Page 3 of Last Boy

Pulling my gear off, I head toward the shower farthest away from him and turn it on. I climb in once it gets hot enough to burn my skin off.

Cam. Hardy.

A name I’ve heard over. And over. And over. And motherfucking over again since I arrived at Brooks this summer to start training. One would think now that I earned a full scholarship to Brooks University—a D1 college in Georgia—and was chosen to be the Wolves starting center, my teammates would stop talking about their old center.

Fuck no, they haven’t. In fact, I get the luxury of living in his shadow constantly. And I get it. I really do. He is a great player. A weapon on the ice and a huge asset to any team he’s on. He left behind big shoes to fill. But the thing is, I don’t want to be the next Cam Hardy. I’m Walker James. And just like Hardy, I’m going to the NHL too.

I’ve played hockey since I was six years old. Back then, it was an escape from my shitty reality. And the older I got, the more I was noticed. When I was fifteen, my parents died of a drug overdose, and I was dragged out of my shithole neighborhood to live with my loaded uncle, who was a bit of a celebrity star. Some would say it was probably the best thing to happen to me.

And those people…haven’t met my uncle.

The only reason why his greedy ass brought me to live with him was so that he could get even more famous. One day hoping that I’d make it to the pros and acknowledge that he saved me. That shit couldn’t be further from the truth because when I make it pro, I’m going to hide it from him until it becomes public knowledge.

Despite the fancy hockey clinics he got me into when I was a teenager, I’ve made it this far because of me. Because of the hunger to be more than the shitty place I came from. Not because of him or his money and connections.

Being here, at Brooks U, I feel like I’ve escaped him in a way—much more than my sister has. Last I talked to Briar, she was traveling to different countries with my uncle Beckett and his wife, Natasha. They’ve brainwashed her into thinking that’s the lifestyle she should want. And now, the sister I grew up with is someone completely different.

But when I got away from him by coming to Brooks, I sort of just came back to my past. This place was far from my first choice. It’s a great program with one of the nation’s best college hockey coaches. But it’s also close to my childhood home. The street I grew up on and where my parents died are just a few miles away.

It was easier to block out the memories when I was hours away. But having it a hop, skip, and jump away, passing by the same stores I did before I left…well, it’s fucking with me.

But what’s making it worse is wondering if she still lives on that street. Or worse, if she attends school here. At Brooks.

Poppy Wilson has haunted my dreams since the moment I left her crying on that sidewalk. That was over three years ago.

Now that I’m at Brooks though, I can almost feel her presence.

And that only makes me resent her more.

Poppy

“I love it.” I grin, looking around my brother Jake’s new apartment from a counter stool. “This place is amazing, J. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you.” He can’t stop the smile from spreading over his face.

It’s obvious how happy and excited he is right now. And my heart warms.

“I like it too.”

When good things happen to the best people, that’s what makes my day. And my brother is one of the kindest, most deserving souls I know.

Everyone seems to have a different opinion about what someone with Down syndrome can or can’t do. What their goals should be and what will never happen. My brother’s mission has always been to prove to the world, as well as himself, that he could do anything he set his mind to. And after holding a steady job and getting his own place after always dreaming of it, it’s safe to say he’s doing just that.

“Maybe Van will come to see my new home,” he says thoughtfully.

I don’t have the heart to tell him Van won’t be over because I instructed him not to. If Van showed up here, he’d ask Jake for money. And Jake is too nice and would give it to him. And the money would simply be for Van to get high. Again.

“Maybe. You never know.” I shrug. “Even if he doesn’t, you should be so happy. This is huge for you! You’ve talked about this for years!” I jump up from my stool. “I gotta run. Dance starts in a bit, and I still have to take the bus home to get my stuff.” Throwing my arms around him, I give him a squeeze. “Proud of you, dude!”

As I release him and head toward the door, he calls from behind me, “Nice to see you. Next time…bring Ryann.”

I turn to find my brother wiggling his brows at me.

Shaking my head, I pull the door open. “Not going to happen, man. She’s too wild for my brother!” I blow him a cheesy kiss. “Love ya! Don’t throw any parties at your sweet new pad!”

“I will make no promises,” he tosses back just before I close the door behind me.

Jake has the biggest crush on Ryann. Then again, every guy does. Bringing new people around him always makes me nervous. Not for them, but because I’m always afraid they will disrespect my brother in some way. Not every human being is like me and has been brought up around someone who has Down syndrome, and people can be just plain ignorant in understanding that my brother is not dumb and isn’t a baby. So, when I hear people’s voices change when they speak to him, it makes me go on the defense. With Ryann, she always treats him like he’s a normal person.

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