I leave him on the couch where he is. If I wake him up, I’ll fight with him, and I don’t have the energy for that.

Lily’s already in bed when I get there. She’s naked. Willing to be my distraction. Because I need one. Because she loves me. Because I love her enough to let her.

11

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

LILY

Randy stays glued to my hip the next morning while I’m in the house. He won’t leave me alone with his dad at all. It was easier for both of us that I left early this morning, and drove myself, to teach classes that run most of the day.

Randy’s even more tense and agitated now. As much as I want to be the supportive, easy-going girlfriend, I’ll be glad when his dad is gone. His presence has totally overshadowed the amazing weekend at the cottage. That already feels like it was a lifetime ago.

I’m distracted during my lessons, checking my phone every chance I get. Randy messages a couple of times to tell me everything is fine, but I’m still worried.

When I return home, Randy’s ordered in dinner so I don’t have to cook, which I appreciate since I’ve been at work all day. I’m also not sure how I’d manage cooking for his dad. Seems like that could go all kinds of wrong. When the Chinese food is delivered, Randall, Sr., isn’t thrilled. He complains, yet he still manages to load up his plate.

Conversation is forced and strained as we eat. I’m pretty sure Randy’s dad is drunk, which seems to be typical.

“So, Lily—it’s Lily right?” At my nod he smiles. “Where’s your accent from? I can’t place it.”

“I’m from outside of Toronto. It’s in Ontario, Canada.” No one actually knows where Guelph is, but most people have heard of Toronto.

“Really? Canada, eh?”

I smile, because it’s the polite thing to do when people make fun of how I speak. Under the table I’m flipping him off.

“So you moved to Chicago for this guy?” He points his fork at Randy.

“She moved because she got a great job,” Randy says irritably.

“Teaching skating lessons, right? Can’t you do that in Canada? Lots of ice up there, right?”

“I could and I did, but there are more opportunities here, and I have friends in the area.” This is starting to feel like an inquisition.

“So what happens when Randy gets traded again? You gonna get your own place and stay put in Chicago?”

Randy slaps the table. “Dad.”

He lifts a shoulder. “What? Your contract is up with Chicago in two more years. I’m just asking what she’s gonna do.”

“It’s up in three years, not two.”

“Yeah, but the way you play sometimes… Anyway, whenever it happens, it’s not like you’re gonna marry her and take her with you—or is that part of your plan?”

I can tell he’s pushing Randy’s buttons on purpose.

“We haven’t really talked about that since it’s so far into the future,” I jump in, squeezing Randy’s leg under the table.

“Who even knows if you’ll still be together by then, right?” His dad shoves a forkful of noodles into his mouth, thankfully shutting his asshole trap.

When he asks me personal questions about my family, Randy redirects the topic to his own sister, who’s been in Australia for the past year. She went there for college to get away from their father, I’ve been told. I don’t know if that’s a perceived or actual reality. But based on the limited and supervised contact I’ve had with Randall, Sr., I wouldn’t be all that surprised if it was the truth.

“So is Brynne planning to do something with this college diploma she’s getting, or is she gonna hook up with a surfer out there and play around for a couple more years?”

And now I’m certain Randy wasn’t exaggerating about his sister’s exit from the continent.

Randy grits his teeth and pushes his plate away. “I’m done with dinner.”

“I’ll clean up.” I grab his plate and mine.

“Why don’t you relax? You haven’t even had a shower or anything since you got home.” It’s Randy’s way of asking me to disappear without saying it outright. I don’t fight him, but I’m worried about what’s going to go down when I leave the room.

I excuse myself to the bedroom, but keep an ear open in case a brawl breaks out in the living room. Randall, Sr., is constantly poking at Randy’s insecurities. This glimpse into his family history explains a lot, and it makes me even more appreciative that Randy’s allowed me into his life the way he has. I almost offered to stay with Sunny and Miller while his dad’s here, but then I’d be leaving Randy alone with his father. I think that’s far worse than me being a little uncomfortable for a couple of days.

Randy peeks his head in our room half an hour later. I’m watching mindless TV on the laptop. He closes the door and flips the lock. His expression is hard to read as he climbs into bed. I hold my arms open for him.

He settles his head on my chest and wraps an arm around my waist. “He’ll be gone tomorrow before you get home from work.”

Tomorrow afternoon Randy has his first team meeting of the new season. I’ll get home before him. Next week training camp begins, and that means his free time is going to diminish significantly.

I close the laptop and run my fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry this is so hard for you.”

“It’s a mind fuck, you know? Like, I see how he is now, and I keep trying to figure out where it all went wrong. I don’t want his mistakes to be mine.”

“You’re already so different than he is. I know we can’t predict the future, but we can always learn from the past and try not to fall into the same patterns, right?”

He’s silent for a while, just breathing. “I see what you’re saying. But I still want him gone so I can have you to myself for the next few days. I hate that he’s cutting into my last week with you before training starts.”

“Like you said, he’ll be gone tomorrow, and we’ll have this weekend. I only teach Saturday morning.”

“I don’t want to share you this weekend, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Do you need distractions?”

Randy shakes his head and winds his arms more tightly around me. “I just want this right now. Is that okay?”