Opening the d
oor to Miguel’s apartment, I called out to him. His answer came from the living room where he was sitting in his gigantic leather chair with an ice pack over his ribs.
“Hey,” I said softly. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been kicked in the stomach by a big footed soccer player,” he replied with a smile.
I dropped my bag down in the hallway and walked over to where he sat.
“Let me see.”
Miguel lifted the ice pack, then carefully shifted his t-shirt to reveal an array of purple and black bruises across his stomach.
“It looks worse than it is.”
“Liar.”
He grimaced. “I’m lying a bit, but the painkillers help. I’ve got the next few days off, but after that I’m still going in to work to help where I can. Richard said I can go in and out when I want.”
“Did he tell you he suspended McCoy?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure that was a smart move though.”
“What?” I screeched. “After what he did to you, he’s lucky he wasn’t fired!”
Smiling at my concern, he said, “Four weeks without him on the team is a long time. And if Jude has to take leave for his knee-”
“Minimum of six weeks,” I interrupted. “We got the call before I left.”
“Crap.”
It surprised me that I’d started to care about the team. Obviously I cared about the players, they were my workmates, but I didn’t realise I was interested in how they would fare in the soccer league. To have McCoy and Collinson out would be a huge blow, and talented as the others were, it would be a struggle without them.
My eyes rested on his bruises again and I felt another stab of guilt.
“I think this was my fault.”
“Your fault? No, Leah -”
“It was my fault,” I repeated. “He did this to you because he and I argued earlier. I'm so sorry.”
Miguel reached out and took my hand, “Don't blame yourself, angel.”
“How can I not? If I hadn't-”
“McCoy's got a temper, and whether you’d argued with him or not, he would still have been angry about being accused of harassment. You didn't cause what happened.”
He was wrong, but I didn't have the heart to carry on trying to convince him. What good would it have done anyway? The damage was already done.
“Look on the bright side,” Miguel said. “He’s been suspended. Now you won’t have to deal with him for a while.”
I didn't deserve him.
He’d been viciously assaulted, and all he was thinking about was me, and the fact that my life would be easier without McCoy around.
I leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned his head so our lips met. He put his hand up to my cheek.
“I love you, Leah.”