Page 16 of Goalie Lessons

Her sister trots along beside her, and I have to admire Calliope’s determination. She has no idea where she’s going, and will need Callum and I to get there, but is pushing forward into the crowded airport anyway.

“Oh-kay,” Callum says, quietly, so the girls can’t hear us. “That’s fucking terrifying.”

When I glance back at the desk, the attendant gives me a quick, disapproving press of her lips, shaking her head.

I hope it meansGood luck, but I know better than that. More than likely, that look means she doesn’t think I’m going to last a day with these girls.

***

“And this could be your room, if you want?”

I’m standing at the open door to one of the guest rooms, gulping against the lump in my throat. Athena stands next to me, peering in, and I see it through her eyes for the first time—a large, empty space. It would make a great hotel room.

White walls, a simple IKEA dresser, TV resting atop it. Fake plant on the windowsill. A queen-sized bed, white and bare save for the little pink teddy bear I bought last minute yesterday, trying to make the room feel more like it belonged to her. It might have looked better without the sad little bear, all alone in a sea of white.

As though wanting to punctuate that point, Athena lets out a whimper that quickly avalanches into a series of sobs. I turn, hovering my hand over her shoulder, not sure if I should reach out and touch her, or how to make her feel better, or how to evenbeginhandling this situation.

“Hey,” I start, grimacing at my own incompetence. “It’s okay—”

“What did youdo?” Calliope is there in a second, putting her arm around her sister and giving me a glare with so much loathing it actually knocks the breath out of me for a second.

“I-I didn’t—” I gesture into the room. “I think she doesn’t like it—”

“Don’t worry,” Calliope says, ignoring me and leaning down to wipe the tears from her sister’s cheeks. “We’ll stay together, Thena. You can come sleep with me.”

As she ushers her sister away into the other bedroom, I could almost smack my palm to my forehead. Of course the kids would want to stay together right now—I should have assumed they’d share a room. That’s what most siblings do, right?

“I heard the crying,” Callum says, grimacing. “They don’t like the rooms?”

The door shuts, and I wince until I hear Athena’s crying start to die down. When I look back to Callum, it must be with the expression of a man who’s drowning, because he takes a step forward and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“You know what, man?” Callum says, pressing his lips together for a second and appraising me. “You’re doing your best. You could have said no, let those kids go into the system. But you didn’t. And it can only get better from here, right?”

Technically, I know the words are true, but for some reason, they don’t make me feel any better about the situation.

“Right,” I echo, but my voice sounds weak even to my own ears.

“You know what, you should bring them to the thing tomorrow.”

“The thing?”

Callum hesitates, brow wrinkling. “Yeah—it was in the group chat. You must have missed it. Sloane and I just got that new pool put in, and we’re going to have a little thing at our house. Barbecue. Bunch of the guys from the team are coming, and they’re bringing their kids, too. Maybe these guys can make some friends?”

I haven’t even thought of checking the group chat, I’ve been so consumed with this situation. I glance at the very firmly shut bedroom door, mind spinning, trying to figure out if taking them to a barbecue is the right move.

“I don’t have kids,” Callum says, raising his hands up in a shrug. “But something tells me it would be good for them. You know, like associate Milwaukee with good things.”

“Sure, that makes sense. I’ll try to make it.”

Callum glances around and takes a step back, then he pauses, looks me in the eye. “This is a lot, Grayson. For anyone. Call us if you need anything, okay?”

Something sticks in my throat, making it hard to speak. So instead, I just nod. Callum nods back once, then he turns and leaves, waving one last time before walking out to his car.

I take a deep breath and try to figure out what I’m going to do alone in this house with two little girls who hate me.

Astrid

It’shot,butthere’sa pleasant breeze from the pool, and, luckily, Sloane and Callum had the forethought to install their grill in the shade.

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