Page 107 of Love Me Boldly

He had to sit for his news. I was waiting for mine. For once it didn’t seem so scary and so nerve-racking.

“Maybe it’ll all work out the way it’s supposed to,” I whispered, feeling uncertain of my burst of semi-positivity.

It sounded lame to my own ears. If everything happened the way it was supposed to, that meant I was supposed to have a mom who didn’t love me, a dad who gave me a shitty upbringing. It meant I was supposed to struggle.

It also meant then that I was supposed to have the friends and family I currently had, and I was starting to think that was a really great thing.

“It will,” Graham whispered and kissed my cheek. “It’ll all work out.”

Odd how it didn’t sound so lame coming from him.

It sounded pretty damn close to perfect.

THIRTY-FOUR

GRAHAM

What a wild and surprising day. Tanner’s visit was a total surprise, but a blast. It was like college all over again, with Eli camping out on my couch and Tanner sleeping in the guest room. Eli and he had played rock, paper, scissors for the extra bed. A best three out of five turned into a best five out of seven, into a best something out of whatever until Tanner finally lifted Eli up, threw him into the bed, and then ran and hid in the spare bedroom until Eli gave up shouting.

And that was only after I threatened to kick him out if he got the cops called on us.

Now, they were strapping on their skates. Eli’s were rentals, but he’d gotten them sharpened, and it wasn’t like he wouldn’t survive on borrowed skates for an hour. Tanner had brought his gear with him because he never went anywhere without it. I was helping Jonah lace up his.

“You ready for this?” I tapped his helmet. “New skates and new friends and everything?”

He grinned at me through his cage. “I’m always ready for new stuff.”

I didn’t doubt he was for a minute.

We’d been able to get some private skate time at the local arena. I was surprised Deer Creek even had one, but it was near the high school and used for youth hockey and figure skating. It took a couple of calls, and maybe some begging, but I’d wanted time with Jonah to myself.

Him getting to skate with two of my best friends and with excellent skates was an excellent bonus.

Even better? Holly was in the stands, phone in her lap, and I knew she’d be taking pictures. It was eighty degrees outside, but she was dressed like it was twenty in her winter coat, hat, and gloves.

Meanwhile, the guys and I were in long pants and short sleeves. Jonah was decked out in his hockey gear, insisting he had to wear it so he could practice better.

Who was I to refuse a kid who wanted to be the best he could possibly be? He was the kind of kid coaches dreamed of.

“All right.” I stepped out onto the ice, skated to the middle, and made an abrupt stop, sending ice shavings flying all over Tanner.

“What the he…h-e double hockey sticks?” he grumbled, and thank goodness he caught himself in time.

“You might be all pro soon and whatever, but I’m still better.”

“Fat fu—reaking chance.” He took off, chasing me across the ice. I was here for Jonah, but I couldn’t resist trying to race Tanner. He’d gotten faster over the years, definitely more built and more in shape, but I’d always been leaner. Quicker.

We raced around the ice, and on the left turn, I caught Eli talking to Jonah in the center. They were both cheering for us, Jonah’s little stick waving in the air. I’d thought I was still winning, but the scrape of Tanner’s skates was louder. Closer.

I glanced back and shouldn’t have. He reached out and grabbed my shirt. With a quick yank, he flung me to the wet ice. I slid until my back thumped into the boards. Neither of us had been going full speed apparently, and the fall wasn’t enough to hurt anything but my ego. Tanner skated to the center with his hands in the air and came to a stop exactly like I’d done to him, sending a wave of ice to the top of Jonah’s head.

“Hey!” he shouted, but there was laughter there too. I climbed to my feet and brushed ice off my pants.

I’d get Tanner back later. He could go pro, I thought as I skated to all of the guys in the middle. One of my best friends. This time next year, he could be at the end of a season with all his dreams and twenty-plus years of hard work behind him.

“Love you, man.” I squeezed his shoulder and gave him a shake. Let him see how proud I was of him in my eyes.

He gave me a chin tilt and looked down at Jonah. “So, you’ve grown since I last got pictures of you. How old are you now? Thirteen?”

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