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I dropped back into my chair, resting my face in my hands. Things had gone so wrong so quickly. We’d started the evening with a tentative truce, and now I wasn’t sure where we stood.

FIVE

ETHAN

The familiar scent of freshly cut ice greeted me as I stepped into the rink. The atmosphere always transported me back to good times. I smiled, taking it all in, a mix of nostalgia and excitement for the beginning of camp. This was also a safe place, free of all the responsibilities I’d taken on with the Pride festival.

I made my way toward the registration area, two cups of coffee from Special Blend in hand. Liam had sung the cafe’s praises since Caspian Lane had reopened it in January. He swore by the coffee, which I’d already found to be some of the best in town.

The coffee’s warmth seeped through the cardboard sleeve, a contrast to the cool air. Liam sat at the registration table organizing welcome packets.

“Morning!” I read the side of the cup, checking for the 3 before holding out one of the cups. “I come bearing fuel.”

Liam’s face lit up as he saw me approach. “Yes!” he said, reaching for the cup. “Perfect timing.”

“One triple pump maple latte.” I handed it over. “Just the way you like it, even if it might put you in a sugar coma later.”

Liam took a long sip, fluttering his eyelashes in satisfaction. “Worth it.” He raised the cup.

“I don’t know how you drink that. On the way in, I accidentally had a sip and I swear my eyes almost bugged out.”

“Lightweight.” He chuckled and made a show of taking another large drink.

We fell into a well-rehearsed rhythm, finalizing everything for the campers who would arrive in the next few minutes.

“How are you doing? You didn’t say much after dinner, and I didn’t want to push.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “I thought through a lot of things last night, about the festival and Andre too.”

Liam nodded, encouraging me to continue. He’d let me say as much or as little as I wanted to.

“There’s a speech. I wasn’t expecting that.” Like with my moms, I didn’t have to hide anything from Liam. “It’s just a few words, but the idea of standing up there in front of the town and visitors…” Not even being at the rink could hold back the anxiety that tightened in my chest like a vise.

Liam nodded and squeezed my shoulder. He knew my struggles with reading and the stress that had followed me into adulthood.

“I’m happy to practice with you so it’s memorized.”

He’d helped a lot back in school, as had my moms and other friends. “Thanks, man. There’s other stuff I may need help with too.”

“I’m sure I speak for all your friends when I say that we’re here to help. How much are you doing anyway?”

I gave him the full rundown.

“Wow. I didn’t realize what the bigger festival meant for you.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty amazing. If I wasn’t in it, it’d be great to attend.” I took a sip of coffee.

“You mentioned Andre too.”

“Oh, man.” I shook my head. “We almost found some peace, but then he laid into me about buying the Montgomery place.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Really? Why would that matter?”

“He wanted to turn it into a queer youth camp, which is amazing. But I couldn’t even discuss that because he went off about how easy it is for me to get whatever I want with my hockey money.” I put up air quotes to make it clear he called it that.

Liam let out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s rough.”

I shrugged, trying to shake off the lingering frustration. “It’s fine. I mean, it’s not fine, but… I don’t know. One thing at a time.”