“No promises.”
TWENTY-NINE
HARLAN
MARCH
I pulledmy hat low as I stepped into the Iceplex. A wave of nostalgia almost knocked me over, memories of all the hours spent here growing up surfacing. But so much had changed. I was there for my . . . secret girlfriend?
I was there for Emma’s son, a barely-adult while I was, according to many sources, a full-fledged adult. I wasn’t the kid on the ice anymore. I was almost a stepdad? A stepdad-like figure?
I couldn’t identify the source of the lump in my throat. Was it the feeling that I didn’t belong there? Or was it more the fear of what it meant if I did belong there? After all, Liam had asked me to come. Not Emma. Liam.
Which, maybe he just wanted to flex to his friends that he knew me. If that’s what it took for him to warm up to me, fine, I guess.
I walked in a hair too late, because Emma, Liam, and her ex-husband were already on the ice with the other seniors and their families.
Each senior was announced and fun facts were shared about them, including what college they were going to. Emma wiped a tear when they listed Liam’s stats for the season and Liam reached to hold her hand. The motion choked me up. Liam loved his mom, and he wasn’t afraid to be affectionate with her. I could imagine how emotional the moment must be for her. She probably held his hand in countless parking lots and grocery stores, when he took his first steps. How many practices had she spent in this same rink? I thought of my own mom, of all the sacrifices she made to get me where I was, and felt the urge to jump in the car and go give her a hug.
But I also wanted to hold that woman on the ice who was barely holding it together.
“Liam Corrigan is undecided for his postgraduate plans, but he hopes to stay close to home in Ohio.”
Emma mumbled something to Liam and he laughed.
The ceremony ended, and Emma looked around for someone to take a picture. Other people were stepping out onto the ice, so I did the same.
I couldn’t read her expression when she saw me, but Liam looked happy to see me. “Hey, man.” I held out my fist for him to pound. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Liam said. “For coming.”
“Yeah, of course. You guys need a picture?”
“Yes. Thank you,” Jeff cut in. I expected him to give me a dirty look, but he was surprisingly cordial. I considered it a success, since the last time I saw him, he was telling me to stay away from Emma and Liam.
I snapped one of the three of them, then Liam said, “One with just Mom and me.”
I took that, one with Jeff’s new wife and Liam’s half-siblings, and then Liam beckoned me over. “Dad, take one of us with Royce.”
“You sure?” I asked.
“Shut up. Get over here,” Liam said, waving me in again. I turned my ballcap backward so my face was clear for the picture, and walked their way. I put my arm around Liam and posed, Emma clinging to his arm on his opposite side.
We were the last family on the ice, and a few phones were lifted our way. I popped my hat forward again, but the damage was done. People recognized me. I might not have been recognized in Columbus proper, but at an ice rink? There was no escaping it. I hoped Emma wasn’t too embarrassed.
Hell, I hoped this wouldn’t have repercussions at work.
But what were the chances that it would get back to management? Unlikely.
And anyway, I could take the heat. I was more worried about Emma. I thought about how she said other moms gave her shit, and thought about what she might need now.
“Anyway, have a good game,” I said. “We should get out of here and let you play.”
Emma kissed Liam’s cheek and I waited to escort her off the ice. I wrapped my arm around her waist and held up my opposite hand for her to grip while we walked. Emma beamed up at me. “Thanks.”
“No problem, Chef.”
She grinned and her face flushed. “You came.”
