Page 35 of Hutch (Minnesota Raptors #2)

Daisy

Three days and not a word from Joseph. Maybe Hutch did scare him off. God, I hope so. I hate feeling frightened and helpless all the time. Those feelings had started to fade when I arrived here in Minnesota, but they came roaring back with just a simple ring tone. I hate it.

“You good?” Christa stops wiping down tables and looks at me. I know I’m pale, but otherwise I’m physically fine. Emotionally? Not so much.

“Yeah, just tired. It’s been a long day.”

“That’s the truth,” another server calls. “My feet feel like they’re going to fall off if I sit down.” Donnie. That’s his name. He’s cute. Messy blonde hair and brown eyes are set in a face that always seems to be smiling. He screams boy next door.

“Don’t mind Donnie. As a drama major he’s always being dramatic.”

“My feet are in the same boat.” They ache tonight like nobody’s business.

Christa wipes down the last table and looks around, satisfied the closing shift is done. “I think we’re good to lock up and go home.”

“Get your things, ladies, and I’ll walk you out.” Donnie rings out his cleaning rag and collects everything to take it to the utility room in the back. “I’ll meet you at the back door in five minutes.”

Christa and I put our own cleaning stuff away and go collect our things.

Ever since the hockey players started eating here a few days ago, the place has been packed.

They bring in a crowd all their own. Add to it, all the boyfriends at the house have started eating here as well, there’s hardly an open seat.

Some of the players from various teams did talk to Jenny, our manager, about offering some healthier food.

They explained to her that’s why they didn’t come here since many of them are hopeful to play professional sports.

She took it seriously and the next day, new menu items were available that were much healthier.

I was impressed with how quickly she moved, but then again, given how full the place has been, I wouldn’t want to miss out on that either.

“I’m dreading when the cold sets in and we have to climb into cold cars. As safe as this place is, I still wouldn’t trust starting my car and leaving it outside running. We are in Minneapolis and crime is not non-existent.”

“They’d take one look at mine and run in the other direction.” My little car is old and on its last legs.

She laughs. “Mine too but let’s hope yours gets us home.”

My phone rings and I pull it out, recognizing the ring tone.

“Luc, you okay? Did you get hurt?”

“No.” My best friend’s voice is soft and musical. You’d never guess she was almost six feet tall and a basketball player. “Joseph called me tonight asking who your new boyfriend is.”

“Why don’t you have his number blocked?”

“Same reason you don’t,” she says tiredly. “I’d rather know what he’s up to than get surprised. Did he call you?”

“Yes, he called. I didn’t speak to him, though. Hutch did.”

“Hutch? Is that your boyfriend?”

“Maybe,” I mutter. “I’m not sure yet.”

Her tone softens. “You’re scared.”

“Yes, not sure I can trust my own judgment.”

“Don’t let the asshole screw up your chances of finding something good, Daisy. Is this Hutch a good guy?”

“I think so, but I thought Joe was too.” I walk a little bit away from Christa for some privacy. “He’s so kind, Lucy, and I really like him, and I’m afraid I’m on my way to falling for him. He makes me feel safe.”

“Did Joe ever make you feel safe?”

I think about that one for a minute. “No, no he didn’t.”

“Then there’s your answer. Let your guard down a little and get to know this guy. I’m always here if he needs his ass beat.”

I laugh. She’d do her best too. She told me later she decked Joseph right in front of his uncle and the sheriff never said a word.

“I’m getting ready to head home from work. Call me tomorrow and we’ll catch up.”

“I’ll do you one better. I’ll be there next week to play in a charity game. We can go out and you can introduce me to Hutch.”

“Really?” I squeal, excited to see my best friend since kindergarten. I really, really miss Lucy.

“Really. I’ll call you as soon as we check into the hotel. You be careful going home and if asshole calls me again, I’ll tell him off.”

“Hutch calls him asswipe.”

“I like this guy already.”

“Did he tell you why he called me?” I ask hesitantly.

“I think he wanted to tell you about the draft. Stupid has it in his head you’re still his girlfriend. I told him how insane he was.”

“He thinks I’m still his girlfriend?” I shout, causing Christa and Donnie to look my way.

“I know how you feel. Be careful, Daisy. I didn’t tell him where you are, but he has friends on a lot of teams. Someone might see you. Stay away from the football fields.”

“You couldn’t pay me to go there,” I mutter, feeling the shaking start to come back. “I’ll be careful. Get some sleep. I know you have to be up early.”

We hang up and I go back over to Christa. “Can you drive?”

She nods and takes my keys. Donnie looks concerned.

“You okay, Daisy? You don’t look so good.”

“I’ll be fine,” I assure him as we walk out and into the cool air. It’s not cold enough for a thick coat yet, which I’m told is unusual for the fall around here. My jacket works fine to ward off the physical chill, but it does nothing for the chill setting up in my soul.

He thinks I’m still his girlfriend.

He’s insane.

I buckle my seatbelt and text Hutch to please come over. I do it without thinking and regret it as soon as I hit send, but he makes me feel safe. Right now, I don’t feel so safe.

“Daisy?” Christa glances over at me as she’s driving and quickly back to the road. “You’re shaking. Did the ex call again?”

“No, he called my best friend from back home. Lucy said he thinks I’m still his girlfriend.”

“What?” she screeches.

“Exactly what I said. He’s insane.”

Hutch and Collin were true to their word.

They spoke with Dylan and Jenny as well as a lot of the hockey team.

Jenny talked to the other girls in the house.

I’ve gotten a lot of looks, some of which I can’t decipher, but no one has been mean.

Jenny and Christa have taken it upon themselves to make sure I’m never alone either, unless I’m upstairs in my room with the door locked.

Even Hailey has taken to walking with me to and from the same classes we have.

She usually ignored me before, but since she found out what happened, she’s thawed a little bit.

“He doesn’t know where you are, though, right?”

“As far as I know, he doesn’t. But Lucy pointed something out I didn’t think about.”

“What’s that?” Christa pulls into the drive and cuts the car off before turning to look at me.

“He’s a football player. He knows a lot of people from a lot of teams. If one of them sees me…they might tell him where I am. Then I won’t be safe anymore.”

“Mitch already warned the entire team no one is to talk to him. He’s persona non grata.”

“Really?”

She nods. “Everyone at the house adores you, Daisy. They got your back.”

Or they have Hutch’s back, but either way, I’m grateful. The house is a party house with tons of football players over at all times of the day and night. Any of them could snitch me out. I hope Mitch can enforce that decree. Maybe I should think about moving.

“Let’s go in. I need a shower before I go to bed.”

“We do smell like beer and grease.”

She scrunches her nose up. “I hate the smell, but it pays the bills.”

“Agreed.” I get out of the car and we walk into the house together. It’s after one in the morning, so the lights are out downstairs. Christa and I go our separate ways, me heading to the attic and her to the second floor.

I flip on the light when I go into my room and put my things down on the small table I placed near the entrance. Kicking my shoes off, I head straight for the bathroom and shut myself in, finally letting that call settle into my soul.

Why had I never thought about Joseph looking for me through other football players?

I thought his uncle got through to him, that’s why.

I foolishly trusted that the fear of losing his football career would keep him away from me.

I have no doubt he’ll be picked up at the draft, so then why is he endangering that chance?

You’re mine, Daisy. Don’t ever forget it.

Those words ring through my head on the daily.

I remember them clearly. I lay there, nearly dead, and those are the words he said to me.

I hear them in my nightmares. I hear them when I’m awake and I see, or hear, or even smell something that reminds me of Joe.

I can’t get them out of my head so why should I convince myself he can?

He really is insane.

My phone rings, startling me. I open the bathroom door and go dig it out of my bag. Hutch.

Something inside that’s been coiled tight all night loosens just the tiniest bit.

“What’s wrong?” he asks the minute I connect the call. His voice is deep and full of sleep.

“I woke you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, Red. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Lucy called. Joe called her demanding to know who my new boyfriend was.”

“What did she tell him?”

“To go fuck himself probably. She hates him.”

“I like her already.”

“She said he still thinks I’m his girlfriend.”

“The fuck?”

“I uh…” I stop, unable to put into words what I’m feeling.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Just stay calm.” His words are reassuring, but they can’t stave off the despair trying to pull me under thinking about those words Joseph uttered to me that day.

Joe’s never going to let me go, is he?

I slip on my fuzzy house shoes and go downstairs to wait on Hutch, the only person who can make me feel safe.