19. Theo

19

THEO

I open one eye and the light coming in from the curtains practically blinds me. I'm upright on my couch. My head pounds and where the hell is some water? I'm parched.

I scratch my scalp. Shit. Even my hair hurts. I force my eyes open, and I make out a figure in the chair across from me.

"Good morning, sunshine."

Alexie.

I flop my head back on the couch. Ouch. Fuck. "What the hell are you doing in my living room?" I sit up and reach for something to drink from my coffee table. My table is clear.

"I cleaned up in here after you passed out. You're welcome."

Not sure what's causing the headache— the beer or the whiskey. Probably both.

As soon as I'm able to sit up, I remember why I'm fucked up.

Francesca.

"You can leave now," I say to Alexie as I rub my eyes.

"Go shower and put clothes on. You stink."

I blink a few times. "I said you can leave."

He rises from his chair, approaches me on the couch and towers over me. In a low growl he says, "I said , go shower. I'm not messing around."

I swallow hard. I'm so messed up, there's no way I'm getting into a physical altercation with this beast.

I rise and I have to look up into Alexie's face. He has at least five inches on me "You know if I wasn't feeling so shitty, I'd kick your ass."

Alexie bellows in laughter. "I'd like to see you try— even on your best day. Don't make me strip you and put you in da shower myself."

He pushes his chest into mine. "Brush your teeth too." He scowls.

I push my hand into his chest. "Move."

He looks at his watch. "Ten minutes or I'm coming in."

"Give me fifteen or you might see my manhood and be a jealous bastard."

"I've seen it. Don't flatter yourself."

After three huge pancakes, two eggs, a few slices of bacon, and two cups of coffee, I finally feel somewhat human again. The side order of biscuits probably helped soak up some of the alcohol from last night.

Alexie studies me as he brings the coffee mug to his mouth.

"Why you so stubborn?" He sets the coffee mug on the table.

I toss my used napkin on my empty plate. "Good question, man."

"Why didn't you stop her from leaving?"

"Stop who?"

Alexie shakes his head. "You can stop with the act now. We all know about you and Francesca."

My mouth drops. They knew? "You guys knew?"

Alexie takes the last bite of his biscuit. "Obvious." He takes another swig of coffee from his mug. "You're an idiot…as the guys say, you've got it bad for her," Alexie says with his heavy Russian accent.

I chuckle. "That's the truth."

"Why did you let her go?"

I let out a breath. "She lied to me. Even though there was no real damage done, how do I know she wouldn't lie about other things? Big things."

"Theodore," Alexie addresses me with a serious expression.

Shit, this dude has never called me by my first name.

He shakes his head. "In the last four weeks, since she's been gone, you've had two fights on the ice that you initiated, a concussion, a bruised rib, and you've missed two practices. I assume because you were either drunk or hungover."

My chest tightens. I grit my teeth. "What're you? My babysitter ?"

Alexie pounds his monster fist down on the table which draws the attention of the diners at several nearby tables. Alexie's chest puffs up, his nostrils flare and I swear the vein in his neck pulsates. "No," he grits out. "I'm not your babysitter, but from where I sit, you need one. You need to pull your head out of your ass and get your shit together."

He looks around and lowers his voice. "You keep up with the fights and missing practice and you're gonna lose your spot on this team. We need you."

I can't look Alexie in the eye. "I know," I mutter.

"What you gonna do about your girl?" Alexie finishes his coffee. "You think about calling her on da phone?"

I chuckle. "I think it's gonna take a lot more than a phone call."

"Well then you better figure it out." Alexie tosses his used napkin across the table at me. "Bring her back here…where she belongs."