Haley’s head snapped up, when there was a knock on the apartment door. Her heart started racing at the thought that it could be Patrick and Jonathan.
“I’ll go.” April got up from the sofa and walked to the door. Haley had said to Jonathan that she didn’t need company, but he’d seen right through her and sent April over. It had been good to talk to her.
April opened up the boys to Jonny and Patrick. Jonny looked straight at her, lips flattened. He was pissed, she could see that. Patrick mumbled a quick hello, but walked past her to see for himself that Haley was okay.
Upon seeing him, Haley jumped up from the sofa, ran towards him and jumped in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Letting go was out of the question.
“We better leave them alone,” Jonny said watching them. April nodded her head, quickly gathered her belongings and left the building with him. Once they were outside, she grabbed hold of his hand.
“Okay, before we get in the car, tell me what happened. You seem more pissed than when we talked on the phone.” She interlaced her fingers with his. When she felt his fingers wrapping around hers and his shoulders sag, she knew that he’d calmed down at least a little.
“I hit that guy in the face. You should have heard him. He said that Haley wanted to have sex with him and that she lied to us.” Jonathan sighed and closed his eyes. His hand hurt a little. Once they got home, he’d put ice on it.
April rose to the balls of her feet and kissed him. Jonathan hadn’t expected this. She put her hand on his cheek and smiled up at him.
“You know that I’m not a fan of violence.” Yeah, he did. After all he’d found her with a black eye from her ex-boyfriend. “But what you did was right. He’s an asshole. I know you didn’t plan to hit him, but if he said that in front of me, I would have probably done the same thing. It’s good that you were quicker than Patrick. I don’t think you would have been able to tear him away from that douche.”
April didn’t want to say his name.
“I guess Patrick was shocked that I hit him.” Jonathan looked at her. “It’s not like me. I hardly do that on the ice, and off the ice…”
“I love you, Jon.” April kissed him again. “You’re a good man.”
Meanwhile Patrick was still holding Haley in his arms. She wasn’t ready to let go of him, but he was getting warm with his jacket still on. She was only wearing shorts and a t-shirt.
“Haley, it’s okay now. You can let go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I’ll tell you what. You let go of me for not even two minutes and then we can cuddle on the sofa, okay? I really need to take off my jacket and shoes.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and pushed back her hair.
Reluctantly she put her feet back on the floor and let go of him. Quickly he kicked off his shoes and put the jacket away. He picked her up to carry her to the sofa, where he sat down and positioned her in his lap. There. This was a whole lot better.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer your calls or called you back.” Haley leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Granted, I freaked out, because I was worried, but it’s understandable that you didn’t answer.” Patrick ran his hand through her hair watching her every move. Her eyes were closed, her hand lay on his chest. She looked so serene, it almost scared him in a way. “Jonny hit Duncan when we were at the office. He couldn’t help it. I was shocked to be honest. He was just quicker than me.”
“Thank you for going there instead of me. I feel so awful.” Haley sighed deeply. Without opening her eyes, she searched for his hand and wrapped her fingers around it. “I mean, nothing really happened, because I managed to hit him and kick him in the balls, but I was just so… I mean…”
“Shhh it’s okay. You were shocked. Everyone would feel the same way. I’m just happy that you were able to do something at all. Other women are not as lucky as you are. You handled it so well, Haley. I’m proud of you.” He kissed her forehead and leaned his head against hers. “Have you had anything to eat so far?” She didn’t say a word, so he had his answer. “Haley, you need to eat something.”
“Later, okay? Let’s just lie down for an hour or so and then I’ll eat. I promise.”
“Okay.” Patrick stood up with her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom, where he lay her down on top of the bed. He cuddled up next to her, wrapped his arms around her body and buried his nose in her hair. He was so happy that nothing had happened, that he could hold her like this and that she trusted him and Jonathan. That she’d told them about this instead of keeping it to herself.
“I love you, Haley.” Patrick held her close to his body, for the first time afraid of she might say, how she could react. He’d said what he felt without thinking it through.
“And I love you, Patrick.” Slowly Haley turned around in his arms to face him and kiss his lips. Her heart was beating so hard and fast, that he could probably feel it. It had been a while since she’d felt that protected and safe.