My mind swirls thinking about how this ten-year-old just put me in my place as he is whisked away by Liam, who passes the puck while Ty helps keep Theo steady on his skates.
Theo taps the puck once. Then again, and this one slams into the net. The team erupts like he just scored a game-winner.
Theo throws his arms up, laughing so hard he nearly tips over, and I skate in fast enough to steady him before he falls. He’s glowing. Absolutely glowing. Like the ice beneath his feet just handed him proof that tonight matters.
And standing there, watching him in the middle of the ice—surrounded, celebrated,seen—I feel like it’s my birthday, not his. And my heart is definitely applauding.
When I glance toward the boards, Juliette has one hand pressed to her mouth now, eyes shining, smile wrecked in the best way. Vivian is already crying. No surprise there. Charlie stands a little straighter than usual, hands shoved into his coat pockets, nodding to himself like he’s filing this moment away forever.
Charlie catches my eye and gives me a sharp little wave. Thecome herekind.
I skate over, breathless but buzzing.
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Hey.”
“Hey,” I say, still watching Theo wobble happily between two defensemen who are treating him like precious cargo.
Charlie swallows once, then leans in. “I wanted to say…thank you.”
I shrug, suddenly not sure what to do with the weight in his voice. “It was nothing.”
He gives me a look. “It wasn’t.”
We stand there for a second, watching Theo laugh as someone gently slides the puck back to him, the guys cheering him on like this is the most important play of the night.
Charlie nods toward the ice. “Days like this,” he says quietly, “they carry a kid a long way.”
I nod, understanding. “That’s what I’m hoping.”
He shifts his weight, casual on the surface. “There’s another one of those moments coming up soon. In the guise of a certainbreakfast,” he adds, like he’s just stating the weather. “At least, it’s supposed to be. If David shows up for that.”
I follow his gaze back to Theo, still smiling, still skating, still exactly where he should be.
Charlie exhales slowly. “I’m glad he has this one.”
“So am I,” I say.
Out on the ice, Theo catches sight of us and waves like we’re the ones who need reassurance.
I wave back, grinning.
Because tonight? Tonight showed up.
Even if his dad didn’t.
And if tomorrow doesn’t go exactly as planned—well.
We’ve already proven we’re pretty good at improvising.
CHAPTER 27
JULIETTE
Sitting in the front seat of his car, I’m glad that Sawyer insisted on driving us home. Not in a pushy way. Just a calm, already-opening-the-door way, like this is the obvious next step. I didn’t have the energy to argue it. Theo had happily jumped into the back, still buzzing and riding the high of ice cream, fried foods, and jerseys, as well as being surrounded by an entire hockey team that treated him like he belonged.
The city slips past the windows in soft streaks of light. The hum of the road settles into something steady, almost hypnotic.
From the backseat, Theo narrates the night like he’s afraid it might disappear if he stops talking.
