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“You are?” Patrick’s head shot up.
“I am.”
“Sweet! Maybe we could go summer skating. That would be like…” Patrick’s face glowed, and his enthusiasm was heartwarming. “That would be awesome.”
“Sign me up.”
“Really?” Patrick’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.
“Sure. I need to keep the old muscles working and ready to go in the off-season. What do you say, Zach?” He turned around, but Zach wasn’t there. He spied him a few feet away chatting with Ruby. She was listening attentively to whatever bull crap Zach was saying, and kind of smiling at him in a way Travis didn’t like.
He frowned and took a step forward.
“Woah, is that Zach Rogers?” Patrick tugged on Travis’s arm.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think he’ll remember me from last year?”
The kid’s earnest voice tore his gaze away, and Travis nodded. “I don’t think anyone can forget you, kid.” Travis had brought several of his teammates back to town for a hockey game as a favor to his brother Wyatt. But in the end, Patrick had made it so much more. The boy was seriously ill, and yet his ability to live, really live, touched everyone.
“Let’s go.”
Patrick reached for his hand, and a knot formed in Travis’s throat as he took it. He cleared the damn thing, nodded to Brad and Gwen—“I’ll bring him inside”—and they headed over to Zach.
“Hey,” he said as he approached, eyes on Ruby.
“Zach, do you remember me?” Patrick blurted, a huge grin on his face.
Zach gave him a high five. “Sure do, kiddo.”
“Are you staying the whole summer too?”
“I’m not sure,” Zach replied with a grin. “Guess that depends.”
“Travis is taking me summer skating. My mom said I could go.” Patrick paused, his body melted into Travis’s side, his hand still engulfed in Travis’s large one. “Who are you?” he asked, voice curious as he looked up at Ruby.
“Oh.” Travis straightened a bit. “This is……” His voice died at the look in her eyes. It was there for only a moment, but it was enough. She was still in pain. After all this time.
She bent down, that sweet scent that was all hers infiltrating the air as she leaned toward Patrick. “I’m Ruby. Nice to meet you.”
“My name is Patrick Bergen.”
“Gwen’s son?” Ruby shook his hand. “Nice to meet you Patrick.”
“Are you Zach’s girlfriend?” It was a question only a kid could ask.
“No,” Ruby replied softly.
“Oh.” Patrick looked up at Travis. “Do you have a girlfriend?”
Okay, this had to be the most awkward conversation Travis had had in ages. He looked at Zach for help, but his buddy was grinning and was obviously enjoying the show.
“Nope. I don’t…have…one of those.”
Patrick nodded. “I don’t either. But I’m only eight.”
“Right,” Travis replied. “You’ve got lots of time for that stuff.”
