“How’s Haley doing?” Jonathan asked Patrick after training. He was just putting on his shirt and taking his bag. Patrick was already ready to go, so they started walking to the parking lot together.
“Why? Did she say something?” They hadn’t talked since their time together two days ago. Haley had said that she’d call him, so Patrick had kept quiet to give her some room. This thing between them had developed so fast that he wanted to give her time to breathe.
Jonathan furrowed his brow. What kind of reaction was that? “I was just wondering because I haven’t heard from her the last couple of days. Is there something I should know about?” He already knew that something was up. The way Patrick had reacted to the question, the way he was looking at him now, had already made him suspicious. And he knew that Patrick couldn’t lie to him.
“Probably.” Patrick tried to win some time. He had to find the right words. “We had sex.” So much for finding the right words. “I picked her up from work and she was with that douchebag. I got jealous.” Now that he said it out loud, he realized that it was true. He hadn’t been jealous in a really long time. “I like her and I care about her a lot. But since then we haven’t talked. She said she’d call and she didn’t.”
“You’re worrying too much.” Jonathan had figured that something like that would happen, but now that he was faced with it, he was a little overwhelmed. “She’s probably just swamped with work.”
“You think?” Patrick stopped at their cars and put his things in the trunk. “Maybe I should give her a call when I get home.”
“You should do that. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Jonathan climbed in his car and headed home. He was a little too fast without even realizing it, but he just wanted to get home.
Once there he called out to April, who was sitting at her piano in the music room. Upon hearing him, she stopped what she was doing immediately and came to the living room. Jonathan had already taken off his coat and boots, when she reached him and threw her arms around him to greet him.
“Welcome home,” she mumbled after kissing him, but she sensed that something was on his mind. “What’s going on?” She combed his hair back with her fingers. When he squeezed her tight, April became even more alert. “Jonathan, talk to me! What’s wrong?”
“It’s actually nothing major.” He buried his nose in the crook of her neck and closed his eyes, breathing in her scent that instantly calmed him down. Now he was really home.
“Why don’t you just spill it then and stop worrying me?” April waited until he raised his head, but stayed in his embrace. She loved being held by him like this. In these strong arms that had protected her a couple of times now.
“Pat fucked Haley.”
“What?” It wasn’t the fact that the two had had sex, but the way Jonathan had just said it that shocked her. “You make it sound like he convinced her to do this or took advantage of her.”
“No, but… You know I love Patrick, but I know how he’s been with women and Haley is one of my longest and best friends and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
He looked so vulnerable, so lost, that April had no other choice but to give him a kiss.
“I’ve seen her on the phone with Patrick and whenever he called, her whole face lit up. She obviously enjoys spending time with him and he’s good for her. She looks healthier, happier.” April locked her hands behind his head and smiled up at him. “They’re bound together till the season is over. Maybe it’ll become something serious or they’ll just have fun together. Don’t worry so much, okay? They’re both adults.”
Jonathan scoffed at that and closed his eyes. “You really think that?”
“I know you’re like a protective brother when it comes to Haley, but you brought them together.”
“I know, I know. And you’re right, but it’s hard to accept that.”
“Who knows what will happen with them? Maybe they’ll end up as happy as we are?”
Jonathan squeezed her tight again, a little smile playing on his lips. “Nah. Nobody can possibly be happier than I am. Because I’ve got the greatest girlfriend anybody could hope for. And I’m not letting her go anymore.”
Haley giggled, holding on to him as he scooped her up. “You should probably let me go, though. I wanted to make you steak.”
“Well, In that case…” He put her back down on and gave her bottom a little slap. “Go and make me something to eat, woman!”
“Hey!” With a grin she turned to him and started walking backwards to the kitchen. “I like that look on your face a lot more.” She winked at him, before she got busy with dinner.
Jonathan took a deep breath. April was right. He’d just try to give them his support in any possible way. He’d be there for Patrick if he needed to talk, and for Haley as well. He wanted them both to be happy.