“Guy.” I took his hand.
“I know. I’m not going to do anything. I just have no one now. Papa left. Maman’s gone. I have no parents.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, and let silence fall between us. “It’s not the same, but you’ll always have me.”
He leaned into me, putting his head on my shoulder. I put my arm around him, letting him feel me as his cigarette’s scent filled the crisp air. “I wish you could stay. I don’t want you to go home.”
“Me, too,” I said. “I could watch you play hockey with people who actually fit your skill level. And brush up on my French.”
He laughed softly. “Your French is terrible,ma puce. You’d be silent up here.”
“Don’t think I won’t tell you to fuck off just because you’re grieving,” I said, flicking his leg. He chuckled and put his hand on my knee. I held out my hand for the cigarette. “Give me a hit of that.”
“No. You have to stay healthy so you can wipe my butt when we’re old,” he said with a sad smirk.
“Who says you’re not wiping my butt? You’re the athlete. You’ll probably be in better shape when we’re old.”
“Nah. I push my body too hard. I’ll fall apart way sooner.”
“Make a bunch of money playing hockey so we can pay someone to wipe our butts,” I decided.
“Works for me.”
It was a strange conversation to be having when someone too young had just died, not even getting the chance to grow old.And Guy had a girlfriend. I didn’t want to bring up what Eva had asked of us, but his words implied we’d be together in the end. I was trying to go along with whatever he wanted to talk about. I was devastated, too, but it wasn’t my mother. I still had both of my parents.
“I’m tired,” Guy said finally, crushing out his cigarette.
“Let’s get you to bed.” I stood and offered him my hand. I headed for the door, but before I could open it, Guy pulled me to him.
“I don’t want to be alone. I’ve been sleeping in her room every night,” he said. “Will you come with me?”
“Sure.” My parents might have freaked if they got up and found the two of us in bed together. I left a little note on the kitchen counter to say “I’m with Guy.” We left Guy’s bedroom door open so they’d know we weren’t messing around.
We didn’t bother brushing our teeth. We were both gross, but I followed Guy’s lead. He was the bereaved. We faced each other again in bed like we had when we fell asleep on the beach before everything went sideways. Guy cried more, and I stroked his hair.
His body had stilled so much that I thought he was already asleep, but he cracked his eyes open.
“I love you, Birdy.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
His thumb brushed my cheekbone, holding my jaw, his barely-open eyes looking into mine. He planted a soft, cigarette-flavored kiss on my lips. I rested my hand on his cheek as we tasted each other. It wasn’t going anywhere. Sweet and gentle. Just us showing our love. Just one kiss. Then another on my forehead. And then he succumbed to his exhaustion and fell asleep.
Part2:
The Rush
Chapter7
Guy
It was my junior year at Alden. It was all a bit of a sham anyway. I was already signed with the Seattle Sealpups and would be leaving at the end of the year. I’d stayed every summer to take extra classes so I could finish my degree early, hoping I’d get picked up by some NHL team. That sounds cocky, but I had scouts beating down the door all through my senior year of high school. It was overwhelming with just Grandmere to help me figure it all out.
So, I stayed on at Alden to prove I was worthy of my meal ticket after I signed.
Kitty and I fell out of touch over the years. She sent lots of messages in those first few months after Maman died, but I kinda hid from them. I still talked to Frank, or at least exchanged Snaps with him. Heather called me every once in a while to check on me, and sent me care packages full of my favorite goodies.
But sometimes talking to Kitty was too painful. Kitty was the one who held my hand and took care of me when Maman died. She held onto me as they closed the casket. She made sure I ate and helped me sleep until her family had to leave after the funeral.
