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orgasmic high.
    With Case, it was different. She was the image on that never-ending replay in my mind.
    And no matter what I did, the thoughts didn’t go away.
    Neither did my hard-on.
    Shit, I was still a mess and the last thing I needed was Ava provoking me.
    “Stop being an ass,” Ava said brushing past me. “I brought you your favorite. Calzones from Tony’s. I thought we could eat and hang out, you know, like we used to do when we were together.”
    “Ava, it’s a nice thought. Really, it is. It’s just that I don’t eat that shit anymore. I’m pretty clean these days. It helps level me out.”
    “Didn’t really seem like you were leveled out at the hospital.”
    “Nice.” I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.” Ava always had a way with words.
    “Sorry.” She rubbed her hands on my arms. “But you were pretty out of it for a few days.”
    “I’m told it happens to the best of us,” I say, hearing Dr. Hart’s words in my head. “But I’m not going to let one set back knock me down. And by the way, we never ate calzones and hung out in the old days.”
    “Sure we did. I remember you eating those things by the truckload.”
    “Yeah, I scarfed down my food before you dragged me out to some event or new bar or club. We were always on the go. See and be seen, remember? That was your M.O.”
    “Well, I have a new M.O.”
    “Not likely.”
    “I would’ve said the same about you until I saw it myself. All alternative and earthy now. Not to mention clean and sober.”
    “Yeah, and?”
    “Well, I’ve changed too. I know I took you for granted and pushed and didn’t give you what you needed. But I can now. I miss you, Finny. I want to have our old life without all the shit. The new normal.”
    The new normal.
    She did make a good case. Still, I wasn’t ready.
    “It’s too soon, Ava.”
    “Okay, okay,” she said. “I get that. The old Ava wouldn’t, but I do. Let’s go slow. I’ll get rid of the toxic Italian and make you a salad. Then we can watch the O Network or something.”
    “Still a smartass.”
    “I’ve changed, Finny, but I’m no angel.”
    There was somewhat of a comfort having Ava back in the house. Something familiar. Shit knows, Nate could use a night off of entertaining me.
    I stepped aside and waved her in.
    “Goodie,” she squealed. “I promise, you won’t regret it.”

Chapter 11

    Casey

    Anchor/Kiki Stuart: So Casey, you were ready to come clean on everything? Your botched stories? The lies? The way you tricked Finn?

    Casey: Yes. God, yes. I wanted that more than anything.

    Anchor/Kiki Stuart: But you didn’t, Finn?

    Finn: Hell, no. I was planning on going back to the NHL. And, as we’ve recently seen happen with other athletes, bipolar disorder and professional sports don’t go well together.

    Anchor/Kiki Stuart: I wouldn’t say that. There are a lot of athletes with mental illness.

    Finn: Yeah? And how are the majority of them doing with that? Teams let players go all the time for mental illness.

    Anchor/Kiki Stuart: If you’re talking about the recent stories in the NBA, there were other factors involved.

    Finn: Factors which all happened to be related to the players’ illness.

    Casey: That’s why we had to come up with a plan.

    Finn wasn’t answering his phone, so I went to his house.
    There was another car in the driveway, probably Nate. That was a good thing. He could be the voice of reason, because I had a feeling Finn was going to be difficult.
    I rang the doorbell. No answer again. Although I was no longer welcome at his home, I couldn’t help pushing the limits. I turned the knob.
    It was open.
    “Finn,” I called out.
    Nothing.
    Then I heard laughing. I calmed when I heard his voice; it was like the sweetest music. Until a woman’s voice joined in, and the beautiful music turned to the most irritating noise. What’s worse than nails on a chalkboard? An alarm clock when you’re hung over, maybe? It was like that.
    “Finn,” I yelled,