Page 40 of The Waiting Game

Grandma Ji-min and Grandpa Cho had mostly spoken English at home. They’d taught Jonah—and Felix, by default—the basics, but hockey had often won out over language lessons for both boys and since they didn’t speak Korean often, they were a bit rusty these days.

Grandma Ji-min appeared in the doorway, smiling. “Happy Birthday!”

She reached up and he obediently stooped so she could hug him and kiss his cheek.

“Thank you.” He held on a little longer than usual and when she pulled back, she studied his face with a frown.

“What’s wrong? That doesn’t look like a birthday face.”

He scrunched up the face in question, half-annoyed she could read him so well, half-grateful. “I’m in a funk.”

“What kind of funk?” she asked as he tucked his keys in his pocket and followed her through the spacious house.

Felix loved the home Grandpa Cho had designed for his family.

Done in a warm, minimalist contemporary style with Korean influences, it was filled with softly diffused light that made the white walls and warm wood glow. The design was simple and clean but warm, as if the house itself was giving him a hug.

Or maybe that was just Felix feeling ridiculous and sentimental.

The kitchen was sizable, the back wall made entirely of glass that looked out over the gardens Ji-min had so lovingly designed and worked on. Warm wooden beams spanned the tall ceilings and a large island was filled with the prep work for dinner.

Jonah’s condo had a similar feel. Unfortunately, Felix had never been able to make his condo feel that way. Maybe he should hire someone to remodel it.

Dustin’s husband, Charlie, was an interior designer and he’d recently remodeled the home he and Dustin shared, along with several smaller projects for their teammates. Yes, that was a good plan. Felix would talk to Charlie about it soon.

“Felix,” Grandma Ji-min prompted and he shook his head.

“Just feeling sorry for myself about my birthday,” he admitted.

She tutted. “You think being thirty is so old? Try being seventy-seven. Then you’ll really feel old.”

She didn’t look old. If someone told him she was in her late sixties, he’d believe it. Her hair was short and gray, but stylishly cut and she wore an effortlessly elegant pantsuit in shades of plum and gray with a pair of narrow tortoiseshell-framed glasses.

Her shoulders were straight and she walked confidently, not hunched or tentative like some older people he’d encountered over the years.

She’d aged gracefully, he could say that much.

“I feel old some days,” Felix said with a sigh.

She frowned. “Hockey is hard on the body.”

“It is.” He slumped onto the stool by the counter. “And I’m not where I want to be in my life.”

“I know.” She patted his hand. “But you do the best you can and keep trying, eh?”

“Yes.” He straightened his shoulders. “I’ll do that.”

Sometimes he just needed the reminder.

It didn’t help that earlier today he’d been on social media and stumbled across a picture on a mutual friend’s account. The photo was of Whitney and some guy who was apparently her new boyfriend.

She looked so happy.

Which was great. Felix was trying to be the bigger person and be happy for her. But it wasn’t the reminder he wanted on his birthday.

Bleh.

“Where is Jo-nah?” Grandma Ji-min asked, washing her hands.

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