Always (Bold As Love 4)

I was so upset, I didn't even want to tell Emily what he said. Instead, I just told her he simply said he didn't want to go. She couldn't believe his behavior. The drinking, that didn't surprise me. I guess I just thought that it was more grief that she was gone than hatred and disgust. When he said that, I got a glimpse into what Emily went through. Dad sucked it up for a bit for Drake, but that was his sole reason. My parents are dead and one of them couldn't stand me.

And then there's Emily. What the hell has been going on with us lately? It seems like it's one thing after another and if it isn't me, it's her. Why can't we simply enjoy life? We're engaged and headed in a wonderful direction. Things are pretty much happening the way we want, but arguments are happening more often. Part of me wonders if that's really normal and if it is, does that mean I missed something with my parents? I don't remember them ever fighting.

Ugh, I wish this drive would be over with already. I'm tired of thinking about all of this nonsense. The past is one thing, but our future is just as rattling, in an exciting way. Sometime this week, I have to find us a place to live. That's going to be fun. For one, because I'm doing it alone, and two, it's going to be more expensive than what we're used to. If I can get that contract, then we won't have to worry. First things, first. I must survive the camps.

My phone rings and interrupts my never ending thoughts. A picture of Sweetness and I appear on the screen. I've only been driving for about six hours.

“Hey, Sweetness. How's it going?”

“Fine. Just wanted to check in since I haven't heard from you. Where are you?”

“Driving through West Virginia.”

“Everything going well, so far?”

“Yeah. Drake behaving?”

“Of course. We're watching a movie right now.”

“Good.”

“Hey? You're going apartment hunting, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Just checking. I'm going to let you go. I'll check up on you later.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you.”

For the rest of the drive, I focus on hockey. It's still amazes me that I'm heading where I want to be. There's two things standing in my way. The rookie camp and then the NHL camp. Surviving those camps will officially mean moving to Chicago and a contract. After that, what more could I want?

Not only will I have to find us a place to live, but I'll need to check out where Drake can play hockey. Up until now, he's always been a watcher first, loving the sport as a spectator. Now he wants to get in the game seriously. We have played some together before and he knows how to play, but he wants to go to the next level. I just have to see what's available for him here. I'm sure Chicago will have more opportunities than our hometown.

It thrills me that Drake wants to play. I'm sure that it will be good for him to have something as great as the game to focus on with everything that happens. My biggest hope is that it gives him the same feeling I get when I play. During the game, everything falls away. Hockey never fails me when life gets rough. I can count on feeling nothing but pure bliss when I'm on the ice. All is right when I'm playing.

Before I get into Chicago, I stop at a fast food restaurant and grab something to eat. Being so close, I keep on driving. I don't even want to think about the drive back home. At this point, I don't want to drive ever again.

The hotel is nice enough as I check in and head up to my room. My bags fall from my hands at the door and I set everything else to the side. Immediately, I flop onto the bed and call Sweetness. It's nine thirty and I've literally been driving all day long. I best call Emily now before she starts to worry. She picks up after the first ring.

“Hey, love.”

“Hey. I'm here. How was y'alls day?”

“Fine. We checked up on the house since Dad's out of town this week and just hung out the rest of the day. He's going over to Tommy's tomorrow.”

“Good. What are you going to do?”

“The girls are going to meet me at the house in Charlotte and help me pack up.”

All she has to pack is our personal belongings at the house since it was already completely furnished. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours.

“Jake?” she says hesitantly.

“Yeah?”

“I realized something today.”