Page 78 of Skating to Him

I stepped to him and peered inside, the chrome parts gleaming under the lights. I had no idea what I was looking at. The engine was clean. I could say that much about it.

A couple of guys our age strolled toward us, all bundled in hoodies and jeans and wearing baseball hats. One with straightbrown hair peeking from under his cap said, “Damn, nice car, man. I love that year.”

“Thanks. It’s my favorite too.” Rowan offered a grin at the two young men. “The mods I put on gave her an extra forty horsepower.”

“Cool. You ever take her to the races up around loop three-oh-three?” The man smirked at Rowan and then eyed a tire. “How about drifting?”

I stared at Rowan. Did he do shit like that? He’d said he had a few tickets back in Boston. A shiver rolled down my spine. I didn’t like that shit. It’s what got Michael, back in high school, killed. But he’d been on a bike. Still, the news was filled with people who’d been killed in street races.

“I haven’t taken her out for racing since I’ve been in the valley. I’ve done some in Boston though. In the summers.” He peeked at me and pursed his lips.

“Cool, you should try it sometime.” The young man held up his fist. “Have a good evening.”

Rowan fist-bumped him. “You too.” He turned to me as the two young men walked off.

“I don’t want you racing or, or drifting. It’s dangerous.” Taking a deep inhale, I raised my chin. He had to hear me on this.

“I know it is.” Chewing his bottom lip, he hung his head. “I…won’t.” His gaze met mine. “It was some shit I did when I was a teenager in Boston. I’m over it now.” He looked around us. “I don’t even know where the loop three-oh-three is.” He snickered, hooking an arm over my shoulders. “I don’t suppose you want to tell me?”

“Nope.” I dipped my head to his shoulder and smiled. That seemed easier than I thought, but I’d take it. “You want to go around and look at the other cars?” I lifted my head, studying him.

“I do. Let’s go.” He dropped his arm and took my hand. “Youthink the guys around here are cool with this?” He held up our entwined hands.

“I think so. If they’re not, fuck them.” I was done kowtowing to homophobic people. It’s one of the reasons I was here, playing at ASU with the squad. “We’re hockey players. We don’t take shit from anyone.”

“You know what? You’re absolutely right.” He kissed my knuckles, and we strolled along.

As we strolledthrough the front door of the house from the car show, I held Rowan’s hand and led him into the main room. I hadn’t seen Myles’s car in the garage, so I guessed he was out somewhere. Maybe he was sensing how nice it was for us to have the house to ourselves. Of course, we could have gone to Rowan’s, but this place was bigger.

Rowan left me and strolled into our kitchen. “I’m parched. Want a beer?” He opened the refrigerator door.

“Sure.” We’d gotten some quick food at the car show from a street truck vendor but hadn’t had any beer yet. And itwasSaturday night.

He pulled out two beers and made his way to me.

Buzzing sounded in the pocket of my hoodie, and I slid the phone out. Did Dean already have dates lined up? It was a holiday weekend. Did the guy ever not work? I looked at my phone.Momscrolled across the top. “Oh shit.”

“What?” Rowan stepped to me and peered into my phone. “Take the call.”

“Yeah, but…” I scratched my forehead. I’d wanted to tell her about Rowan the next time we talked. “Can I tell her about us now?”

As his lips parted, he set a beer can on the coffee table and then opened his own. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He took a few gulps ofbeer and wiped his mouth. “Even more now.” With a stuttered laugh, he smiled at me.

“Okay.” My pulse quickened and I answered the call. “Hey, Mom. How are you?” Wasn’t it a little late for them? I glanced at the clock on the stove. It was nine here, so…ten there?

“Hey, honey. I’m glad you answered. Are you getting ready to go out with your friends tonight?” she asked.

Throwing a glance at Rowan, I said, “No, I’m not.” I sank into the corner of the couch as Rowan handed me an open beer. “I’m, uh, just enjoying a quiet time at home with a frie—” Fuck, not a friend. “Mom, I have something to tell you.”

“You do?” Clanking and running water filtered through the phone.

I should tell her about the Blackhawks too. Well, both her and Dad. Shit. “Is Dad around?”

“He is. Want me to get him?” she asked.

“Yes.” I drank some beer as I waited for her. With a glance at Rowan, who’d dropped in next to me, I whispered, “I’m going to tell them about the Blackhawks first.”

“Sure.” With a wink and a nod, he sipped his beer.

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