“I should have known something was up when you wouldn’t even let me in your house. Wow, Elli, wow. If you didn’t want me to know who you are, then why did you let it go this far? Why did you even bring me around your parents when you knew they would throw all your shit out? I mean shit, Elli. Damn.”

Elli didn’t look at him. She just reached for the handle and got out, shutting the door behind her. She didn’t even look back when she heard him whip his truck out of her driveway. She just walked up the step as sobs ripped out of her. When she unlocked the door and went in, Adler started barking, but then went silent as she went through the house, bawling as she ripped her clothes off. When she got to her bathroom, she filled the bathtub up before crawling in it, dipping down so the water was to her chin as she cried.

He was totally right, she set herself up for this. She ruined their relationship, and he had no choice but to break up with her.

I am a liar.

She thought she had prepared herself for what was bound to happen.

Nope, what a stupid idiot I am.

Shea was pissed. Pissed because Elli lied, pissed because her family was a bunch of idiots, minus her father, and pissed because he wasn’t sure, but he was pretty sure he just broke up with her. He drove down the road, digging his phone out of his pocket to call Grace. She answered on the third ring.

“Oh no, it went bad.”

“Bad isn’t even going to cover the f**king mess I just left.”

“Oh no, Shea. Where’s Elli?”

“I f**king left her at her house and I think I f**king broke up with her.”

Grace took in a quick intake of breath then said, “Shea, calm down, pull over.”

Shea did what she asked, shutting the car off and letting his face fall to the steering wheel. His eyes shut as he replayed the way Elli looked as she cried her heart out in his front seat. He actually felt like crying, and he never wanted to cry!

“Now tell me what happened.”

So he did. He told her everything, about Elli’s so called family, her sister, brothers, her horrible mother. Shea made sure to say nothing but good things about Michael, since he was a really nice guy. He also told her about the stuff he had learned about her past. Grace being Grace, she just sat there listening. Even after he was done, she didn’t say anything, and Shea knew she was processing what he had said.

“Okay. So you’re mad because she hid stuff from you, right?”

“Yes, she was on Broadway, Grace, she apparently can sing. Then she was sick, and that’s how she gained all kinds of weight, apparently. And then she was engaged, Grace. She told me there was no one worth talking about in her f**king past! Not to mention her uncle is my damn boss.”

“Okay, I get the being pissed about the uncle thing, that’s huge. But she never really talked about her family, and now you see why. I agree with you being mad about the engagement, but did you give her a chance to explain?”

“No, she didn’t even try. She just cried.”

“Shea, come on. She was just torn apart by her family in front of you, how do you think she feels?”

Shea sat for a moment. Grace was right. He slammed his hand into his steering wheel.

“I should go back.”

“You should go back. Because I’m telling you, she isn’t going to chase after you; she knows she did wrong. Plus, she doesn’t even think she’s good enough for you. I’m telling you, God, Shea, this is a mess, and you’re going regret not going back if you don’t.”

For the hundredth, millionth time, Grace was right.

When Shea pulled into Elli’s driveway, he noticed her house was dark. He glanced down at the clock. It was only 9:00, and he knew Elli wasn’t asleep. He got out of the truck, taking off his jacket and undoing his tie before shutting them inside his truck and walking up the drive. He was undoing the top buttons of his shirt when he noticed the buckets of fall colored flowers that lined her walkway. He bent down, picking a purple one, and continued up the walk way. Adler was sitting in the window watching and started barking when Shea reached the porch, but no lights came on.

Shea was worried for about two seconds before the door opened and Adler came running out, leaving Elli standing in a bright purple robe that had the team logo on her breast, and a 6 above it. Her hair was wet, going down her shoulders, and her face was splotchy. She had obviously been crying. She looked everywhere but at him as she stood in the doorway.

Shea didn’t know what to say, so he just stuck his hand out, offering her the flower. She looked at it, and then up at him as a huge tear rolled down her cheek. She reached her hand out, taking the flower, and then pushed the door open, before calling Adler.

“Come on, Adler.”

The dog came running up the stairs at speeds Shea was sure a 40 pound pug shouldn’t be going, and Elli turned to look at him.

“Are you coming in?”

Shea nodded as he walked past her, waiting in the foyer for her to close the door and hit the lights. When she did, his eyes adjusted and went wide when he saw himself looking back at him. His jersey that he had signed was hanging right beside an action shot of him shooting a puck. He looked around the room, taking in all the pictures of him and the rest of his teammates. There were pictures of them playing, celebrating, and then the best one, the one of him with the cup above his head, tears going down his cheeks as he kissed the cup.

“God, Elli, this picture is amazing. I need a copy of it.”

“Sure.”