“Remember I told you I used to play with Jude Braddock from the San Francisco Thunder?” Holden says to Duke and he nods. “This is one of his sisters.”
Duke’s brown eyes are the size of hockey pucks and he turns back to me. “Your brother is the coolest hockey player ever. He’s the best in the league. I try to model my game after him. You’re so lucky.”
Behind him, Holden’s face burst into a goofy grin as I try not to laugh out loud at the cute kid. I am so proud of Jude and I know he deserves to be idolized for his skills and abilities but at the same time, he’s my brother and I used to watch him stick Legos up his nose. “You know next time Jude is in town I can get him to come here and skate with your guys. He can teach you some moves himself if you want.”
“Hell, yes!”
“Duke!” Bradie chastises.
“Sorry, but seriously that would make my life,” Duke declares.
“Go get changed. We need to get you home to start on your schoolwork,” Bradie says sternly and Duke nods, despite being visibly disappointed. He skates off to the other corner of the ice where the tunnel to the changing rooms is located. She then turns to me and smiles. “I appreciate your offer and we may take you up on it one day if you’re serious.”
“Deadly serious,” I reply and cross my heart. “Jude is all about encouraging young players.”
“Well, Duke probably won’t be playing at that point. At least not on a team,” Bradie says, and I remember what she was telling her mom friend. “He just tanked another test.”
“So you’re pulling him out? For sure?” Holden asks and the dread is dripping off his voice. It occurs to me suddenly that his nephew is why he’s coaching. And right now as Bradie says yes he looks like someone just sucked the life out of him. My heart clenches.
“What subject is he struggling with?” I ask.
“Math mostly. Although his social studies grade isn’t great either.”
“I could tutor him,” I say without even thinking about it. Bradie and Holden both let their jaws drop. “I’m a certified teacher in Canada and I spent the last year and half tutoring grade school kids at an acclaimed after-school program in San Francisco. You can call them for references.”
Bradie’s expression goes from stunned to cold. “I’m sure you’re more than qualified, but honestly, I can barely keep a roof over our head. No matter what you charge, I can’t afford you.”
“I’ll pay,” Holden volunteers but I shake my head.
“I’m not charging,” I say firmly. Bradie opens her mouth to object but I raise my hand to stop her. “Look, I just lost my dad after watching him suffer through a brutal illness. I’m just trying to take baby steps back into the real world. If you let me tutor Duke, it will be doing me a favor too, so I don’t just sit at home watching Holden work and wallowing. It will make me feel good to help him. He seems like a good kid.”
Bradie’s face instantly softens and she reaches out and touches my arm gently. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” I manage a weak smile. “So let me tutor Duke. I can do it twice a week for an hour. We’ll work around hockey practices. It can’t hurt.”
“No, it definitely can’t,” Bradie agrees and smiles. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” I give her my email so she can send me his current curriculum. She hugs me as Duke appears with some other boys walking toward us on the outside of the rink, hauling their giant equipment bags. “I’ll see you later.”
I turn to leave, but Holden reaches over the boards and touches my shoulder. I turn to look at him and he’s got this really intense expression I have never seen before. “I’m driving you home.”
It’s old Holden, all demanding and gruff, and I feel heat build between my legs. “I can take an Uber.”
“I’m driving you.”
I nod.
Bradie and Duke are halfway to the front door, walking with her friend from earlier and her son, when she turns back. “Wait a minute…you didn’t answer me earlier. Are you the one who punched Holden when you were teenagers?”
Holden groans.
“Yup!” I smile guiltily.
“What?” her mom friend gasps.
“Trust me, he probably deserved it,” Bradie tells her friend.
“I did,” Holden mumbles, but I don’t think they can hear him.
