Delayed Penalty (Empire State Hockey #5)

Chapter 11 – Harris

Chapter Eleven

Harris

Miles

Are you actually going to show up today?

Or should I expect to have breakfast alone?

Fuck. Off.

It was one fucking time.

Miles

It hurt.

You’ll be fine.

I’ll be there at ten.

Hey, Ave. How’ve you been? Still staying at Kelly’s.

Two hours later

I know you need space to figure out your life so I’m sorry for messaging you, I just was thinking about you and wanted to know if you were okay.

Avery

Yes, I’m here. Pretty sure I have food poisoning so this might be the end for me.

S tella’s bakery is busier than usual with it being the middle of June—most of the tables filled with school aged kids all wearing their school uniforms with who I can only assume are their parents. My guess is it’s the last day of school, and they all seem to be out celebrating. The kids are all sitting together at tables discussing summer plans and it reminds me of when I was younger and would do the exact same thing with my friends.

Cade and I, along with our two other best friends Derek and Graham, used to go with our parents after school on the last day and go get pizza and play arcade games. We did it every year from kindergarten until we graduated. As we got older, we played the video games less and flirted with girls more, but it was always just us together as one big family.

That is until something happened with Derek and Cade, but to this day I’m still not exactly sure what went down between them.

“Look who actually decided to show up. Thank you, King Harry, for gracing us mere peasants with your presence,” Miles says from behind me as he’s leaned up against the wall watching the line slowly dwindling as Stella, her mom, and another barista work together like a streamlined machine.

It’s impressive, especially because Stella did this pretty much on her own. I mean, her family has obviously helped her out whenever they could, but she’s been extremely independent when it comes to the business aspect of everything. I think it drives Rex a little crazy because he wants to help her, but she rarely takes help, and now she can say she runs a successful bakery in New York City, all by herself.

It really is impressive.

“If I would’ve known you’re wearing your pissy-pants today I would’ve stayed my ass at home,” I spit back as he joins me in line.

“Not my fault you’ve given yourself a bit of a shitty track record.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I tell him, shaking my head.

Miles is a goof more often than not, but it’s what makes him so loveable. He’s happy, always there for his friends, and although he’s a flirt with his fair share of hookups, he’s hands down one of the most respectful men I know, and I’m almost positive the women he’s slept with would agree.

I don’t mean this in a weird way either, I mean this in a way as a guy with two younger sisters means it. Like, I wouldn’t go on a murder rampage if Miles dated one of my sisters. I’d prefer he didn’t because hell, they’re only nineteen and twenty-one but at least I know he’s a good guy.

“Good morning, boys,” Mrs. Lockwood says from behind the counter as we get up to order, coming around to give us both a quick hug. “How are you doing? It’s been too long since I’ve seen you guys here, and don’t tell me hockey is the reason, I know y’all were finished in April.”

Mrs. Lockwood is feisty, it’s what we love about her. She may be Rex and Stella’s mom, but she’s always treated her kids’ friends as if they were her own kids and it’s one of my favorite things about her. Especially because that’s how the moms were back where I grew up, and being so far away from my own mom, it is nice to have her around.

“Sorry, mom.” Miles smiles. “It’s been hard to make it here. Plus, anytime I’m here your daughter just ignores me.”

I look over at Miles who winks playfully at Mrs. Lockwood, knowing he’s just working Stella up, something he’s very good at doing.

“I wouldn’t have to ignore you if you just found a new coffee shop,” Stella grumbles as she walks over with our usual drinks and sets them down in front of her mom. “I’ll be back with your sandwiches, are you doing your usual?”

“Yes, please,” I say, grabbing my Americano and passing Miles his who’s still watching Stella.

“Yes. But I’m not interested in finding a new coffee shop, I rather like this one. The coffee is delicious; the pastries are to die for. The only thing that could use some help is the high level of sassiness, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it was cute.”

Stella just glares, scrunching her nose up at Miles in disgust, which he replies by blowing her a kiss.

“You two are ridiculous.” Mrs. Lockwood laughs as she rings us up. “You fight like cats and dogs, worse than Stella and Rex ever did.”

“It’s all bark, no bite, Mrs. Lockwood. All for fun.”

“Mrs. Lockwood, could I also put in an order to go?” I ask with a smile, an idea forming in my mind.

“Of course, what would you like dear?”

“Could I get a bowl of chicken soup and a side of Stella’s fresh bread?” I say, trying to figure out what the hell to order for someone with possible food poisoning. “And I guess maybe a tea if you have something that would help a stomachache.”

“Are you feeling okay?” she asks, concern written on her face.

“Yes, it’s not for me. I was going to drop them off for a friend, she’s not feeling well.”

“Oh?” She smirks. “Who is this girl?”

“Just a friend. Her name is Avery,” I tell her, seeing Miles grin out of the corner of my eye, knowing I’m about to get a load of shit from him too.

“Well, Miss Avery must be a special lady for you to be making a house call when she’s sick.”

I feel my cheeks blush as I smile. “She is a very special lady, but right now she’s just my friend.”

“Well, I hope your friend enjoys her food, and I hope you boys enjoy your drinks. The food will be out soon,” she says, passing us our receipt before turning to smile at the next customer.

The walk to our usual table is quiet, but the silence is loud as we sit down, and Miles has his shit eating grin on his face.

“Bringing her food now? I thought she was engaged?” he questions, knowing that’s a hard line for us. If someone is with someone, regardless of if they are married or just dating, they’re off limits.

“She was.”

“Was… as in past tense?”

“Correct.”

“What does this mean for you?” Miles asks, taking a drink of his iced coffee as our sandwiches are dropped off.

The smell of crispy bacon on my BLT has me drooling, but it’s the fries, still steaming that has us both risking third degree burns to taste the salty deliciousness just that much sooner.

“I’m not sure. I mean, at the end of the day, she still left me to be with him back then, which just proves she didn’t want me like I wanted her. So, I don’t know, man. Is it still that way? Am I still the one hung up on her while I’m just an ex she probably thinks about once in a blue moon?”

“Have you thought about having this conversation with her? I mean, I’m down to bounce ideas around with you, but no one knows what she’s thinking except her.”

“Yeah, I’m giving her space. She’s got a lot going on right now and I know she needs to figure that out before I jump scare her with a profession of love.”

“Valid.”

We spend the next little bit eating our food and bullshitting about life these last few weeks. We’ve still seen each other a few times a week, meeting up at the gym, going for a run, or our usual wing nights, but it’s not the same as it is during the season. Right now, we’re all recharging our batteries and spending time with our families and loved ones that we don’t get to see as often during the season.

Reminding me that my parents are supposed to be coming to visit soon. I need to figure out when that’s happening, but knowing them they’ll either tell me when they’re here or a day or two before.

“Who’s that?” Miles asks, his eyes now back on Stella as she stands behind the register talking to some guy. He’s fancy, in a nice suit that looks tailored to him, his jaw tight as they look to be in a serious conversation.

“I have no idea; I’ve never seen that guy before. Wait, do you think that’s the guy Trevor mentioned Stella’s seeing.”

“Eww, I hope not. That guy looks like a douchebag.”

“How do you get that? He looks like most other businessmen walking around the city in a suit.”

Looking around the bakery, there’s still the usual business lunches happening, and they all look just like that guy.

He shrugs, popping another chip in his mouth. “I don’t know what it is about him, it’s just the vibe I’m getting from him.”

“I think you’re taking this far too seriously. Besides, I think Max will have a lot of fun giving Rex a hard time if Stella’s dating that guy. That sounds like fun to me, eat popcorn and watch Rex taste his own medicine.”

I think the idea of the roles switching and Max being able to sit back and watch as Rex deals with his sister dating will be hilarious, but apparently, I’m the only one because Miles just looks annoyed.

“I don’t think we should want to give Rex a hard time about his sister, he doesn’t want to hear about her dating, and frankly, neither do I.”

Mrs. Lockwood comes in with the clutch timing, dropping off the food for me to bring Avery, which means Miles can’t sit there and pout for whatever reason he has today.

“We’ll be back soon, Mrs. Lockwood,” I tell her as I stand up and give her a hug goodbye, Miles quickly following suit.

“You better, or I’ll call both of your mothers and tell them you’re neglecting me.”

“Promise,” we both say quickly.

It took a bit of convincing, but I got Kelly’s address from Ellie and Trevor. Thankfully, with Ellie—especially pregnant Ellie—she’s all about helping people get their happy endings. Before her and Trevor got together she was married to some prick and they had the sweetest little girl together, Addy. Once Trevor met the two of them, it was game over, they became his entire world. Now they have another on the way and we’re all so excited for them.

Thanks again for the address.

Ellie

Anytime. Just remember: story time and sour dough bagels.

ASAP

Of course. I promise.

Ellie

Don’t forget the Jalapeno cream cheese…

Trevor

Whatever you do, Harris… don’t forget the cream cheese…

Promise

Trevor texts me outside of the group chat right after I sent that… this time a little more serious in his wording for me “ to not forget the fucking jalapeno cream cheese if I knew what was good for me… or anyone else around the hormonal pregnant Ellie ”.

I chuckle, imagining him typing this while sitting three feet away from her, as happy as can be, but I can imagine her being pregnant and having cravings can be pretty intense.

Me

Just don’t forget the cream cheese next time and maybe you won’t have such intense fear of someone forgetting it.

Trevor

*middle finger emoji*

Getting in my car, I put the address in and make the drive to her sister’s house, a drive that takes nearly an hour with it being lunch time, but damn, it’s far.

Jeez, I can’t imagine her making this drive to work five days a week if she’s still living here when she goes back to work in August. I wish she would have considered my offer of living with me until she can get herself back on her feet. I’m so much closer, I obviously have more space if she’s having to share a room with her sister.

But I get it… it’s probably weird to live with an ex… especially an ex you spent a wild night having sex with before crashing for an hour only to wake up and go another round… or two, barely even a month ago. Yeah, I can see why it might be a little weird.

Pulling up to her sister’s building I’m lucky enough to snag a parking spot right outside the door. Grabbing the food and the drinks I picked up at the corner store to help her get some fluids and electrolytes, I make my way inside and ring their apartment.

“Hello?” I hear a female voice come through the speaker that I don’t quite recognize. It must be Kelly.

Pushing the button, I hope for the best. “Hey, it’s Harris. Sorry to just drop in like this but I have something for your sister.”

It’s quiet for a moment… okay, a few moments and I’m worried that they’re just going to ignore me, leaving me down here by myself, but thankfully, I hear the buzzer and know they’re letting me in. Checking the apartment number, I quickly hop in the elevator. When I get on their floor, the door is already open and I can see Kelly standing there with a smirk.

“What do you have there?” she asks, obviously amused.

“Uh, I was at my friend’s bakery, and they have chicken soup and the best bread ever so I grabbed some for her because she said she wasn’t feeling well.”

She watches me for a minute, her eyes crinkling as she assesses me.

“You’re not at all what I expected,” she finally says, taking a step back though she lets me in where I’m met face to face with Avery who’s covered head-to-toe in a quilt, looking more like a blanket mound than a human.

It’s cute.

“Please tell me that’s from Stella’s,” is all she says, her eyes so hopeful. “I heard you say fresh bread and chicken soup and hers is the best in the entire freaking state. I will literally die if that’s what this is,” she says, gesturing toward the bags.

“If it’s going to be the reason you die, I’ll just take it home with me.”

“Don’t you dare,” she growls, her eyes widen as she waddles her way over to me and grabs the bag, immediately pulling it back into her blanket.

“Thank you,” she grumbles. “But how… and why?”

“Um. My friend Stella owns the bakery, and I was there and remembered you mentioned you weren’t feeling well. Whenever I’m sick I always eat this, and it makes me feel so much better, so I thought I’d bring you some since I had some time before I had anywhere to be.”

I don’t have to be at the shelter to see Luna until four, so I knew I had plenty of time to come drop this off, obviously just a ruse to get to see her again, but who cares if I’m being nice and she’s the one who gets to benefit.

“Well, thank you,” she says quietly, and I can tell she’s not feeling well, at all.

“Why don’t you go eat and get some rest, I’m going to head back.”

“Oh,” she says quietly, almost a hint of disappointment in her voice. “Well, thank you again for the soup.”

I almost ask if she wants me to stay, I mean. it’s been weeks since I’ve really spent time with her, but I don’t. I just smile and say goodbye, wave at the kids who are now playing in the living room and head back into the city. Because I know one thing about this girl and it’s that if I scare her, she’ll be gone for good. If I want any chance at her giving me another shot, I know damn well it needs to be her idea.

Or she at least needs to think it is.