SCORE!

Cleaning out the Closet - Colby

Dinner was tense; well with Jo it was. She seemed off, and kept playing it as if she was fine. I walk up to her and her sister and she's damn near dry heaving into an empty popcorn container. She said that it was the food, but she kept looking around the arena like she was looking for something. Or someone. Either way she looked terrified and I didn't get why she wasn't telling me.

"Oh my god, I'm so full." Scarlett called out, slouching in her booth. We snagged dinner after the game, Trent and I obviously consumed the most food. Jo, didn't each much. She didn't talk much, but she never let go of my hand. If I moved away her eyes would dart up to me, looking worried like I was going to leave.

I would never leave her unattended.

Unless I had too. I tried not to think about leaving her, but everything was coming close. Two and half months I had with her. I wanted to make the best of it.

"Then stop eating, babe." Trent laughed, pulling her hand away from the fries.

"But they're so good. Jo, here take them from me." Scarlett shoved the basket to her, but she simply pushed them to me and shook her head.

"I'm fine, Scar. I'm still queasy from the hot dogs, and beer." She tucked her hair behind her ear, and kept her eyes on her water and lemon, swirling the straw.

"Angel, you've barely touched your food tonight. Are you sure you're okay?" I murmured. My arm snaked around her waist, kissing the top of her head. She shrugged and leaned into me.

"I'm fine, Colby. Really. Just-"

"Tired. I know. Well let's get going, then. We can head to the hotel and you can get comfortable." I shrugged. She looked up at me. Her green eyes pierced through me, her cheeks rosy, and cute. I kissed her nose, and took out my wallet, handing Trent a $50.

"You guys can stay, I'm gonna take her back to the hotel for the night." I stood pulling Jo behind me carefully.

"Jo, remember your pills tonight okay? It'll help. Colby, makes sure she eats something when you guys get there. She needs to eat." Scarlett gave me a look I didn't quite get but went with it and nodded anyway.

"Of course. Let's go, Jo." My arm around her neck, her fingers intertwined with mine. Once we got to the car I helped her inside, shitting her door rounding the car to the driver's seat. Cranking the heat, I clicked on my blinker, merging into traffic. My right hand immediately went to the other inner thigh. Her cold fingers brushed along my wrist and forearm as I drove. The radio playing music in the background, taking up the quiet space.

"What's really going on, Jo?" I asked after a few minutes. I hopped on the highway, pushing the accelerator down, speeding up. I clicked my blinker again, and merged, glancing over at Jo. Her eyes wide, glossed over. She swallowed, and shifted in her seat, looking at me.

"I'm fine." She squeaked. "I'm just... replaying to the night in my head. Watching you on the ice, playing your heart out. You look like nothing would phase you. You were almost flying out there."

I gripped the steering wheel, my jaw working. I grabbed her hand with my right, glazing at her as I kissed it. Holding her hand to my mouth. Her eyes watching my movements.

Placing our hands in my lap, I darted my eyes to her again, eying her outfit.

"I'm so glad you came tonight. It means a lot that you did." I confessed. My chest caving in with emotion. "My mom doesn't really like getting out in public much. So she watches from home. She's gone to a couple of my games, but nothing like this."

"Really?" Jo blinked.

"Yeah. I mean, I'll see messages from her about my plays and stuff, but it's not the same having someone there watching you. Wearing your jersey number. Cheering your name. It just hits differently." Clicking my blinker, I got off the highway, turning right onto a main street, a few miles away from the hotel.