“That’s why you’re so good at drills,” Steven smiles and nods.
My cheeks pull up, exposing a full set of teeth, and I dip my chin. “The drills. I lived on the ice, working all of them until I didn’t have to think about what I was doing. Before I knew it, things were clicking with my teammates, and I even had a nickname.”
“‘The Jet’” Becca’s soft voice reaches me, and I look at her, her glassy eyes causing warmth to blossom throughout my chest. I was such a fool for shutting her out back then.
“Yeah. I thought it was so stupid, but by getting that nickname, it finally meant I was part of the team. I belonged.”
“Yet you never came back to town, why?” Miles probes, doubt filling his expression. As much as I hate all these questions, my respect for him goes up several notches.
“Actually, I did come to visit for a short time, five years after I left.” My gaze falls on Becca. “The Hurricanes were playing the Wolverines, and I met up with your Uncle after the game. He told me your mom was seriously dating someone.”
Becca’s hand slides up her neck and rests on her throat.
“Despite knowing that, I stopped back in town for a bit and saw them together. They were so very happy and in love.” Tightness wraps around my chest at the memory, remembering how it felt knowing I’d lost her. “I left without ever saying I was sorry or telling her how much I missed her. At that point in time, it would’ve been selfish.”
“How many times did you circle the rink looking for Mom in the stands?” Steven catches me off guard with his question.
“Years,” I answer without hesitation. Becca’s mouth forms an ‘O’, but she doesn’t say a word.
“Are you planning on sticking around Maple Ridge, or is this just a pit stop?” Wyatt quizzes. The questions come rapid fire.
My gaze is still holding Becca’s, my pulse banging against my ears. “That all depends.”
If the woman sitting across from me told me she wanted another chance, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make it happen. But she’s not the only one who has to be okay with it now.
“If Mom decides she wants you in her life…” Miles narrows his eyes at me, and I gulp. But then he turns to face Becca. “Just remember all three of us can out-bench you, old man.”
“Ever Google ‘how to date your teenage crush without getting murdered by her sons’?” Steven snickers.
My eyes pop open, and Becca throws her head back and laughs. Wyatt and Miles join in, but then all three of them turn their gazes to me.
There is no mistaking the message:IFtheir mom wants a second chance, I’ve officially been warned. If I mess it up again, there won’t be a penalty box, just an ejection.
Driving down the dark street from the restaurant, I head to my childhood home while memories of days gone by run through my mind. The life I thought I’d have versus the life that was mine.
It was a good life. A great life by many standards. And yet it always felt a bit empty. Lonely even.
I didn’t just circle the stands for Becca, I looked for her and my mom. No, I’m not crazy. I knew my mom wouldn’t be there, but I could never stop looking. It took me years to break the habit. She was always in the stands cheering me on, until she wasn’t.
Dad would work odd shifts being a state government official, but Mom would never miss a chance to watch me skate. And then a few years later, Becca joined her.
When Mom passed, Dad couldn’t step foot in a hockey rink and didn’t until the last season of my career. But Becca, she never stopped showing up.
Until I pushed her away.
Tonight was the first time I was honest with myself and her about how much regret I’ve had shutting her out, and it was only because of her boy’s interrogation.
Well, maybe that’s not true…Maybe I was waiting for an excuse. Them asking all those questions was—
Cough-cough-sputter.
“No. Please. Don’t tell me—”
Glancing down, the gas light catches my attention right when the car makes a final put-put…pfft.
Groaning, I let the car roll to the side of the road and drop my head on the steering wheel before placing the transmission into park.
Running late to work with Steven, I passed the gas station with the intent of stopping there on the way home, but then was completely sidetracked by everything else that happened tonight. On my final pass, on the way to my house, they were closed.
