by B. T. Lord
She saw the pleading in his eyes, heard the veracity in his words. Her rancor and fury oozed out of her, replaced with a weary resignation. “I don’t hate you,” she responded, a part of her acknowledging the undeniable fact that she didn’t hate him. She thought she had. She’d tried to convince herself that she did.
But she couldn’t.
Angry, yes. Hurt, yes. Disappointed, yes.
But hatred? No.
I must be getting soft in my old age.
Jace saw the flicker of light in her eyes, and pounced on it. “Give me another chance. Give us another chance. We can take it easy. No pressure. I can come back tomorrow and we’ll play a game of pick-up. That’s it. Just a game. If at the end, you just want to be friends, I’ll accept that. I’d rather have you as a friend than not have you in my life at all.”
Cammie couldn’t deny it felt good knocking the puck around with him. At least, it would help her get back in shape. It was either that, or wear sweatpants the rest of her life.
And she hated sweatpants.
As to the appeal for friendship…she’d make no promises. Number one priority was shedding the weight. She’d concentrate on that. Mention of any kind of relationship, including friendship, would be put on the backburner.
Just as she was about to tell him her decision, her cellphone buzzed in her parka pocket. Digging it out, she saw it was Rick.
“Hey, what’s--” She was swiftly interrupted.
“We’ve got a situation here,” Rick barked over the phone.
The alarm in his voice instantly alerted her. “Situation?” she repeated.
“Yes. As in one fucking huge, ji-normous situation.”
In the background Cammie heard sounds that made her blood run cold. “Is that gun fire I’m hearing?”
“Damned straight it is. I’m over on the Pine Street cul-de-sac. One of the residents here - Marcy Audet - has gone completely berserko. She’s shooting up the neighborhood. My cousin lives down the street and called me when the shooting started. If you don’t get down here ASAP, there won’t be anything left of Pine Street.”
“On my way.” Cammie swiftly shoved her cell into her pocket, and started up the hill when she felt a hand on her sleeve.
“I’m going with you,” Jace said.
“I can handle it.”
“I’m not saying you can’t. But there may be people who need help. I’m trained in CPR and I’m good at dressing wounds. I can assist Doc if need be.”
She stared at him for a moment before giving a sharp nod of her head. “Go tell Doc we need him while I get my weapon.”
“Will do.”
As Cammie took off up the hill towards Doc’s house, she failed to see the small, satisfied smile on Jace’s face. I guess maybe she does need me a little bit after all.
And Jace failed to see the small satisfied smile on her face.
I guess they do need me around here after all.
