It was early, and yet they were already here with doughnuts, and he needed to sit and talk with Ian.
Florida had made their final offer, but he wasn’t going to take it until he’d spoken to Ian about it.They were a team now, and he liked the way that felt.And this was a huge decision.
If they went to Florida, they’d make more money, but the relief on Ian’s face when he’d said no had been worth any amount of money.
It meant the world that Ian had been willing to come with him, too.No arguments, no threats.Just, “We need to be together”.
He took a sip of his coffee and closed his eyes, raising it up to the early morning sunshine.
“Dad?”Peter came up to him, voice so quiet.“Can I play out here if I’m quiet?”
“Of course you can, Petey.”He tousled his boy’s hair.
“Thank you,” Peter whispered.“I love you.”
“I love you too, Peter.”His sweet, smart son.
“I know!”Peter giggled quietly and sat down on the grass, grinning at him.
He laughed softly.“Good.”He put his head back and closed his eyes again.
Peter was buzzing his lips, driving his toy trucks around the grass, the sound sweet and soft.
It was so domestic.He waited for it to not be enough, for the need to be on the ice to overtake this domestic moment.
There was sadness; he loved skating and playing so hard.But this was good.It was so good.And he was pretty sure it would be enough.
“I am carrying the rocks in my truck.My truck goes so fast.”The sweet little song was dear.
He found himself humming along, grinning.
This was his life.
He wasn’t sure he deserved it, but it didn’t matter.He had two children who loved him, even if he hadn’t been there for them.And he had a husband who was willing to uproot his whole life to be with him.Even if he hadn’t been three years ago.
His phone beeped and he looked to find a text from Angus Castlewood, one of his fellow Canadian players in Florida.He was surprised; the guys had texted him a lot the first week or so after his surgery, but then the contact faded, as it did, and now he barely heard from any of them at all.
hey dude.how’s it going?
better everyday
good deal
you?
He wondered what was up.It was nice to get a text asking how he was doing from one of his teammates, but it seemed out of the blue.
good.good.
JP waited while the three little dots sat there on his phone.
in town atm wanna get together?
Oh.Huh.That actually would be nice.
sure.gimme a few to talk to ian
sounds good – around for a few days so whatever works for you
