Past Lives

After we got back to the hotel after the Game two loss, Jamie went to Craig’s room and my mama mumbled something about going to kill some Red Wings fans. After both of them left, I tried to collect my thoughts as I heard a knock on the door. I took a deep breath as I opened it to see Brooks standing there.

Before I could even shut the door, he engulfed me into a hug. I felt my eyes weld up with tears as he pulled away.

“Babe. It’s okay. We are going back to Pittsburgh. We can do this.” He said as he moved my hair out of my eyes.

I felt the tears run down my cheek. “It’s not that. It’s… Brooks, I need to tell you something.”

“Ads.. Adisyn, what is it?”

I sat down on the bed and wiped my cheeks. “I got a job offer. The job offer of my dreams.”

He sat down beside me. “Okay…”

“But it is in Boston. And what makes me a horrible person is that I received the job offer during the Philly series, which is why I didn’t go on the road trip.”

“I know.”

“And I feel.. wait what?”

He turned to me. “I have known for about a week. Your mom accidently told me.”

I stood up and stared at him. “You knew and didn’t say anything to me?”

“Why is that a big deal? You never told me!”

“Cause I was debating on even taking the job!” I narrowed my eyes. “Oh my god. This is why you were pushing me away, cause I kept this from you.”

Brooks got up and walked to the other side of the room. “Yes okay! That is exactly why. I was hurt, angry, pissed off, and every other emotion towards you because you decided not to tell me about this big decision!”

I crossed my arms. “Now you know how I felt in college, except I did not decide to take the big step and wait a week before to tell you.”

“Why does everything come back to that? I screwed up okay? I know that. But that doesn’t give you the right to leave me out of this decision Ads. Didn’t you think that maybe I wanted to help you?”

I sighed. “You would have told me to say no, that you didn’t want to be away from me, that I had a perfectly good job here, and that I had all the people I needed right here. But what if that isn’t enough Brooks? What if I am meant to have this job?”

He walked over and put his arms around me. “Then you are meant to have it. And I would have been supportive. I would not make you chose to stay here because of me, or Jamie for that matter. You have to do what is best for you.”

“What are you saying Brooks? That you want me to take the job?”

He shook his head. “No. What I am saying is that when everything is said and done, the choice of taking the job or not, is up to you. Not me, not Jamie, not anyone else but you.”