Page 292 of Cross Check

They won’t stop banging, and I’m irritated I have to go and answer it.

I’ve spent the last two weeks hidden away from the world. I haven’t spoken to anyone. I haven’t gone outside. I’ve had all my meals delivered, and I’ve avoided all social media and internet sites that might be talking about my suspension.

I didn’t lose my job, but I did lose Grant.

And that’s not any better.

I expected the ache in my chest to get better as the days have gone on, but it’s only gotten worse. Nothing helps, and I’m beginning to think the pain is a permanent fixture in my life now.

Here’s Amelia Green, the brokenhearted woman who lost the love of her life. But, hey! At least she has hockey!

How fucking tragic.

“Whatever you’re trying to sell, I’m not interested,” I say, throwing open the door and nearly crumbling in shock at the group of people smiling back at me. “Holy—what the hell are you all doing here?”

Lainey, Sienna, Emmy, Piper, Lexi, and another brunette are standing on my apartment’s welcome mat, and I’m dangerously close to crying.

“You haven’t answered our calls or texts, so we had to take matters into our own hands,” Lainey says.

She kisses my cheek and leads the way inside, each woman giving me a hug and a pat on the shoulder as they pass. The last one of the group introduces herself as Madeline, Hudson’s girlfriend, and I remember hearing her name.

“Grant told me he was learning sign language with Hudson,” I say to her. “For your daughter?”

“Yeah.” Madeline beams. “Aren’t there some amazing men out there? I’m so sorry this is the first time we’re meeting, but I wanted to be here to offer support however I could.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

I watch in awe as the women wander through my apartment in synchronized movements. Emmy and Madeline unload bags of groceries in the kitchen. Sienna and Lainey head for my bedroom, returning a few minutes later with their full of my sheets, pillowcases, and dirty laundry. Lexi and Piper pick up the trash that’s taken over my living room and dining room, tossing empty takeout boxes into garbage bags until the place looks spotless.

“I don’t understand,” I croak. “Why are you all here?”

“You’re going through a very shitty situation, and you don’t have to handle it alone.” Sienna leads me to the couch where she sits me on the floor and starts to brush my hair. I haven’t washed it in a week, and I wince when she combs through a knot. “Let us help to take care of you, Amelia.”

I’m not one to ask for help, but I need it today.

So I let them take over my space and work their magic as they roam around and start to make me feel whole again.

An hour later, my apartment smells like laundry detergent and an autumnal scented candle even though we’re halfway through spring. The windows are open, and light floods out the mist of doom that’s surrounded me since I got back from Italy. The trash is taken out. There’s a bowl of chili in my hands, and I wrap a blanket around my shoulders when we all gather at my dining room table.

“Thank you so much,” I say, taking a bite of the food. It’s rich and savory, and my body almost weeps. “I haven’t had anything homemade in days.”

“I’m a chef,” Madeline explains. “Food is my love language, and I know how much a good meal can help with your mental health.”

“Tremendously. I can’t believe you all are here. And that you flew across the country to see me.” I look at Lainey and Sienna and reach for their hands. “Thank you so much.”

“That’s what friends do when they need each other. You needed us, and we’re here. We can stay as long as you need,” Lainey says. “There’s no chance of the team making the postseason, so I’m not worried about work.”

“Are you doing okay?” Lexi asks. “I mean, we know you’re not okay. But are you doing better? Worse? Being out of work doesn’t help the situation, because all you’re probably doing is thinking about Grant, and that’s not fair.”

“I alternate between waking up and having the slightest bit of optimism, to going to bed and wanting to burn the world down. The only bit of good that I’ve found is that I haven’t looked online at any of the articles that were written about my suspension. I can pretend I’m taking an extended vacation, and when I get back to work, it’s a clean slate.” I pause and stir the chili around. “Except I won’t have Grant.”

“We come with news,” Piper says. “If you want to hear it.”

“God.” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Please don’t tell me it involves his personal life. I know I’m the one who initiated the breakup, but I’m not going to be able to handle it if you tell me he’s thriving without me.”

“Oh, he’s still miserable.” Emmy laughs. “Moping and sulking and pouting during team dinner and book club. I can assure you that man is going through it. But this news involves you.”

“What do you mean?”