Hockey With Benefits(75)

Still, I answered, going to the corner and sinking down in a chair. “Hey, Mom.”

“How are you feeling?” She was chirpy, but concerned.

I winced. “My body feels like a lump of blue cheese, all curdled up into one big bruise.”

“Blue cheese?”

I sank lower in my chair. “Blue cheese.”

“He really went after you tonight.”

“We’re nearing playoffs. It’s expected.”

“I watch your games, Cruz. The other teams aren’t like this one.”

I was just so tired. My head felt heavy, and I rested back, closing my eyes. “I know, but I can’t do anything except not let them win.”

“They’re trying to slow you down for tomorrow’s game.”

“Yeah.”

She was quiet on her end for a beat. “I can’t give you any advice, so I’m just going to tell you that I love you, Cruz. I have your back. Titi too.”

“Thanks, Mom. I love you too. How’s Titi?”

She was quiet again.

I sat up, some of the tiredness starting to fade. “Mom?”

“Oh.” She laughed, a little abruptly and cut herself off. “Sorry. I–I wasn’t sure if I should even tell you or when to tell you, but–”

I sat farther up. “Mom? What’s going on with Titi?”

“Nothing like that. She’s–she’s perfect. She’s fine. But Sabrina Burford reached out.”

“What?” I clipped out. “She has no reason to be reaching out.”

“Well, that’s not totally true, Cruz.” My mom was speaking in her mom-voice, all authoritative. “She expressed that she wants to make amends to Titi.”

“She’s got no–” I growled.

“She does, Cruz. She was in the car too–”

I shoved up from my chair and began pacing. “Yeah. She was in the car. She didn’t stop–”

“You know how Sissy could be.”

“I don’t like this, Mom. I don’t want Burford anywhere near Titi. She–”

“Titi’s asked about her.”

I stopped dead in my tracks. “What?”

This shit, right here.

I kept it separate. No one knew. Burford hadn’t talked when she came to college, but why would she? It wasn’t exactly a shining moment of glory for her, and the only other guy from our school was a science nerd but we’d never crossed paths. We didn’t come from a large town, though I knew there were others who might’ve known. If I got into the NHL, one day this would get out, but when they saw Titi, I hoped the sight of her would stop any reporter from going forward with the story.

“She saw her at your game, and she asked about Sissy’s friend. I…” A sob slipped out from her, her voice choking up. “I don’t have it in me to lie to her. No matter anything that’s happened, Titi still adores her big sister.”

My other sister. The reason Titi was in her wheelchair.

“Mom.” I sank back down to my chair, sitting on the edge. “I told Sabrina to stay away from both of you. She shouldn’t have reached out.”

“That’s not your place.”

“Mom–”

“Listen.”

I knew my mom. I didn’t need to see her to know that she was wiping the tears from her face as she forced out her take-charge Mom tone, a whole resolved look coming over her. What she said meant business, and I needed to pay attention.

She said further, “I’ve decided to let Titi see her, or let Sabrina see Titi. I talked to her on the phone. She is apologetic, but she always was back then. We–me–I couldn’t handle hearing her out back then. Not that I had any anger or blame for her, but the pain was too much to go through at the time. I’ve come a long ways now, and Titi is asking. I wanted you to know so you weren’t blindsided, but she’s driving here tomorrow. She’s going to have lunch with us.”

“Mom, don’t do this.”

“I think she just needs to apologize to Titi herself. The girl sounded tortured on the phone. I–I don’t want anyone to be like that.”

“Don’t–”

“Enough, Cruz. I’ve made up my mind.” She added quickly, softening, “I love you, honey. You played a great game tonight. I know you’ll do just as amazing tomorrow.”

“Mom–”

She ended the call. Goddammit.

Fucking Burford. I told her to stay away.

I went through my phone and hit Burford’s number.

It rang, then went straight to voicemail.

She’d declined my call.

A text came through a second later.

Burford: I know why you’re calling, but I’m going to see her. I want to do what I can to make things right.

Me: Stay the fuck away from my sister and my mom. They don’t need those doors opened back up. They don’t need to be hurt more. Stay the fuck away, Burford.

Burford: Your mom agreed. I’m going.

I tried sending another text, but she’d blocked me.

Fuuuuuck.

I couldn’t drive there myself.

I expelled a ragged breath and hit dial on Mara’s name.

She answered a second later, loud music blasting from her side. “Hey!”