Page 36 of Locke

“Boston though,” she says, steering back.“I loved it.If I were ever going to stop moving—” She glances around the group with an expression that says this is a hypothetical she doesn’t fully believe.“That might be the place to settle down.”

“You will never stop moving,” Arch says with complete certainty.

Birdie looks at him.“Probably not,” she agrees.“Favorite thing about the city.Go.”

Locke considers it, which is notable.“November,” he says finally.“The way it looks in November.Before the real cold sets in.The light off the harbor is unmatched.”

I have to force my jaw not to drop.He’s having an actual conversation and I’m not sure why it shocks me so much.I’ve taken his aversion to socializing with his teammates as an aversion to people in general.But I think I might have gotten that wrong.

Birdie doesn’t make anything of it.“The light off the water,” she says simply.“Yeah.I get that.”

The conversation keeps moving and Locke is still here, still talking, fractionally less armored than he was twenty minutes ago.

I look away from him and find Arch watching Birdie with an expression that’s there and then gone so fast I almost convince myself I imagined it.

But I didn’t imagine it.

Interesting.

I file that away too, in an entirely different folder.

Before long, Cherry appears at the perimeter of the room, a warm smile in place thatalmostreaches her eyes.

“Everyone,” she says, her voice carrying enough to be heard over the din without being loud.“Food is ready.Please help yourselves—everything’s set up in the kitchen and dining room and there are tables in the tent out back.”

Our group begins to shift and move, and I catch Crosby watching Cherry with an expression that has nothing left in it except detached goodwill.Whatever he felt about any of this, he’s put it down.That’s an emotional maturity I find quietly impressive.

Birdie links her arm through Locke’s, chattering away about Boston.“Tell me your favorite restaurants.The seafood there is unmatched.”

Locke laughs, and this time it’s full and genuine.Another jolt of surprise hits me, because… in my mind… he doesn’t laugh.

Is it Birdie?

Is he interested in her?

Because this is not the taciturn man I’ve come to know.A new layer for me to consider.It also tells me that whatever pain he’s concealing deep, it’s definitely focused on the team dynamic.

Chapter 13

Locke

IfollowLivia’scarthroughPortland’s West Side, telling myself the whole way that this is a session.

That was the agreement, at least.

She removes one session from the total I owe her, and I get a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal.

I’m not going because I want to see where she comes from or who made her or what her life looks like outside the performance center.I’m going because the math works in my favor.

Her parents’ neighborhood is quiet with trees lining both sides of the street and houses set back behind established gardens.She pulls into a driveway, and I park at the curb behind her.I sit in the car for three seconds longer than necessary before I get out.

The house is a Craftsman, well kept, warm light in every window, and the front door opens before we reach it.

A woman I assume to be Livia’s mother steps out onto the porch.

She looks to be in her early sixties, brown hair like Livia, but streaked with silver.She pulls her daughter into an all-encompassing hug and then her eyes find me over Livia’s shoulder with an expression of genuine welcome.

“You must be Locke,” she says cheerily.“We’re always so happy when Livvy brings home friends for dinner.”