My Hockey Boy

Chapter 41

Haley's POV

Charlie and I pulled away from each other, his fingers moving to set a strand of hair behind my ear. I sucked in a breath of air before standing from my bed, Charlie following after.

"You ready?" He asked, raising his eyebrows at me.

I nodded, staying silent for a moment.

"I just hope she's still here." I raised my shoulders before dropping them a second later.

My palms became slightly sweaty as my fingers began to pick at my fingernails.

"Like I said, I'll be with you the whole time." Charlie's hands gripped my shoulders, lightly rubbing and massaging them to relax my tensed muscles.

I nodded, resting my hand over his. My steps started towards the door as Charlie followed closely behind.

"Mom?" I called as we descended the stairs.

"Yes, Haley? What is it? I'm about to leave."

She was standing by the door, her hand on the knob, her purse slung over her shoulder, and her keys in hand.

"It's something really important." I said, dropping down from the last step of the stairs. Charlie followed close behind me.

My mother's face seemed to pale as she looked back and forth from me to Charlie.

"Don't tell me you're. . ."

I cut her off before she could even finish the thought. I knew what she was going to say and I wanted to stop it before she turned this into something completely opposite of what I had to say.

"No! No!" I frantically shook my head. "No." I finally assured her.

She noticeably exhaled, hearing the news that there would be no little Haley's and Charlie's running around any time soon.

"Then what is it?" She questioned.

"It's about college." I started.

"Oh, have you chosen one yet?" My mother asked, setting her purse down on a small side table that was close to the door.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." I gulped down a lump in my throat, peering away from my mother's eyes.

As my eyes met hers again, she did the same thing she had done moments ago, began looking back and forth between Charlie and I. She was getting suspicious.

"What's going on, Haley?" Her arms crossed over her chest as she awaited my answer.

Charlie took a step to now stand next to me. His fingers laced through mine as I relaxed slightly at his touch.

"I want to defer a year." Before I knew it, the words were tumbling out of my mouth. My mother's jaw falling slightly, her lips parted as she looked at me.

"What do you mean? W-why would you want to do that? That could screw everything up. No, no. Education is first. And you're not going to some community college. No, you're going to make something of yourself like your brother." Her voice rose with each sentence, her tone engrossed in disappointment.

"Mom, just let me. . ."

"No, Haley. Just because you hit a rut does not mean you automatically give up."

My lips curled in as I stared down at the floor. I prayed I wouldn't let the threatening tears fall.

All of a sudden, I heard another voice besides my mother's scolding one.

Charlie.

"I don't mean to sound rude, Ms. Rhodes, but this is Haley's choice."

I hadn't even noticed he had taken a step in front of me, standing between my mother and I.