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“Yeah. Okay. Thanks for telling me. Is there anything else you want to talk about?”
She pauses. “Why didn’t you play last week? In the game against Minnesota?”
I open the fridge and grab a water as I contemplate my answer. Whatever—I’m not about to start lying to her. “Because it was the first home game after our road trip.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Because I held up the whole team from getting back for that home game.”
“Oh.” Noise erupts from the living room, almost drowning out the single syllable. The refs must have finished reviewing the call on the ice. She hears it. “Um, I’ll let you go. It sounds like you’re in the middle of something.”
“Josh and Luke are arguing calls on the ice.”
“They’re both back home with you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good, I’m glad.” She pauses, and I think—hope—she’ll say something about us, but all she says is, “Uh, bye.”
“Happy Thanksgiving.” I hang up and walk back into the living room.
I’m distracted for the rest of the game, but the guys are too focused on it to notice. Once it ends, Oliver and I head out. He lives a few doors down from me, so we tend to carpool anywhere that’s not within walking distance. In Canmore, that’s not much, but it’s dark and cold out.
We’re halfway through the drive back when Oliver’s phone rings. It’s connected to the Bluetooth, so the rap music that was playing cuts off.Deanshows up on the screen above the center console. Oliver quickly declines the call.
“Friend from school?” I ask, not recognizing the name.
“Yeah,” he replies, hesitating. “Maybe more than a friend.”
I freeze, then quickly realize that’s not the best response. “That’s great, Oliver,” I reply. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. He, uh, asked me out, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for it.”
“I’m probably thelastperson who should be doling out dating advice, but if you like him, I think you should go for it. Better to regret the things you did than the things you didn’t and all that.”
“Yeah,” he responds quietly. “Thanks, Reid.”
“Anytime.” Oliver stops the car in front of my house. “We on for skating tomorrow?”
“Absolutely,” he confirms. “I talked to Johnny earlier. He said they were going to flood what they could this afternoon. Lake should be glassy tomorrow.”
“Perfect. See ya, man.”
“See ya,” he repeats as I climb out and head toward my house. Frozen tomorrow for sure—it’s fucking freezing out.
The house is quiet when I walk inside. Jeff was leaving with Mia and Lucy for gymnastics right before I headed to Josh’s, and they don’t appear to be back yet. I walk upstairs, hearing my mom’s voice mixing with Izzie’s. It sounds like she’s trying to talk her into a bath.
I grab my laptop from my room then head back downstairs, making myself a snack and settling at the counter to watch film of our opponents next week: Lincoln University.
My mom appears about fifteen minutes later. “Hey.” She seems surprised to see me. “You’re home early.”
“Yeah.” I pause the footage.
“You have fun at Josh’s?”
“Yeah, it was nice to see the guys, catch up.”
She smiles and heads for the fridge.
