Rushed(51)

“You've talked about him a lot. You guys keep in touch?”

“Just emails right now. He's playing for Jacksonville, they're in season too. He's got his hands full, but if you want, we can try and set up a Skype call.”

April shrugs. “No rush. So regardless of the rep, what led to your change of style?”

I pull her close and whisper in her ear. “Finding the love of my life. Gives me a tender heart, but makes my body a lot tougher.”

“Not too tough, I hope,” April purrs back. “I like soft and tender Tyler too.”





Chapter 18





April





“Good morning April, how're things going for you?”

I'm in the office, looking forward to the last away game of this leg. We're going to Vancouver, and I've already exchanged emails with Gail, she's going to meet me and sit next to me for the game. It'll be nice to spend some time with an old friend and introduce her to Tyler. But it's not Gail on the phone, it's Connor.

“Hey big guy, I'm doing well. How about you?”

“Very well, thanks. I've got some good news for you and Tyler.”

“Really? Great! Is it about the . . . well . . . you know?”

“No, we're still waiting on results of our motion for a DNA test, for some reason the girls are fighting it,” Connor says, “but on the assault charge. My uncle talked to the Crown Prosecutor, and with the new video that they just received from the traffic camera, they've decided to drop the charges. Tyler's absolved of any wrongdoing in the matter.”

“YES!” I yell, fist pumping the air. The other members of the office look around at me, and Francine, who's in to talk with Mr. L., gives me a look. I wave it off and cover the mouthpiece of the phone. “Tyler's assault charges are getting dropped.”

A small cheer goes around the office, and even Mr. Larroquette sticks his head out of his office to see what's going on. “What happened?”

“Tyler's charges have been dropped,” Francine says, and for the first time I think in days, the man smiles before going back into his office, leaving the door open. He gets on his phone, and I bet he's passing along the good news. For all his pain in the ass habits, he does a good job of spreading good news even faster than bad.

I turn my attention back to Connor, smiling the whole time. “That's the best news I could have gotten. Are you sure?”

“I'm looking at the confirmation letter from the Crown Prosecutor's office right now. Trust me, Tyler's totally in the clear on that. Also, just to let you know, Thomas got himself arrested last night as well, I don't know if that had anything to do with the Crown's decision.”

“Oh? What on?” I ask, only slightly interested. It could be jaywalking for all I care, the man is out of my life for good now.

“Domestic violence. It seems his current girlfriend got tired of his bullshit too. So he's going to be facing at least a year in jail this time. The Crown isn't going to go lightly on a two time loser like him.”

“Good,” I say with just a touch of vehemence. I guess he does still have some effect on me, if he can make me this pissed off. “Can they send him to Yellowknife to do his time?”

Connor laughs, but in understanding. “I doubt it. In any case, I'll keep you updated on the other matter too. We'll see what's going on soon enough.”

Connor hangs up, and I put my phone down, a giant idiotic grin on my face. Francine gives me a high five as she gets ready to leave, her own grin lighting up the room. “I think that means date night, don't you?”

“Damn skippy.”

Francine shakes her head in mock exasperation. “Leave her with Americans long enough, she starts sounding like one of them. Pretty soon she's going to start saying she hates Nickelback.”

“I've always hated Nickelback,” I tell Francine, who reacts with mock horror to the old joke. I really have, just because they're Canadian doesn't mean I have to like them. “Nickelback sucks.”

She crooks a finger at me like some sort of old crone, her voice pitching high and shrill. “Blasphemer! Someone, get the wood! We have to burn the witch!”

Everyone laughs, and for the first time, I feel like I'm joining in with the other people in the office rather than feeling outside it. Tyler's love has unlocked the rest of my fears, and I've let myself out of the cage I've kept myself in for so long.

During the team's lunch break, I find Tyler in the stands, munching on a roast beef sub and a protein shake. “That looks disgusting.”

“It is,” he replies with a laugh, “but I've got a lift after lunch, and Coach Taylor is a big believer in pre-workout loading.”

“Did you hear the good news?” I ask, and Tyler nods. “Damn, I was hoping to be the first one to tell you.”

“That news got around so fast they stopped the video session to tell us,” Tyler says with a laugh.

“So what do you want to do to celebrate?” I ask, smiling. “I had an idea in mind.”

“Oh? What's that?”

“Well, you remember our first date? Not the club, but the one where you wore that awesome suit?”