“Did you hear me stutter?”
“We’re talkin’ aboutthe wholesummer?”
“You said,he was welcome to come stay with youwhenever,” she sassily reminds. “And what did Barrett – may your gramps rest in peace – always say about your word?”
“Your word is your bond,” quietly creeps out.
“Which is why I’m always tellin’ you boys tothink it throughfirst.”
Some people overthink and never act.
I act and then overthink later.
Often, when I’m on the ice, it’s what works best.
Gotta trust your vibe.
Your flow.
Your inner DeBarge.
The rhythm of your night varies, andyou’vegotta be able to be present and adjust.
It’s outta the rink that the whole actthen thinkthing tends to get me penalty minutes.
We always say trust your soul in this family, but apparently, that doesn’t mean you just give up thinkin’ all together.
“Last I checked,” she matter-of-factly continues, “you had nothin’ on the calendar but conditionin’ and a few in town work appearances.”
Why did I teach her how to use a shared family calendar?
Looking back on it…was her constantly asking me about gamesreallythat bad?
“I believe…” Grams begins with two of her most popular words, “that this is what Bronny needs.” Her pause pushes our stares to latch onto one another’s. “This is what your family needs, Thayne.”
And there’s my Achilles heel.
The one puck that can always get into that teeny, tiny space between my pads.
Family is the only thing more important to me than hockey.
Which she knows.
Which means if she’s using that shit to snipe then it’s serious.
“Of course he can stay with me.” Seeing a hint of a smile has me flashing him the same. “I’ve got the room. I’ll figure out the time.” Hope spreads throughout his expression, a sight that leads to me nodding. “This’ll be good for him.”
“I know it’ll be good for both of you.”
Because what could possibly go wrong with moving my much younger brother in with me?
“He’s gonna need a new phone ashishad a little accident on his way to the airport today.”
“She ran over it in front of him,” Dubs informs between sips of beer. “Like a hate crime.”
“Like awarnin’,” Grams argues back loudly. “You bes’ stay miles and miles away from Juniper-”
“Julliard,” whispers Bronny.
