Chapter 21 & 22

Chapter 21


Lacy couldn’t be surprised as she drove through the streets of Pittsburgh…she couldn’t believe it herself…almost. Erin had really been getting on her nerves ever since she saw Max in the office with Lacy that day and it got worse…unfortunately for Lacy today was the last straw especially with the last 24 hours. But she was glad that she had finally stood up for herself.

She started to head to her apartment but wasn’t ready to see her family yet especially with the latest developments so she kept driving until she found herself in the parking lot outside the arena where she knew Max was supposed to be practicing…after the way last night worked out…she just wanted Max, just like she always had when she had a problem.

The boys were skating around working on the usual drills that they did at the end of practice before they played juice boy. Flower was the first one to notice Lacy…it was open practice but there weren’t a lot of people there but it was Wednesday morning.

“Hey Max”

Max turned around and made his way over to Marc. He was tired as hell but he couldn’t keep the smile off of his face…things with Lacy were great…they talked and got most everything worked out.

“Whats up”

“I thought you said that Lacy had to work this morning…”

“She did..she should be there right now and I’m going to head over there and take her to lunch…Why?”

“Ummm because I’m pretty sure that is her sitting right over there” he pointed across the ice to where Lacy had just taken her seat and was watching practice.

Max turned back around and saw Lacy sitting there just watching…he was worried but he couldn’t do anything at the moment they had to finish up practice. Max was more determined than ever to make his shot so he could figure out what was going on. When it was finally his turn…he took his shot and made which meant he could leave. He thought the Flower made it easy for him but he wasn’t going to push it. He took a very quick shower…basically enough to get the sweat and smell off and made his way out to where Lacy was still sitting.

“Lac”

She turned around and her eyes were all puffy the realization of her losing her job had hit her while she was sitting there and the tears finally came. She came to Pittsburgh for that job…she loved being a nurse now she was fired from the hospital and the Dr’s office which her first boss put her neck out in order for Lacy to get it…what the hell was she going to do now?

When Max saw the tears he was scared he thought that she had changed her mind about everything last night and he couldn’t make his feet moved he wanted to put off the conversation for as long as humanly possible. He meant what he said he was in love with Lacy…he always had been and he couldn’t lose her not now. He finally forced himself to take a step forward and it wasn’t until then he saw the large red mark on the side of her face and nice little cut to go with it. He didn’t have to force any more steps he practically flew down them.

“What the hell happened?”

“What”

“Your face”

“O ummm…” for the first time she felt the sting in her face. She thought about saying nothing but she saw the look in his eyes.

“ummm…got into a little fight…”

“WHAT” Max yelled and got the attention of the guys who were still on the ice

“You were just at work…how did you get in a fight”

“Erin…she umm said something and after everything it really just pushed me over the edge so I slapped her and it just went on from there.”

Max didn’t say anything he didn’t think he could form any words..He just grabbed her hand and led her downstairs…to get looked at.

Max took her right into the trainer’s room so Chris could look at her face…

“What happened here…”

“Nothing…really I’m fine” Lacy didn’t want to make a big deal about it because that wasn’t the worst of it.

“Lacy just let him look at you” She looked at him and just agreed because she still had more to say.

After Chris checked her out and told her what she would now that she was fine…just a had little mark…he left leaving Max and Lacy in the room

“What did she say.”

“Its fine it’s over Max”

“No…”

“She said things about me and you and she saw last night…I lost my cool..but that isn’t the worst of it.”

Max wasn’t sure how it could get any worse so he just looked at Lacy and waited. She took the silence and just looked at him and then looked down.

“I lost my job because of it.”

“WHAT”

“You heard me Max” The tears started again. Max just made his way over to her and wrapped his arms around her and just let her cry. He didn’t know what to say or do….she stood up for their relationship like she had been for the past day and she lost her job because of it…because of him and his reputation.

She finally pulled away and just looked at him…she knew she couldn’t afford her place without her job so she was probably going to have to go home and finally give in to her parents demands about med school. That is if they talked to her because of the way she lost her job.

“I can’t afford my place Max, not without my job. Lana get live on campus..I don’t know what I am going to do.”

Max had taken into much information. He couldn’t say anything he just kept his arms around her. He loved her but he didn’t know what to do.

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Chapter 21 part 2

They went their separate ways after they left the training room. Max to lunch with the guys and Lacy home to deal with her brothers and sister…and to break the news to them about the job.

Lacy walked into the apartment to see all three of them sitting on couch in the living room with her parents as well. This really just got a lot harder

They all turned around and looked at her. Landon was the first to see her face as she got closer.

“I am going to kill that bastard.”

“What the hell are you talking about.”

“YOUR FACE LACY…THAT IS WHAT THE HELL I AM TALKING ABOUT.” Landon was losing it their parents were both sitting there in shock. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

Lacy looked over at them and knew she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“SIT DOWN LANDON” Lacy was never one to yell with her family she always felt out of place but she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Max had nothing do with this…I….umm…got into a fight today.”

Her father finally stood up and spoke for the first time. “Lacy we raised you better than this. We lost you when that hoodlum broke your heart and now you come down here for a job you shouldn’t be doing…find that boy again alienate your brothers when they come to visit and now you are fighting. YOU SURE AS HELL KNOW BETTER THAN THIS”

Lacy sat there and her father rant and rave but she knew it was going to be worse when she finished…

“Dad…I am not done.” She saw him stop dead and look at her waiting for her to continue.

“I lost my job because of it.”

“LACY RENAE…” Lacy recognized the red her father was turning…he was only that way when he was really angry like when she wasn’t going to medical school. The rest of her family sat there shocked

Before her dad could continue she did…. “I defended myself and my relationship.” She didn’t want to go into details but continued “ I hate that I had to lose my job but honestly if I had to defend myself or Max against the things she was saying I would do it again.”

“You are coming home”

“Excuse me”

“YOU HEARD ME”

“I AM A GROWN WOMAN….”

“WHO HAS MADE A MESS OF HER LIFE…YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME THIS TIME”

She knew she was losing and just sat there very quiet.

“Lana you will finish your schooling her and take advantage of the housing allowance and only because Pitts medical school is very well.” Lana just nodded…at this point no one was going to cross him.

“Lacy you will come home and we will try to get you into school for January. Go Pack we leave tonight. Landon and LJ will drive with you. We will meet you there. Lana I believe you have some calls to make.”

Everyone got up and headed. Lacy was holding back tears. She was 25 years old and she was being forced to abandon her new life…and Max when they just realized how much they do still love each other but she knew better than to question her father. She closed herself into her room and grabbed her bags tossed them on the bed and started packing her things. She came across some of Max’s shirts that he had left here and put them in the bag as tears streamed down her face. She picked up her phone and tried to call him but go no answer. She called Vero next.”

“Hello…”

“Hi, Vero its Lacy.”

“Lacy Hi how are things.” But knew as soon as she register the voice she knew things were not good.

“What did he do”

“Nothing Vero really…I can’t get a hold of Max”

“O…”

“Listen I don’t have a lot of time Vero. A lot has happened since your place. I lost my job and my parents are here. I don’t have a choice I have to go back to Montreal…I need you to tell Max goodbye for me” She was almost sobbing at this point.

“O Lacy are you sure…I mean I’m sure you can find something here…you can stay with us.”

“I wish it were that easy Vero. My life isn’t mine anymore. My parents are furious with me and the blame Max…I can’t cross my father…I just can’t. I have done enough of that in my life. Just tell him goodbye, I’m sorry, I love him and always will”

“Ok…I hope we can keep in touch”

“I hope so but you probably won’t hear anything from me for awhile. Goodbye Vero” She hung up just in time for her father and brothers to come in to get her bags and into the car. An hour later they were dropping their parents off at the airport and they were on their way back to Montreal.

_____________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 22

Max’s POV

We went to lunch and the guys wouldn’t stop asking about Lacy. They heard part of our…no my outburst because of what she told me. But I couldn’t help it. Fighting was not Lacy, yes she had a temper but she always controlled it so well when we were younger and even now when everyone was fighting her on being with me. I couldn’t figure it out Erin said something but something to push her that far unless she was closer to the brink of breaking than I was thinking.

“So what happened?” Jordan brought up as we walked over to the table where Flower and the others were waiting.

“Nothing” I really didn’t feel like sharing at the moment. My mind was everywhere thinking about the circumstances of Lacy fighting and then how it was going with her siblings. She hadn’t seen them since Landon punched me in the face. Which reminds me I really have to look in a mirror and see how bad it is?

Everyone was sitting around joking and laughing like always. We were still playing fairly well and we were going a road trip the next day. I was excited for that it was my first real road trip back. Sure I went to the away games when I first came back with the short trip but this was going to be the longest so far…hopefully everything with Lacy will be good so I can focus on playing hockey. I played ok the last time but I can still do better…a lot better I want back on the second line.

We were taking our time just hanging out…some team bonding but really were just screwing around when Flower’s phone started ringing… “COME ON MAN…We said no phones. The rest of us turned ours off” Jordan yelled as Flower shook his head and picked it up. I couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the way Staalsy was acting…sometimes I really think he is five. However when Flower looked at me with his eyes about falling out of his head I stopped laughing real fast.

“Ummm. Yea I’ll get him to come over with me” He hung up his phone and looked back at me. I really didn’t like the look on his face.

“Come here man” Flower waved me over to where he was standing behind the table. I got up almost afraid of what he was going to tell me. He looked like he saw a ghost and didn’t want anything to do with what was going

“Ummm. Lacy just called Vero”

“What..Why….”

“Because your phone is off…”

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket turned it back on…and sure enough there was a missed call but no voicemail from her.

“Shit…who’s idea was it to turn our damn phones off. Why they hell didn’t she leave a voicemail….”

“Max..”

“She has already had a shitty ass day…”

“MAX”

“WHAT”

“Come with me man…Vero wants to tell you something.”

“What???”

I was beyond confused now but I left with Flower to go see what Vero had to say.

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Lacy’s POV

I sat in the back of the range rover that Landon had bought for me. I didn’t get out to see my parents off at the airport. I was so upset….mad….sad….borderline depressed. I couldn’t stand up for myself I was a complete chicken. I wanted to but when he was like that no one crossed him…I did it once and they practically disowned me.

Landon and LJ got back into the car not to long after parking. Neither one of them saying anything since they put the rest of my bags into the car; and I really didn’t want to talk to them either. We always have been close well until now. They are just being really protective and I don’t need that anymore. I know Max hurt me and they had to help me through it but he has shown me that he can be different and that he loves me. They didn’t even give him a chance. Now I don’t even have a chance to love him anymore….hell I didn’t even get a chance explain or say goodbye.

I really hate everything and just about everyone right now.

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On the way to Flowers house just like the night before he kept trying to call Lacy but it went right to voicemail. He was starting to get worried

Max made his way in Flower and Vero’s house and immediately noticed that Vero was pacing back and forth and he immediately he didn’t like what was going on. They had just fixed everything….what else could be going on.

“Whats going on V?”

“O. I didn’t see you guys”

Flower walked to the kitchen. He hadn’t said anything since he got Max in the car.

“V…Flower said you wanted to tell me something.”

“I don’t want to….I have to” she said it under her breath but Max still heard…

“What do you have to tell me” his voice broke a little bit because Vero was never like this and if Lacy had called Vero and she was upset then….

“Lacy is gone.”

“Gone…What do you mean gone.”

“ I mean her parents showed up…found everything out…and are forcing her to go home….GONE”

Max fell on to the couch he didn’t know what to do or what to say…he was at a loss. He knew that her parents had never really liked the fact that he played hockey and they must really not have like what he did to their daughter…but she was 25 years old…they forced her to go home.

“She told me to tell you that she loves you and goodbye. She doesn’t know when she is going to be able to call. I couldn’t get much more out of her.”

Max just looked at Vero. Everything had been fixed yesterday well this morning. They knew they loved each other and everything was fixed now….she was gone she was forced to go home. He had to talk to Lacy. He pulled out his phone and tried again but got voicemail again.

“Lacy please call me…I just….Vero…..” his voice broke even more and tears fell down his face. “ please just call me Lacy…I Love you”

He closed the phone and just laid back on the couch and stared at the season. He had been looking forward to the road trip to get his game back on track but that all went out the window…that was when he had Lacy here in Pittsburgh waiting for him

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Lacy was laying in the back of the car and her brothers were taking turns driving. She had covered herself with her coat and turned her phone on. She was bombarded with phone calls and texts and finally the voicemail showed up on the screen. She called her voicemail and ignored everything else.

“Lacy please call me…I just….Vero…..” “ please just call me Lacy…I Love you”

She hung up and turned her phone off incase Max called back she couldn’t talk to him right now.. He was hurting…she was hurting She kept her coat over her and silently cried until they got home the home that wasn’t hers anymore…her home was supposed to be in Pittsburgh