Chapter 28

Ihaven’t taken my eyes off Lili. I don’t know what she’s thinking. Actually, I do. She’s pulling away. I can feel it. And I need to figure out how to fucking stop her.

The doctor finishes applying new dressings and leaves the room. “You should be in bed,” Lili says. “This wouldn’t have happened if you had just stayed in the hospital.”

“And I would have stayed in the hospital, if my girlfriend were there with me,” I tell her. Her father chuckles from where he’s propped up by the door.

Lili glances in his direction before refocusing on me. “Where are your parents?”

“At our house.”

She flinches. It’s slight but I caught it.

“I’m sure they’d love to see you if you want to come home with me.”

“Travis… I… I can’t.” Lili looks at me with so much sadness and despair in her eyes. I want to take it all away. I want those eyes to shine with nothing but happiness again. It fucking hurts seeing her like this.

“Don’t do this,” I plead with her. My hand shoots out to grip hers. I’m terrified of letting it go.

“I have to. Just… I’ll get someone to take you home. I’ll call you once I’m back in New York.” Lili removes her hand from mine, and I feel like my whole world is slipping through my fingers.

I’m racking my mind, trying to figure out what to say, what could possibly break through her doubt right now, when she turns and walks out of the room.

Her father takes a step forward. “She just needs time,” he says.

I blink at him. This man has wanted his daughter to leave my ass since the moment he met me. To the point he’s put a gun to my head, attempting to scare me off more than once.

“How much time? Because I can’t fathom a world without her.” I know I’m spilling my guts to someone who couldn’t give a fuck, but I’m at a loss as to what to do here.

“I’ve sent some guys over to your place. I’m increasing your security, and they’re will be at least ten men on the grounds around the clock until I find the asshole who shot you.”

“Why?” Truth is, I’m confused as to why her father would help me do anything.

“Because, despite what she says right now, my daughter loves you and I love her.” He shrugs.

“I don’t understand. If it wasn’t your doing, who the fuck else would want to shoot me because of her?”

“I have no idea, but I’m going to fucking find out,” he grunts, his teeth clenched and his jaw tight. “Until then, you both need to keep your heads low.”

“I don’t know how to go home without her,” I admit.

“You don’t have a choice—that’s how. You need to give her the space she’s asking for. She needs to work through her issues in her own way.”

“You think she will?”

“Liliana can be stubborn, but I think she’s going to come to the conclusion that she’s better off with you than without you.”

I nod my head. “Okay. Can you just…? She’s going to be safe here, right?”

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just fucking ask me that,” he growls at me. “My nephew will drive you home.”

I walk into the house, my steps echoing off the walls as I enter. I haven’t bothered to furnish it yet. I was waiting for Lili to make it a home.

“Nice place. Guess the NHL pays well.” Enzo whistles as he looks around the foyer.

“I need your mother’s number,” I say as I pass him and head for the kitchen.

“What the fuck for?” he calls out after me.

“Lili mentioned your mom’s an interior designer. I want to see if she can get it done sooner rather than later.” I pick up the bottle of Jack I left on the counter and raise it to my mouth.

Enzo swipes it out of my hands. “That’s not a good idea. You’re doped up on pain pills,” he says before placing the bottle back on the counter.

“I don’t care.” I grit my teeth at him.

“I don’t really give a shit if you kill yourself either, but my cousin will.” He lifts one shoulder up and down. “I’ll call Ma and let her know you want her services.”

“Thank you.”

“You need some fucking furniture.” Enzo looks around the empty living space.

“Like I said, Lili wanted her aunt to decorate. I wasn’t going to buy a bunch of shit just to have to throw it out later.”

“You really do have it bad.” Enzo laughs.

I roll my eyes. I’m past the point of caring who the fuck knows how I feel about this girl.

“Catch ya around. Oh, and do me a favor, would ya? Try not to die.” Enzo waves a hand in the air as he walks back out the way we came in.

I manage to get up the stairs and to the bedroom. It’s the only space that’s furnished. Then I fall onto my bed and dig my phone out of my pocket. Ignoring all the missed calls and texts taking up my screen, I tap on Lili’s name and type out a message.

Me:

I love you, Lili. Always. I don’t care how long I have to wait. I will be here when you decide to come home.

Sweet Lili:

I love you too.

I read her reply over and over again. I don’t doubt that she loves me. I know she does. But, fuck, her ability to push me away right now is messing with my head. Because all I want to do is pull her closer. I want to hold her and never let her go. I feel like my lungs are struggling to breathe, like I’m stuck underwater, and I’m drowning every second I’m not with her.

I’m about to tell her as much when my phone rings in my hand and my coach’s number flashes across the screen.

“Coach?” I answer his call because I’m not a fucking idiot. If I don’t, it’ll be a lot worse later.

“Where the fuck are you, O’Neil? Because I’m at the hospital right now, and they’re telling me you checked your ass out.”

“I’m at home.” I sigh.

“You’re at home?” he yells down the line. “Against doctors’ fucking orders?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be back on the ice in no time.”

“You won’t be on the ice until you get clearance from the team doc,” he huffs out. “If your ass isn’t in a bed, I expect it to be warming the bench during practice tomorrow.” Coach cuts the call without giving me a chance to respond.

Fuck me. Practice is the last thing I want to be thinking about right now.

I scroll through the rest of my notifications. I have three missed calls from my mom, and several more messages. I feel like shit for leaving my parents back at the hospital. I told them to come here but they chose to stay at the hotel instead.

I click on my mother’s name and type out a reply.

Me:

I’m home. In bed. I’m good. Sorry, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.

Mom:

Is Liliana with you?

Me:

No, she’s staying at a rental house with her family.

Mom:

I’m sorry, Travis. I’m coming around with food.

Me:

I’m going to bed, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow.

Mom:

Okay.

I don’t for one second believe she’s taking no for an answer, though. She’ll head over now that she knows I’m home. I don’t want to be an asshole, but I’m fucking exhausted and not in the mood to deal with people.

Unless that person is Lili. I’d gladly fucking deal with her if only she’d let me.