Reese nodded toward the boys. “It’s two of our Bridge kids.”
“I’m assuming they didn’t have money to rent skates,” Roan said.
“Oh, I hate that,” Mauve said. “Can we rent some for them?”
“Yeah, this is no good,” Jason said. “I’ll take care of it. Mauve, come with me? We’ll rent some skates for them and for us.”
“Sure. What size?” Mauve asked.
“An eight for Marcus and a ten for Cody” Roan said. “I just ordered them some tennis shoes for our workouts.”
Jason handed Roan the pizza box. “I have a feeling they might like the leftovers.”
“Good idea,” Reese said. “Even if they won’t admit they’re hungry.”
“Rent some for us too, please,” Roan said to his brother. “Size seven for Reese. Ten for me.”
“We’re on it,” Jason said.
After Mauve and Jason headed toward the rental booth, Roan glanced down at Reese. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“I can’t stand it,” Reese said softly. “It’s too cruel to have to stand outside the rink while everyone else is having fun.”
“Let’s go talk to them,” Roan said.
“Yes, okay.”
“Hey, guys,” Roan called out as they walked toward them.
Both boys turned, their expressions shifting from wistful to stoic in an instant.
“Hey, Reese. Hey, Roan,” Marcus said.
“What are you two up to?” Reese asked.
Cody shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Are you here with anyone?” Roan asked.
“No, we walked into town,” Marcus said.
“My foster parents were fighting,” Cody said. “So I got out of there. Ran into Marcus on the way here.”
“I worry about you two walking along the road,” Reese said. “There’s a ton of black ice this time of year. Stay as far to the right of the road as you can, okay?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Cody said gruffly. “We’re careful.”
“You guys want to skate with us?” Roan asked. “Our treat?”
“Nah, we’re just watching,” Marcus said.
“We don’t like to skate,” Cody said. “It’s for little kids.”
That was a lie. Roan could see it in the way Cody wouldn’t meet his eyes and Marcus shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“We have leftover pizza,” Roan said, holding up the box. “You guys hungry?”
The way both boys’ eyes lit up broke his heart.
