Page 43

CHAPTER 43

Charlie

Brookdale Retirement Home is a surprisingly nice facility. I don’t know why, but I imagined cobwebs and coughing elderly. What I get, though, is a lively room full of residents who will not stop trying to get my attention. I haven’t even gotten ten steps into the event room before they swarm me, and Cami threads her arm through mine and sticks close. It’s pretty obvious that she’s staking her claim, and I secretly love it. I’ll take her cuddled close to me and claiming me as hers any day of the week.

These last twenty-four hours have been surreal, and even though I know she’s hesitant, I am on cloud nine. This is going to work between us, I just need to wait for her to get to a place where she’s comfortable admitting that fact to herself, and I am willing to wait however long until that happens.

Telling her about my trauma was difficult, but it’s brought this lightness that I haven’t felt in a long, long time. Having someone else help carry your burdens is a priceless gift that I haven’t afforded myself in, well, ever. I thought I might regret telling her and that it would change things between us, that she would feel bad for me and start treating me differently, but I should’ve known better.

Cami knows me inside and out, and she knows exactly what I need when I need it. She knew I didn’t need her pity, and she didn’t give it to me. She let me know she was there and made me feel loved and like I wasn’t alone. I feel so grateful to have found someone who takes the time to really know me.

“Okay, let him at least get inside the room. Jeepers, you all are like vultures.”

“Jeepers?” I whisper to her.

“You seriously can’t cuss in a room full of old people. They’ll attack.”

“But still, I don’t feel like jeepers was the right word to use.” I laugh. She rolls her eyes and I follow her lead into the room.

There are various rectangle tables set up all around the space with soft cream tablecloths draped over them. Small bunches of four or five roses sit in the center of each one, and a bingo card is placed in front of each of the chairs. At the front of the room, there is a microphone stand and a table with a large cage bowl placed on top. All of the plastic balls that rest inside have different combinations of letters and numbers to call out as you play the game.

When Cami mentioned that she’d have me volunteer here, I assumed I would just help with the dinner rush or something. I didn’t imagine some sort of “celebrity” hosted Bingo game. I like Bingo, though, so I’m not complaining about that.

She leads me over to a group of women sitting at one of the tables in the front. There are four of them sitting there, and I realize these must be the people in her knitting club. Two of them look so similar that I know they must be the sisters—Rhonda and Emery. I greet them first, then move to the left to the one with a kind smile and soft eyes. I guess Linda, and I’m right. Finally, I face Gladys and I know it is her by the way Cami described her to me. She told me she’d be hard on me, and it looks like she wasn’t joking because the glare she’s sending my way could burn.

“Hello, you must be Gladys,” I say as I reach out to shake her hand. She stares at it for a second before finally putting me out of my misery and reaching forward to take it in hers.

“Hello, young man. Thanks for coming out today,” she says.

“You’re quite welcome. Any time I can spend an afternoon with ladies as lovely as you I am all over it.”

She lets a small smile escape before she quickly puts her scary mask back on, but I take it as a win.

“You all know Charlie,” Cami says.

“We watch you play hockey every time we can,” Emery says.

“Well, that’s very flattering. Hopefully I don’t leave you disappointed.”

“Oh, never,” Rhonda replies.

“Especially not when you put up that fight for our girl. We liked you even more after that.”

I smile over at Cami and she rubs my back. We hear someone from behind tell us it’s time to begin the game, so she sits down with the other ladies and I make my way to the table in the front where the organizers tell me how to call the game.

About ten numbers in, the room starts to grow tense. People are glancing over at other people’s boards and frantically checking and double checking their own. The prize for this game is a $25 Amazon gift card, so I don’t blame them.

“B10…O4…G8.”

“BINGO,” someone shouts from the back corner of the room. I walk back to where the woman is sitting and check her card.

“It looks like we have a winner.”

There are equal amounts of groans and cheers in the room as everyone clears their boards for another round, and after a few more the organizer lets everyone know there is cake and punch being served if anyone would like to stick around. Most people do, and I make my way back over to the table Cami is at.

When I reach her, I lean down and press a kiss to her lips. She smiles up at me and I have to remind myself that it isn’t just the two of us here. We are in a room full of people. When I look up at the rest of the women at the table, they’re all smiling at us affectionately. It makes me happy to see people who want good things for her.

“Sorry I couldn’t rig it for you, Gladys.”

“I’ll forgive you for it this time,” she replies with a wink.

“You’re a pretty good caller, you should come do this more often,” Rhonda remarks.

“Oh, you just like to stare at him,” Cami replies. I feel the blush creep up to my cheeks and the women break out in a fit of giggles.

“Now, Charlie. Are you taking care of our girl here?”

“I’m doing my best, Emery. I hope it’s up to her standard.”

“She has high ones,” Linda says.

“I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I reply. They seem to be happy with my answer and move on to start asking about hockey and when the next game is.

“We have one against the Capitals in Washington in a few days. Should be a pretty good game.”

“Do you ever get nervous before these games?” Linda asks. “I think I would be a mess.”

“I used to get pretty nervous, but I don’t much anymore. I know my guys have my back.”

Cami smiles over at me, the pride clear in her eyes. I feel so grateful for where I am and how far I’ve come in the last few months, and a huge portion of that is all thanks to her.

We continue to have light conversation until the room begins to clear out and the women announce they need to head back for their afternoon nap. We say our goodbyes and Cami promises to be at the next club meeting before we start heading out through the front door.

“I think you really impressed them.”

“Really? I guess that’s good.”

“It is. I was a little worried they’d really hound you, but they took it easy.”

“I was too, but it would have been fine either way. I’m glad you’ve got people looking out for you.”

“Thanks, me too.”

We make it to the car and as soon as my phone connects to bluetooth, the car screen lights up with an incoming call. It’s my mom, and I hesitate before pressing the button to accept the call. Cami is quiet next to me, and I know she won’t say anything. I haven’t spoken to either of my parents since this whole thing with her began, and I’m a little nervous about what she’s going to say.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Charlie. It’s nice to hear from you.”

“You called me, Mom.”

“Well, it’s still good to hear your voice.”

“How are you?”

“I’m doing alright. Missing my boy, you know. How is hockey?”

I roll my eyes and take an exasperated breath. Most people would think it’s kind of their parents to ask how their hockey season is going, especially when they play professionally, and I would feel that way about my mom if this wasn’t the only topic we ever talked about. All my parents have ever cared about is hockey.

Even back in high school when Troy and the guys turned on me and I became a shell of the person I was before, they hardly noticed. I don’t think either of them asked what was going on or why I all of a sudden stayed home every Friday night and came straight back after games. I kept playing well, so they didn’t ask questions.

“Hockey is fine. Did you need something?” She scoffs at my abrasiveness, but honestly I don’t care. I love my mom, I really do, but as I’ve gotten older I have grown more and more resentful of the way she and my dad treated my sister and I. They never ask how she is or check up on her, and the only reason they do it to me is because of my career.

“Well, it’s been about a year since we’ve seen you. I wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind coming over for dinner.”

“To Florida?” I ask.

“Oh, no. Your father and I have been at the house outside of the city for a few weeks.” A few weeks? They’ve been an hour and a half away from my sister and I for a few weeks and they haven’t made any attempt to let us know.

My parents bought a small home in Long Island when I signed on with the Rangers. They wanted to have a place to be during the season so they could come to our home games, but clearly that hasn’t worked out the way they intended. They’re a short distance away and I had no idea.

“No.” Cami’s head snaps in my direction when I answer, probably because I did so extremely quickly. She widens her eyes at me and I shrug.

“Oh, come on, honey. I miss you so much. I haven’t gotten to hug you in, gosh I couldn’t even tell you how long.”

“Mom, my schedule is really busy right now. Did you see if Alana wanted to go to dinner?” If my sister had already agreed, I would absolutely say yes. I know, though, that she didn’t receive the same invite because if she had she would have told me.

“No. Isn’t she in Paris for work?”

“She came home. Like a month ago.” This just irks me even further and proves my point. They do not care about us, and I’m honestly confused why they even want to have this dinner.

“Oh, well that’s good news. I just really miss you sweetheart and I know you’re dating Cami.” I look over at her and she stares back at me. She grimaces a little, as if to say uh oh . I mouth, it’s fine, and continue on with the conversation.

“I am.”

“Why don’t you bring her to dinner? We knew her a long time ago, but I’m sure she’s changed since then.”

“That, and you were never home.”

“Speaking of, are you free in the next few weeks? Your dad and I are headed off to the Bahamas soon.”

“Of course you are. Mom, I really don’t know if?—”

“Well, I’ll just send you some dates that work and you let me know when you’ll come. I love you, honey, bye bye.”

The line goes dead before I can even respond, and I look over at Cami in utter disbelief.

“I can’t believe she just did that.”

“Looks like we’re going to dinner with your parents.”