Page 69 of Hot Shot
It’s me and Bran.
I don’t remember when it was taken—I’ve never seen it before, but I recognize the couch we’re sitting on. It’s the one my brothers still have. The one they refuse to get rid of even though they bought a huge monstrosity for their living room and it’s now relegated to an unused bedroom in their apartment.
My mind spins. With memories and confusion. I bought them the couch. As a house-warming present the year they signed with the Knights and moved in to an apartment together with Bran in New York.
“I won’t let them get rid of it.”
Bran’s voice startles me but I’m too stuck on the picture to turn. We look so happy. “Why?”
“Because you bought it for us.”
“I didn’t. I bought it for them. I bought you…” I’d bought him a bed. He’d only had the twin he’d used the entire time he’d been in college and refused to buy anything bigger even though he had the money.
“A king bed.” He’s closer now, right behind me if the heat I feel at my back is any indication. “I still have it. In storage along with the rest of my stuff. I never took any of it to the house. Bought everything new for that.”
“They still have the couch. It’s in your old bedroom. Where your bed used to be.”
“I know. I asked them to keep it there for the occasional night I still crashed at their place after I moved out.”
“I don’t understand why you would ask that or why they would agree to it.”
“Some things aren’t explainable.”
“When was this photo taken?”
“The summer before I got my own place. The apartment I’d hoped to share with you.”
I’d known. The minute he told me he’d found a place, signed a lease, I’d known he would ask me to move in with him. But I’d gotten a call from Hockey Canada, about working with the national women’s team, coaching them for the Olympics, and he hadn’t asked…
And I hadn’t offered.
Within months he’d married a woman I’d never met, knew nothing about except what was splashed across the internet, and was expecting a baby.
“We never really talked about what we wanted.” The words are out of my mouth before I think them and I know it’s something we need to address. Why hadn’t wetalked?
“We made vague statements about the future. About what we’d do, but you’re right, we never really talked about it beingustogether in that future. I’m sorry we didn’t. Sorry we both assumed we were on the same page. So sorry.”
“But we were on the same page. Weren’t we?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to do it again. I know there aren’t any guarantees in life and things can change in a heartbeat, but I don’t want to leave either of us in the dark, assuming but not really knowing. No more vague future plans, no more this is what I’d like or want.” I spin on my heel and face him. He’s close, like I thought. So close that when I tip my chin up to meet his gaze, our lips are a breath apart. “If we do this?—”
“Wearedoing this.”
“Then we need to be clear.”
“How’s this for clear? Iwillplay for the Rogues. Iwillmove in with you. Iwilllive with you. Iwillsleep in your bed. Iwillput a ring on your finger when you’re ready. Iwillbuild a life with you. A life filled with love and family and anything else we want.”
His declaration, because that’s what it is, bring tears to my eyes, makes my nose sting and my throat tight, but I push out my own intentions. “Iwillcoach the Rogues. Iwillmove in with you. Iwilllive with you. Iwillsleep in your bed. Iwillput a ring on your finger when I’m ready. Iwillbuild a life with you. A life filled with love and family and children and every damn wish either of us ever has.”
“I have a lot of wishes, Blake.”
“I want to give you every last one of them.”
“You already have.”
“When do we start?”
