I'm sure that my face is going to scare the shit out of whoever answers the door, but I don't care. I'm too concerned with where Grace is to care if I traumatize anyone. I start to knock when the door flies open.

Brooklynn stands in front of me. I do not like the wild expression she's wearing on her face. I open my mouth to demand to know where Grace is when she steps to the side and asks me to come in. Her voice isn't nearly as cheerful and bubbly as it normally is.

I only step into the foyer, stopping as she closes the front door behind me. Turning to face her, I arch a brow and wait for her to tell me where Grace is. Because I know she realizes that's why I'm here.

"I tried to stop her," Brooklynn whispers.

"Stop her?" I ask.

"She's gone, Otto. She doesn't want you to give up everything for her. So, she left."

I almost laugh at that bullshit. But at the same time, my heart warms at the thought of her trying to save me. Even if it's bullshit, it's sweet bullshit. Clearing my throat, I run my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out what I'm going to do next.

"Do you know where she went?" I ask, shifting my gaze to meet Brooklynn's.

She chews on her bottom lip for a moment, then looks down at her feet before she slowly lifts her eyes to meet my own. She's avoiding answering me, likely because she does know, but she's stalling.

"Brooklynn?" I ask with a warning tone.

She lets out a heavy sigh, then flicks her gaze to the staircase before she brings it back to meet mine.

"She went to that motel at the end of town. She texted me, and she's in room 1-1-2."

Instead of thanking her, I turn around and run toward my car. It doesn't matter that I'm in sweats, that my hair is a mess, or that my face is killing me. I'm getting my woman and dragging her ass back home, even if it's the last place she wants to be because I know it's where she belongs.