“Let’s go, boys. Aria, I’ll call you.” Gardenia and the twins exit the store.
By now Drakos and Noah are loaded down with gear.
“That should do it, shouldn’t it, bud?” Drakos smiles fondly down at Noah. I experience a moment of regret that these two will never know each other the way they should. I’m getting too soft. I’m not reconsidering giving Drakos a second chance to know his son.
No, I am not.
He’ll swoop down like a golden hero, ply the kid with gifts, and then disappear. I can’t put Noah through losing another person in his life. Drakos isn’t father material. Sure, he can enjoy kids when he doesn’t have to be responsible for them every day. It’s easy to play Santa Claus and walk off without another thought.
Drakos steps forward and offers his card. He pays the bill and hefts the largest packages in his arms before turning to me. “Where’s your car, or do you want the gear in the locker room?”
Noah speaks before I can. “The locker room. I have practice. Wait until the guys see my new stuff. Thank you, Drakos. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Noah runs ahead. Drakos and I follow at a more leisurely pace.
I give Noah a hug and kiss despite his protests and thank Drakos one more time before entering Rink Three and sitting on the bleacher seats to wait for Noah’s practice. I’m looking forward to seeing him in his new gear. My heart breaks to think he’s been tolerating skates that’re too small for who knows how long. I’m not used to being a mother figure, and I messed up that one.
The kids straggle onto the ice. Noah struts around in his new gear. He grins from ear to ear and waves at me. I wave back.
“Looking sharp!” shouts a familiar voice from behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know who it is. Drakos sits his ass next to me on the bleachers. I’m surprised he’s still around.
“Thank you once again. I’ll find a way to repay you, I promise.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I may not need to, but I have to.”
He shrugs. “Suit yourself. But if you really want to repay me, we can work out a deal that doesn’t involve the exchange of money.” He winks and jerks his head in the direction of the exit. His smile is positively feral.
I pretend not to pick up on his insinuations, but my lady parts hear him loud and clear, and they’re ready to rumble.
“What’s going on with you?” Drakos watches me carefully, and I squirm under the scrutiny.
“Nothing. Why?”
“No, it’s something. You haven’t published a story in a few days, and we won a playoff game last night. No way are you missing that unless… I think I heard you say you’re between jobs?” He’s clearly puzzled.
“All Hockey News fired me.” My tone is flat and distant.
“What? They fired you? Why?” He’s genuinely outraged, which catches me off guard.
I sigh deeply and shift so I’m facing him. “Because I can’t compromise my principles any longer, and I told my boss I wanted to write the truth, not made-up shit for the purposes of getting more clicks.”
“Oh.” Drakos seems at a loss for words.
“Yeah.”
“Your articles on the road trip were thoughtful, entertaining, and thorough. Surely another media company will snatch you up.”
“So far, no one’s interested in a sports reporter who wrote garbage pieces consisting of exaggerations and fabrications. Imagine that.” I cringe as I hear my bitter laugh.
“What’re you gonna do?”
“I wish I knew.” Despair creeps through me. I’ve spent the last few days fretting one moment and being in denial the next. Neither changes my situation.
“Anything I can do to help? Maybe put in a good word?”
“Why would you want to help me?”
“Because of Noah. It has nothing to do with you. We still hate each other.” He grins.
