“Does sleep count? I love naps.” I give him a small smile. Wow, I’m full of happiness tonight. Must be the fact that I’m getting real food for once. “I don’t really do anything, Valo. I work and that’s it. I’m sure you travel and whatever else millionaires do. I bet you love shopping.”
“Not really. I play, take care of my cat, and hang out with my teammate, who lives with me. Doesn’t sound all that exciting now, huh?”
“Wait…you have a cat? You don’t seem like a cat person.” Of all the things he could have said, I would have never expected him to say he had a cat.
“I’m not really. Honeybun showed up outside my place one day and never left.”
“Your cat’s name is Honeybun. Oh my God, are you kidding me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” I’m giggling like a little schoolgirl who has just seen One Direction. “Please, tell me you have a picture on your phone. Because if you don’t, then how do I know you really have one?”
“I don’t take pictures of her.” He looks perplexed at my behavior. “We can run by there later if you want to see her for yourself.”
“Well, I’m sure I’ll enjoy that meeting, I don’t think I’ll ever get over that, Valo. Thanks for the laugh. I don’t do that often.” My smile leaves my face as I realize I don’t have much to be happy about.
“You should.”
“I guess. So, what’s your friend like? I mean, why is he living with you? I figured your teammates could afford his own place.”
“Gus is a rookie and he’s a good guy. When he first came here, he needed somewhere to stay, so he crashed with me for a bit. Then I told him he might as well stay with me. Plus, he’d never been here before, so he needed someone to show him around.”
“That’s nice of you. So, is all your family still in Finland?”
“Yeah, everyone except my brother. He plays with the Vegas team. We try to go home over the summer to spend time with family.”
I wonder what it’s like to have a family like that. Did they have fun family vacations? Skype about their days? Share holiday meals? I’m sure they did.
“Wow, a hockey family. Nice. Do you go home a lot? Or just the offseason time?”
“Only in the offseason. They might come visit, but usually we go to them. What about your family? Do they still live here?”
“Family?” I scoff. “I can’t tell you who my father is and I have no siblings. My mother is still here. She just got out of jail and lives near me. I try to keep an eye on her, but…she does her own thing. I’ve been on my own since I could walk. Maybe even before that.” I don’t remember a time I didn’t take care of myself. It’s always been me. “We don’t do much together. Mainly, I check in on her, pick her up off the sidewalk, if needed, so I’m sure my childhood was nothing like yours.”
I can see the sad and shocked look on his face. I don’t hide who I am and I’m not going to start now.
“It doesn’t sound like it.” There’s the sadness in his voice. “If there was one thing in the world you could do without worrying about anything else, what would you do?”
What?
What kind of question is that?
Is this what people really talk about on dates?
I look at his blue eyes and blond hair and see the kindness in his face. There’s no bad in this guy. He’s not the type to be playing me for a fool. He wants dinner and sex, but he seems to care about what I’m saying. Might as well be honest.
“It’s silly to you, but to me, it would mean the world?” I try to keep my steel walls up. This isn’t a Dr. Phil episode and I don’t need to have anyone feeling sorry for me. “I would like to have a full night’s sleep in a bed without worrying about someone breaking into my place, or a shooting outside, or any of that shit. I just want to sleep.”
Valo blinks a few times. His face is slightly pale and he studies my face. He doesn’t understand. He doesn’t know what it’s like to live in Greenwood. He’ll never be in my shoes.
“Have you ever thought about leaving Liberty? Going somewhere else and starting over?”
“Valo, it’s not that easy. I barely make enough money to feed myself or pay my rent. Do you think I have the resources to up and leave? Trust me, it would be nice, but that’s a dream I’m never going to see come true.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Thankfully, our food comes and I’m trying not to drool on myself as I see a massive piece of chicken, fresh spinach, and asparagus. It smells heavenly. My stomach grumbles because it wants the food as much as I do. I need to eat slowly and I’m tired off all the talking about feelings, hopes, and dreams. I pick up my fork and knife and look up at Valo.
“Okay, can we get off all this heavy shit? I mean, I’m really only here for the food. I don’t need a therapy session. So, tell me your favorite movie.” I cut into the juicy meat.
“Hm. I don’t know. I like war movies, that’s as close to a favorite I get. You?”