“You mean maybe that’s coming?”
“Maybe.”
Maybe we’re both thinking that right now, Luca doesn’t say anything at all.
“Okay, after practice, let’s pick up Luca, and we’ll all go shopping.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Children are unpredictable. He might cry or something. Have an accident.”
“Then we’ll take extra training pants,” I say. “And we’ll try not to overwhelm him. But if he cries, he cries. Toddlers cry. Older people too. It will be fine. I promise.”
Enzo smiles as I pull into the arena’s parking lot, the arena looming before us, and he’s still smiling as we walk to the entrance. The wind off the Charles is sharp and cold, but I barely feel it. We walk into the arena together, shoulders almost touching, and for one stupid second, it feels like nothing ever went wrong between us.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Enzo
Once practice ends and I get out of the shower, Axel is waiting right outside the stall. Water still drips down my chest, and I clutch my towel tighter.
“Shopping time.” He grins, seemingly oblivious to my near-nakedness. “Let’s go get Luca.”
I change quickly, hyper-aware of him somewhere behind me in the locker room. We’ve shared locker rooms for years—at Concord, at the Olympics—but it feels different now. Everything feels different now.
Axel drives us to pick up Luca, chattering about bedding options the whole way. I focus on the road and try not to notice his hands on the steering wheel.
Patricia and Luca greet us inside. Luca is drawing on the kitchen table. He’s not crying. His pants aren’t wet.
“Luca and I made cinnamon buns,” Patricia says.
“Wow!” Axel sniffs. “They smell fantastic!”
Luca grins.
“We’re going to go shopping, Luca,” Axel says brightly.
Luca scrutinizes him. Axel helps Luca into his coat, then zips it up, like he’s been doing this for years.
“Better bundle up. It’s chilly here,” Axel says. “Pretty different from California, huh, Luca?”
I wince. “He needs a hat and gloves.”
“You need to dress warmer too,” Axel says.
I hadn’t realized he’d noticed that my jacket is thin. I never wear a hat or gloves in California, and should have packed them, but didn’t.
“I’m fine.”
“You and Unc-Unc are both going to get new outdoor clothes,” Axel informs Luca. “What color coat do you think he should get?”
Luca stares.
I open my mouth. Axel knows Luca doesn’t speak.
