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CHAPTER FIVE
Lonely and Depressed
Logan
It’s been two years, six months, and twenty - four hours since I played my last professional hockey game. The day I learned about the death of my grandfather, I suffered what the doctors called Broken Heart Syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy. The symptoms mimic a heart attack. Collapsing in the arena parking lot in front of my teammates gave everyone a scare. The team doctors later said the mixture of high adrenaline from our game win combined with sudden acute stress from the news of Opa’s death caused my heart to rapidly weaken, causing a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.
Giving up my life in Niagara Falls, I moved back to my hometown full time. Living in Toronto, there wasn’t a corner I could turn that didn’t have a memory attached to it. Weighed down by my guilt, there wasn’t a day that went by that didn’t end up with me numbing my pain with alcohol.
After all, that’s what I learned from my father.
From the outside, it looked like I had it all together: family and friends, a penthouse apartment, an amazing hockey career, and a decent salary, to boot. What more could a guy ask for?
But underneath it all, I was lonely and depressed.
Unable to pass the stress test at the team medical check-ups, the coach had no choice but to place me on the injured reserve list. Looking at hockey as less of a priority and more of an obligation, I became the face of the team for advertising and public appearances.
Receiving an invitation aboard the Ocean Tides cruise ship not only as a “celebrity” but as the author of my autobiography, it’s just the noise I need right about now. Feeling guilty about going on a pleasure cruise while I’m still grieving over Opa’s passing. It’s stupid, I know, but I can’t help the way I feel. Being under contract with the Knights for another month, I have little to say about promotional appearances.
Curious about the amenities of the ship before I left, I pulled up the website for Ocean Tides on my way to the airport. Skimming through the many shops and restaurants, I froze when I came across one called Opa. Knowing it wasn’t regarding the German word for grandfather, I still took it as a sign I was meant to go.
Arriving in Los Angeles, it took a moment to gather my bearings. Distracted by the number of people boarding the ship, I could have sworn I heard a familiar voice somewhere in the terminal. Searching the surrounding people, there she was.Stephanie Grace is as beautiful as ever.
Seeing her in person, I run my hand through my hair to take the edge off. After moving back to Toronto, I looked Stephanie up on social media, but to my disappointment, her accounts were all set to private, so they denied me access.
Busy traveling to and from the Falls, I wasn’t in Toronto long enough for me to set time aside for her and I to reconnect. However, seeing Stephanie now changes things.
Taking one last glance over my shoulder, a fresh wave of heat softens her cheeks the moment I’ve caught her searching for me as well. Our eyes meet and I smile to myself, my heart humming with amusement as I reluctantly turn my attention back toward the ship.
“Where am I meeting this social media guy?” I ask aloud to no one, as I scan the crowds for someone who might fit the bill. I hate when new management comes in and shuffles everyone around. I sigh, coming up empty.
Why couldn’t he have just met me at the airport if he’s in LA already?
Eager for a distraction, I took out my phone. Bringing up the contacts, I had this overwhelming need to figure out where Stephanie and I stood. Scrolling through the S’s, I found a new contact forSweet Girl. Chuckling at the name, I’m reminded of the day Stephanie first met my mom. It was our freshmen year, the evening of our opening game. My mom and Mia were running late, but they needed someone to show them where to sit, since my dad wasn’t getting here until later.
Waiting in the parking lot, a van pulled up. At first, I was alarmed, especially when the guy barely took his eyes off me as he circled the vehicle. Opening the sliding door, it’s then that I saw Stephanie waiting on the other side for the ramp to be lowered. Distracted by my surroundings, I hadn’t realized the ramp swung out so far and I barely had time to jump back before the ramp nearly hit me.
“Sorry about that,” Stephanie called out, apologizing for her father, who merely snickered.
Reading between the lines, he nearly nailed me with that thing on purpose. “No, that’s okay. I should have been paying attention,” I replied, watching the way her father’s eyes narrowed deeper.
“Damn, right should have been paying attention,” he grumbled under his breath.
Sensing he was just trying to protect his daughter from the likes of someone like me, my eyes drew back to Stephanie as she rolled out onto the ramp. Fearing her chair would roll off the end, I anxiously stepped off the curb just in case.
Visibly taken aback by my concern, Stephanie’s father rolled his shoulders. “Hey Steph, my mom just pulled up, so I’m just going to run over there and give her a hand. Come join us when you’re ready,” I offered while keeping her father in my peripheral vision.
Don’t worry about me, Mr. Grace, I’m protective of her too.
“Sounds good. I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”
Nodding at her father, I disappeared out of his line of sight. Helping mom and Mia unpack the car, we were just about finished when Stephanie pulled up beside Mia.
“Hey ladies, this is Stephanie,” I said, making introductions.
Both my mom and Mia stopped what they were doing to shake Stephanie’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Judy and this is my daughter, Mia,” my mom sang.
“Can you pop a wheelie in that thing?” my sister asked.
