My Hockey Boy

Chapter 34

Haley's POV

Once I arrived home, the time was about noon. After Charlie and I's "cooking", we had decided just to make something both of us knew we couldn't screw up. Cereal. We ate, watched some old reruns of funny television shows, and both of us fell asleep after about an hour of that. We were both exhausted from the morning and the night before.

I noticed that my mom's car was in the driveway and I assumed I would be greeted with her presence soon enough. As I walked into my house, I saw her standing, a cup of coffee in hand as she looked over some magazines that lay on the island in the kitchen.

"Hey, mom." I said, beginning to take my jacket off but stopped as I remembered, yet again, that I was wearing Charlie's tshirt.

I was with that boy for what like 5 hours? And I still couldn't remember to give him his shirt back.

"Haley! Are you just now coming back from Jo's?" My mom asked, setting her cup down on the counter.

She still doesn't know about what happened with Jo. My mom already didn't like the idea of Jo all of a sudden wanting to be friends again, let alone finding out she was right about her.

"Yeah, something like that." I avoided eye contact with her as my free hand raked through my messy hair.

"Are you ok, Hale? You look a little. . . stressed." She moved closer to me, resting a hand on my cheek before laying her other hand on my forehead.

"I'm fine, mom. Really, I mean it." I smiled, taking her hands off of my face.

"Okay, if you say you are then I'll trust you." My mom returned a warm smile, enveloping me in her arms as I wrapped mine around her.

This was the first hug I've given my mom in a long time. Like I said, Tom was always her favorite, I was my dad's. My mom and I were never as close as her and Tom were. But this right here. This made me feel like I was the most loved. It made me feel happy and relaxed.

Everything seemed to be working out. Finally. Maybe it was all falling where it was supposed to. Charlie and I worked out our problems and we're happy, my mom and I are getting along better, I don't feel the need to go upstairs to grab those pills. It all felt right. I was finally focusing on the positives. Something I haven't done in a while.

My mom pulled me back, placing a kiss to my forehead. "I love you, Haley. You know that right?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I know."

"Good." She smiled.

As I turned to walk up the stairs to my room, I called back down to my mom that I'd be going out with Charlie later and if it was alright. She responded with a simple "that's fine" as I continued up towards my room.

****

I checked the time again. 7:00. Charlie said he would be picking me up by 7:15.

It took me about an hour to shower, do my hair, my makeup, and pick out something to wear. I couldn't believe it but I was right on time as I pushed the backs onto my earrings and fixed my dress.

Charlie told me to wear something nice. I assumed we weren't just going to the movies or on a "causal" date. He didn't tell me exactly where we were going, but I decided to brush off the thought and dress in what I hoped to be appropriate for the evening.

I checked the last text I had received from him that told me the simple agenda of our night.

Wear something nice. I promise it'll be a fun night. See you soon.

The black clutch I held was opened so I could set my phone in it along with my wallet and other things I needed. I checked my appearance one last time in the mirror. I don't look half bad, I thought to myself as a small smile crept onto my lips.