Page 68 of Meet Me in the Blue

“I want that too. To be with someone who isn’t after me for my job or status.” He lifted his drink to his lips and glanced toward the bar. He gulped down the rest of his beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his arm. “But all these fucking people… I don’t know. They want something from me. Maybe when I retire…”

“Are you thinking about it?”

“This is the last year of my contract. I’m a thirty-four-year-old D-man with bad knees. There’s no thinking about anything. This is my last season.”

“Retirement could be nice… finally settle down somewhere, give Mom those babies she’s always harassing you for.”

He scoffed. “I think you’re closer to that goal than I am. Do you think you two will get married? You’ve known each other forever, wouldn’t be too much of a leap.”

“Maybe? I don’t know. Being together like this… it’s new,” I said. The idea of it, having Luka for forever, maybe having kids of our own, I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.

But I was in my head now, with every I love you, every touch and kiss Luka and I had shared since he’d come home, and there wasn’t a fiber in my body that didn’t yearn for it. Yearn for him and a future I couldn’t fathom without him.

ROOK

IT WAS TOO QUIET,and I couldn’t think. Luka was stretched out on the floor in front of me. He was supposed to be doing the same math homework as me but had spent more time texting than he had on actually working. The blue light on his phone lit his face as he smiled, and irritation rankled itself inside my gut. I shut my eyes and took a breath. I didn’t know why I was so frustrated.

“Wake up, sleepyhead.”

“I’m awake,” I grumbled. “I’m just… I hate geometry.”

“Want to copy from me?”

“I’ll fail the test,” I said, more annoyed than I should have been. “I’ll figure it out.” I shut my book and leaned back against the footboard of his bed. “I just need a break.”

“A break sounds good.” Luka dropped his phone to the carpet and rolled onto his back. “I can help you, if you want.”

“Maybe later.”

“Want to watch a movie?” he asked.

I glanced at the clock on his dresser. It was almost ten.

“I have to go home soon.”

Luka laughed and turned to look at me. “Your parents won’t care.”

His phone lit up again and I stared at it. “Better get that.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied. I knew Luka had a life outside of our friendship. I did too. But lately, with my hockey schedule, I hardly had time to hang out with him. I missed him, and I didn’t know if that was a weird thing to feel. “I’m tired, I guess. We’ve had a lot of late practices this week.”

“I know, I’ve hardly seen you,” he said and sat up with a dramatic frown. “I miss us.”

It was silly, but that made me happy.

His phone pinged again. “Who is that?”

“Just some guy.” He turned off his phone and rested his head in my lap. “He’s not important.” I ran my fingers through the soft strands of his hair, and he closed his eyes. “Promise me you won’t run off to the NHL like your brother wants to.”

“I promise,” I said, and he smiled.

“Good.” Luka opened his eyes, and I stared down at him. “I wish… I wish shit didn’t have to change.”

“I feel it too. Like time… I don’t know… everything feels too fast.” I laughed at myself. “Shit… I’m tired. I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

“It makes sense. Next year we’ll be seniors and then…”

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