“Uncle Sergio! Look!” He zooms down the hill and comes to a stop by way of his adorable forward flip onto his rump. “Did you see?”
“I saw, Henry,” Sergio says, already waiting at the bottom of the little hill to pick Henry up and place him back on his feet. “That was very impressive. You’re gonna be an Olympian just like your dad someday.”
“Do you think I can be?” Henry asks, looking up at Sergio with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Definitely. It’s in your blood. It’s what you’re destined to be! If that’s what you want, of course.”
“It is!”
“Then you will,” Sergio assures and ruffles his hair before he kneels down and starts to unclip Henry’s boots from his skis. Once finished, he grabs the skis in one hand and then picks Henry up with his other arm, holding him close to his body as he heads toward the lodge. “Can I ask you something, buddy?”
“Yes,” Henry says and rests his head on Sergio’s shoulder.
“How would you feel if I moved here?”
Henry’s head whips away from Sergio’s shoulder so quickly that he almost throws Sergio off balance. “Like live with me and Mommy and Daddy and Gus?”
“Don’t you think that would be a bit cramped?”
“No.”
“Don’t you think Gus would hate that?”
Henry throws his hands up, shrugging. His lips press together in thought, and then his eyes go wide again. “Maybe you could live with Jeremy? You could stay in the barn, too.”
Now that does sound enticing.Sergio tips his head. Perhaps still a bit cramped, though. That living space above the rink is little more than a studio apartment. But he can picture himself purchasing a home here. Maybe even on the same street, in the same set of woods. He could make it perfect for Jeremy. Equip it with anything and everything Jeremy might ever need. A house they could turn into a home together. Assuming he can make it out of this day with Jeremy at least on board with rekindling their old flame.
He takes a breath. He’s getting ahead of himself. He still needs to actually wake up on New Year’s Day. And furthermore, he needs to wake up on New Year’s Day with Jeremy in his arms for any of that to be a possibility.
“I’m not sure Jeremy would want to live with me.”
“He might,” Henry says, then his face turns serious as he stares intently at Sergio. “If you tell him you’re sorry.”
“I plan to do that,” Sergio promises right as he spots Jeremy carefully walking up the icy steps leading to the lodge with Rose and Allison. He places Henry back down on the ground and points to where they are.
“Careful!” he yells out to Henry the moment he takes off running.
“I know!” Henry yells back, making it to Jeremy in record time, only to be stopped by Rose’s outstretched hands, preventing a collision.
“You hungry?” Holden claps him on the shoulder. “This place has a great turkey burger.”
“Starved. A turkey burger sounds perfect right now.”
Holden beams as if he works in the kitchen and cooks it himself. “You’re going to love it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Sergio says, following Holden to the lodge entrance. Once there, he opens the door for Holden, then gestures with his hand for everyone else to follow.
“Thanks, Sergio,” Rose says as she strides past him with Allison by her side. They’re followed by Jeremy, who’s holding Henry’s hand. Jeremy acknowledges Sergio with a curt nod, then keeps walking.
Sergio watches him walk away, admiring the view. It has to be said, figure skating does do wonders for one's backside.
“Shut your mouth, you’re drooling,” Adrien teases with a thump to the back of Sergio’s head as he comes to stand beside him. He follows Sergio’s gaze. “It all makes sense now. Youarea schoolboy with a crush, aren’t you?”
Sergio lifts one shoulder as if to say, ‘So what?’ then closes the door and starts walking towards the table. “I told you I’d prove you wrong one of these days, didn’t I?”
“Yeah.” Adrien laughs. “But I didn’t expect it to be today.”
“Well, jokes on you, little brother. I am full of surprises,” he says and pulls Adrien’s usual chair out for him.
