I laugh. “She’s stressed.”
“Who isn’t?”
“Everything okay?” I ask, wondering if I’ve been too caught up in my own life and missed something going on in Cal’s.
He nods. “I’m heading home. Good luck with her.” He nods toward my bedroom and off he goes.
I’ve survived my first official day without the team. That counts for something.
I feel relatively okay about things, too.
Until I’m dumb enough to check the latest articles and see I’m one of the buzzing topics. Some folks run with what the team announced and leave it at that. Then, of course, there are the folks who insinuate this is something more. Something to do with my bad playing lately and the medical leave is an excuse to get me off the team for the time being.
And the comments.
Holy hell.
There are a bazillion too many fans happy that I won’t be playing for the foreseeable future. I didn’t realize it’s been so bad that I’m getting that kind of hate.
“It’s social media, Collin.”
“Shit, Jules!” I exclaim as I nearly jump to the ceiling. “Did you really have to sneak up on me like that?”
“Are you seriously reading Facebook comments about yourself?” she retorts with a raised eyebrow. “Are you trying to upset yourself? People are downright hateful online and half of those people probably aren’t even fans of the Rebels. This,” she snatches the phone out of my hand, “is the last thing you need to do to yourself.”
“I was curious,” I explain.
“And then stupid once you started reading the comments. Social opinion isn’t important.”
“It is if Cal expects me to tell people about my problems. That will only get worse.” I point to my phone. “I don’t know if I could handle that, Jules.”
She sighs, steps forward, and wraps her arms around my neck. “How about we focus on you getting better before you start contemplating opening yourself up to the team or the world?”
My face finds a comfy hiding place in the crook of her neck. That I’d rather do. I just need to slow myself down and focus on the most important thing right now, which is getting better in order to get back on the ice.
“Are we sure I need to be here for this?” I ask as I look around the yard at the massive number of people. Honestly, I don’t mind meeting people Collin is close to, but not only is this overwhelming, I don’t know that I can live up to any expectations. Not Collin’s or his friends’. This will be a disaster with my luck.
Collin chuckles as he squeezes my hand. “You seem worried.”
Of course he would find this amusing. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m sure, Jules. Relax, okay? The spouses will gobble you up like a hungry pack of wolves and then spit you back out to me.”
My eyes widen as I turn to look up at him, causing him to laugh some more. “You’re calling them wolves? Is that a sign? You know I’m a bad luck magnet, right? Maybe I should go back to Florida.” Not that I’d ever go back.
His hand tightens and he yanks me against him, all the teasing gone from his eyes. “Don’t say another word like that. You’re supposed to be here with me.”
His stare is hard, but brings me comfort with his seriousness, and the rest of his body is all inviting. The allure of his soul drags me even closer. Relaxes me. Soothes all of my ruffled, disarrayed feathers.
“Are y’all gonna get a room or join the party?” a woman asks, drawing our attention away from one another.
“Hey, Deanna.”
I shake her hand and tell her hello. It’s nice to see her again. A huge Rottweiler runs over and jumps up on Collin with a man following behind him.
“Down, Otis,” Collin says. “Why am I the only one he does that to?”
“Because you let him,” the man says. He extends a hand to me. “Brayden. Julie, right?” I nod. “Nice to meet you. If you need rescuing from the women,” he nods toward Deanna, “be sure to let her know. She’ll save you before anyone else will.” Before I can ask how I’m supposed to tell her when I’ll be surrounded, he adds, “Go on and introduce her before we’re swarmed; I want to talk to Collin.”