“Oli.” Andre’s large hand gently squeezes his shoulder before kissing the top of his head. I watch him deflate then nod.
“Hockey’s been my entire life. It was my safe place when Ihad none, my salvation when I needed it. It’s made me who I am, and now it’s over. I’ve really struggled with it. That unfortunately meant taking it out on you guys, and I can’t...” Grey looks down, drumming his fingers on the table. Blinking fast he looks back up at his friends. “I need to stop feeling sorry for myself. I can’t change this.” He sucks in a breath.
Oli stands up, then bends down to hug Grey. His arm comes up around Oli’s back as he squeezes him. “I can’t fuc—fudging believe this,” he whispers, then kisses the top of Grey’s head. “I’m so sorry.”
Oli finally pulls back.
“I’m in pain every minute of the day, but I want to get better. I am getting better. I feel better.” Grey’s glistening eyes warm on me.
Has he thought about that kiss? I’ve never been kissed like that. Soft and delicate. A kiss that twists you up from the inside out. A kiss that makes you feel like you matter. “I guess this explains why you haven’t watched our games,” Oli says softly.
Grey reaches out, grabbing Oli’s hand and squeezing it. Then he looks at me. “Do you want to watch a game with me?”
“Me?”
Grey’s eyes crinkle with a laugh. “Yes you. On TV. I can’t be there in person yet. I’m in a lot of pain today and moving is hell. I did too much yesterday.”
“Too much?” Andre asks. His eyes pass over me then back to Grey. “What kind of too much are we talking about?” Oli backhands his stomach playfully. “What? Hey! I remember when we used to do too much.”
“We still do too much.” Oli kisses the side of Andre’s face.
“Enough. Both of you. Felix helped me around the house and then we went fishing.”
Andre smirks. “I bet you did.”
“This is why I don’t take you places.” Oli glares at him.
“Oli, you take me everywhere. Can’t get enough of me.” Andre leans down to Lianna’s level. “Are you ready to be the prettiest flower girl in the world?” Her face brightens, nodding. “You can pick whatever dress you want.”
“A princess dress?”
“Whatever dress you want, Bug.” Oli stands up, slipping his hand into Andre’s. “There’s also a plus one on that invite. Maybe find a date. You need to get L-A-I-D.”
“Laid?” Lianna’s brows scrunch looking at her uncle. “What does that mean?”
“She’s seven not four! She can spell, you idiot.” Andre shakes his head. “Ask your mother.”
“Do you have any schedules Thursday?” Grey asks.
“No.” Andre looks back at Oli, shaking his head.
“Why don’t you all come over. Invite Atlas. We can play a game or something.”
“Really?” Oli smiles.
Grey nods. “I miss hanging out like we used to. It’s time I accept this. It’s time Atlas knows too.”
“And then Itold Carrie Ann, I know you stole all the red crayons out of my box. I know she did, but she lied anyway. She’s always lying. She took every single shade of red in my box! Then she waits for the teacher to come and starts crying.” She flings her hand back with the biggest roll of her eyes. “Then I got in trouble because I was getting my red crayons back one way or another.” Her ponytail swings as she shakes her head, taking a sip of her teacup filled with kiwi strawberry juice. “I had to stand facing the wall all recess!”
“Who knew pinching was a capital offense.” I’m sitting inher bedroom with my legs practically up to my chest on this tiny chair at her table. “Did you get them all back?”
“Every last one.” She beams a smile displaying several missing teeth. I pour Lianna some more “tea” and listen. She’s so animated when she talks. After Oli and Andre left, I helped Grey into his room to rest. Alyssa called to let me know she was rushing, and I told her not to worry, that if she had errands to run or something, to go ahead. I don’t mind at all.
After I made her lunch and we watched a couple of movies and before we came in here, I checked on Grey. He’d passed out, thankfully. His knee is too swollen today.
“She only did it because she knows red is my favorite color. It’s girl code. You don’t steal someone’s favorite crayons.”
“She took them all?” She nods. “Even the scarlet?”
