"We’re done," he said. "No point chasing it after that."
In the locker room, Heath was already at his stall with one skate off. He glanced up when I came through.
"What's Sully saying about Nora's new cocktail?"
My hand stopped with my gloves halfway to the upper shelf.
"The one named after her? Haven't tried it yet."
"Kieran went Wednesday when I was fielding an emergency call from Pickle about Croc repair. He said it's good." Heath reached for his tape. "Figured you'd have the report by now."
"I haven't had a reason to try it."
He nodded once and began unlacing the other skate. I finished placing my gear in its order. I didn't check my phone until I was in the car.
There were no new messages.
I set it in the cup holder and drove north.
***
I heard music before I reached our doors.
It wasn't loud, the way it was when Sully had people over. It wasn't Fleetwood Mac either.
As I entered my condo, the music kept going through the wall. I wasn't completely sure, but I thought it was Steely Dan, one of Dad's favorites.
I drank a glass of water standing and rinsed it. Then I returned to the hall.
Two knocks.
When Sully opened the door, he was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and the jeans that sat low on his hips. He'd pushed his hair back off his forehead. There were dark circles under his eyes that hadn't been there the last time I saw him.
"There he is." The smile arrived the way it usually did: the left side first, and the right just behind it.
"You're home."
"Day off. You knew that."
"I did." I looked past him. The coffee maker was on. "Steely Dan?"
"Look at you. Pulling that name out of thin air."
"Dad liked them."
He leaned against the frame with one hand still on the edge of the door. It'sAja.This is a day for it.
I waited for a story, but it didn't come.
"Good skate?"
"Fine."
"Just fine?"
"Cross was quick. They tried to push me, but I blocked everything. Coach sent us home early."
"And more details. I asked, and you delivered."
