You and Me Forever (Oh Captain, My Captain 6)

There are only a few other people besides the employees at The Hole. When I walk in, I inhale the mouth-watering aroma of grease and cheese. Normally, this wouldn’t be so intoxicating, but right now, I almost want to bathe in it.

We find a table and thankfully a waitress greets us quickly. After a small amount of pleasantries, she asks if we’re ready.

“Yes. I want a large glass of sweet tea, a double bacon cheeseburger with extra cheese, and large order of fries. Oh, and can you put shredded cheese on the fries?” I almost need to wipe my mouth from the appetizing words I just spouted off.

The waitress smiles. “Someone sounds like they’re pregnant. I’ll make sure there’s plenty of cheese.” She winks at me and turns to Luca.

He's staring at me with his mouth slightly open.

“Luca, she’s waiting for you.” I nod over at the waitress.

“Oh, right, um, just a cheeseburger and fries. Small portion please.”

The waitress leaves to place our order and Luca is still staring at me.

“Stop it. I’m hungry. I told you that already. I have hardly eaten today.”

Luca frowns at me. “Why aren’t you eating? If there’s ever a time where you definitely need to eat, it’s now.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Ease off the serious tone, Luca. I’m almost sick every time I do eat. It’s only at night that I seem to get my appetite back.”

“You still need something. The crackers and ginger ale aren’t helping anymore?”

“No, they do. Thank you for that. But, it seems like when I go to bed, the baby starts rolling around and demanding food. Pretty sure I’m having a boy with your attitude,” I joke with him, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hopefully not. He would be hard to manage then.”

“I seemed to handle you okay for the past ten years. Well...you know what I mean.” I used to be able to. Now, not so much.

“You’ll be great either way, Hadley. Is Mama still calling you a lot?”

I laugh at him and the thought of his mother calling me all day. I know that he’s trying to change the subject, too.

“Yes, she has, and now Papa has started when we were discussing the nursery. He doesn’t want me to lift a finger for anything. I had the crib delivered, but he wants to put it up. I didn’t dare touch it.” I laugh. Papa told me that I shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy. He doesn’t want anything to happen to me while no one is there. “Have they called you at all? I know the last time you and Mama were together was...you know.”

“He called me that night, but I haven’t talked to them since then. So, they’re coming to town soon?”

“Yea, um, they want to see the final round of the playoffs. Will I still be able to get them tickets? I can drop them off and pick them up at the arena so they don’t have to drive. You know how much Papa hates to drive here.”

Luca chuckles. I’m sure that he’s thinking about Papa’s road rage. “I know. There will be tickets waiting as usual.”

“Well, I’ll be sure to tell Papa how to get the tickets when I drop them off, then.” I try to hold back my tears thinking that I won’t be there to see him in the final round of the playoffs.

“You don’t want to go?” Luca seems upset.

I shake my head and clear my throat. “No, it would be too hard on me. Especially when you win and the family is on the ice. It’s good that your parents will be there for you, though. They want you to win that cup as badly as I…” I don’t finish my sentence. I can’t finish it. Luca has worked so hard to reach this level; it would kill me if I couldn’t hug him and congratulate him. He doesn’t need any more added stress from me being there. He needs to focus on hockey.

Luca doesn’t look at me. He looks down at the table and I wish I knew what he was thinking, but he doesn’t say anything.

Before I can ask, the waitress brings our food. I can barely remember my own name as I practically inhale the burger. It’s slathered with cheese and I chew as fast as I can to get the next bite in my mouth.

“Hadley, you can stop to breathe, you know. The food isn’t going anywhere. You don’t need to choke in the process.”

“I’m fine. I’m starving and this is so good.”

“Then savor it,” he almost barks the order to me. I slow down a little bit because I know he’s right. “Do you have any more dinners or anything planned before you start with THN?”

He’s only asking to get me to talk more, but I take some fries before I answer. “A couple in July, nothing as big as before. Amy is going to go with me to the Media Awards. I was nominated again with KSPN. Mr. York seems pleased that my name is still ‘out there’ and making moves, as he calls it.” I don’t tell him I'm up for producer of the year again. I hate that he’s not going to be there with me. It’ll be the first time he won’t be.