Page 90 of Last Boy

“And Isla, my dude. Can’t forget our main girl. She thinks you’re handsome too. Because that’s a daughter’s job. To tell her dad he’s handsome.”

“I am handsome,” Cam utters, looking at me again. “James just has, like…really nice hair.”

Brody nods in agreement. “That he does.” Reaching forward, he holds his fist out, and I bump mine to it. “Good luck tonight, James. Go light them up.”

“I’ll try my best.” I nod just before they turn and head out of the locker room. But not before fist-bumping every player in the room once again.

The two of them left behind a legacy. I can only hope I can do the same tonight. Because after the clock runs out, it’s time to say good-bye to Brooks. And to this team and Coach LaConte. But before I do that, I need to play my heart out and make them all proud. Because being a Wolf has been one of the greatest achievements of my life.

And I’m sure going to miss it.

Poppy

It’s crazy when you love someone so much that their happiness becomes yours. And when their dreams come true, it feels like it was your dream all along.

That’s exactly how I feel right now, watching Walker and his team all crash against each other. Champions. That’s what they are.

A few days ago, I found out I was accepted into Casco Bay College for the fall semester to study dance. And even though I’ll miss my friends here at Brooks, I’m more than ready for the move, especially now that I know that Bonnie’s parents are going to check in on Jake and Bonnie, who are sharing an apartment.

Out of all of this, one of the things I’m most thankful for is that Jake is happy. And all his dreams are coming true too.

I don’t think people who had childhoods like Walker and I did are ever healed. We just sort of…find a way to push through the pain and find our happiness. Those feelings of abandonment, grief, loss, and painful memories will always stay with us. And some days, they feel extra heavy. But I guess they make the bright days seem brighter.

Because when you’ve lived in the dark, the light…reminds you that the pain won’t last forever. I’ve started to trust that after the rain, that’s when the sun comes. Eventually.

Walker beams up at me, grinning from ear to ear, and I can’t help but bounce on my feet. So excited for him and his team in this moment.

I love you, I mouth.

Ryann bumps her hip against mine when he does it back. “Look at you, being all sweet and sticky. Like a marshmallow.”

“Ooh, she is a marshmallow.” Sutton nods in agreement. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

Next to Sutton sits Haley, who pays no attention to our conversation, but instead watches Cade as he celebrates with the other coaches.

Cade and she aren’t together romantically, but I know he’ll do the right thing and be a good dad for his baby. I also know that he loves Haley more than anything, and one day, they’ll figure it all out.

“How are you feeling, Haley?” I ask, leaning forward to look at her.

“Fat,” she says, her lip forming a flat line before, eventually, she smiles. “But I’m so happy for Cade and the guys. They all deserve this.”

I look from her to Cade and nod. “Yeah. They sure do.”

In just a few months, we’ll be in a brand-new state with a fresh start. And I know my husband is going to keep reaching his dreams when we get there.

And I can’t wait to watch.

28

Walker

Seven Months Later

Patting a towel to my forehead, I toss it in the hamper before unlacing my skates. Being a college hockey player was hard. Really, really fucking hard. But playing in the pros? It’s a whole other level of hard. But I welcome it because the team I’m on is a great one. And I’m proud to be here, wearing their colors.

Maine has this deep sense of community. Something Poppy and I have really enjoyed doing since we got here is going around to schools, recreational centers, and even homeless shelters. We take boxes and boxes of food and even sometimes clothing and sports gear, and we listen to people’s stories. We talk to kids about their dreams. We sit with a homeless man who tells us about his life’s best and worst days. It’s not all happy. A lot of times, we go home feeling like we’re not doing enough. But somehow, when I step onto the ice here in Maine and the crowd cheers so loud that it fills the entire arena, waving their signs…it reminds me how fortunate I am that I get to do what I love for a living.

It could have easily been either of us in the homeless shelters we’ve visited. And the kids we’ve seen in the schools with the long, dirty, shaggy hair and the worn-out clothes? We were those kids. We walked in those footsteps.

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