Page 112 of Can't Kiss the Chef

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me Coach. You’ve made the last four years the best of my life.”

When he lets me go, the first person I want to talk to is my dad. That’s never happened before.

My parents were in shock by the kind gesture from my coach and jumped on the opportunity to join us on our six game road trip.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and it was the best one I’ve had in a long time. It wasn’t that the food was great. In all honesty the catered meal we ate in the conference room of the hotel we were staying at in Boston was okay, but it was sitting at a table with my best friends while my dad told us his life story. We heard all about how he grew up with his grandparents and how having two sisters meant there weren’t many quiet moments inhis childhood. His face lit up when he talked about how he tried to romance my mom for years before she finally gave in and gave him a chance.

While it’s been amazing to have them here with me it’s impossible to not notice the steady decline my dad has endured since we got the second opinion. His eyes are sunken in and his once sturdy frame is dwindling. His sense of humor hasn’t taken a hit and his joy has been contagious.

So far we’ve only lost a single game during this six game road trip. Tomorrow’s the last game of the trip and one I personally can’t afford to lose. It’s the first game of our home and home series with Hamilton University.

Dalton has been oddly quiet since the whole sex tape scandal. He has to be pissed that he lost Lola, because there‘s no shot in hell he’ll ever get another shot with a girl as amazing as her.

None of that matters right now. Coach gave me an extension on curfew to hang out with my parents. Mom got into the shower once we got back so Dad and I settled on the couch and turned on the Westvale football game. Josiah and the rest of the Retrievers have been killing it this season and have a shot of being selected for the playoff tournament.

“You haven’t got a chance to meet Josiah yet, but that man is going to go down as a Westvale legend.” I tell my dad when Josiah rips off for a forty yard touchdown.

“How did a football player end up in the Hockey house?” A question that a lot of people have.

“He was friends with Lola’s friend, well I guess you’ll know her as Jalen’s fiancé, Ivy. We all became friends last year and he asked if he could move in when his other living arrangements fell through.”

My dad nods along, but it’s clear that he has more than my roommate situation running through his mind. His eyes drift toa place that’s far from here. I forget all about my conversation with my dad and focus my attention back to the game.

“Hey Byron,” my dad says softly.

“Yeah Dad?” I answer but keep my eyes glued to the television.

“Can you look at me for a second?”

I mute the TV before turning to my dad.

“I’ve lived my life with a lot of regrets, but the biggest one I have was not treating your mother with the love and respect she deserves.” His eyes clench shut. The conversation a difficult one for him to be having.

“I know things are going to get hard for you in the next few months. Please don’t let those emotions affect your relationship with Lola. I really believe you guys could have something special. Don’t ruin that relationship like I did with your mother. I’m lucky she took me back. I know that in another universe I may not have been so lucky.”

This is the advice that I’ve needed from my father throughout my life. There is a part of me that is angry at him for waiting until he was dying to give me this advice. The other part of me tells me that I should be happy that I have this time with him.

“I won’t, Dad. I lost her once and I won’t let that happen again.”

It’s the end of the third quarter when Mom takes my dad’s place on the couch and my dad takes hers in the bathroom.

I turn towards my mom. She looks happy. I don’t remember there ever being a time where I saw her this carefree.

“He really has always loved you.”

Her eyebrows pinch up as her eyes go wide. “Where did that come from?”

“Just something Dad told me tonight and I don’t know if he’s ever told you how much you mean to him.”

She closes her eyes, a move she’s always done to try and gather herself. It doesn’t work this time. Her tears flow freely.

“I love him so much, Byron. If you’re ever lucky enough to find love like that, hold on to it. You’re lucky if you get one of those in your lifetime.”

43

Lola

The day after Thanksgiving I’m bundled in my winter coat and beanie sitting in a hockey rink while my friends are having a spa day with Ivy. The basketball team is playing in a holiday tournament in New York and have a day off between games. I was supposed to be there with them, but when Byron asked me to be here because his parents wanted to spend time with me I didn’t have the heart to say no.

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