Page 62 of These Pucking Boys: Part Two

I’ve been up since five in the morning. I don’t remember falling asleep last night, but I remember all the shots I drank. I needed the alcohol to forget that, in a few hours, I’m going to see my mother. We’re staying in the presidential suite, and we each have our own room. I’m not sure where June slept last night. All I know is that, if there was more hanky panky, I didn’t take part in it.

I need fresh air, so I decide to wait for the sunrise on the balcony. It’s cold, and I could have used another layer of clothing, but I don’t go back inside.

The sky is getting pink when the balcony door slides open, and June joins me. “Good morning. Brrr... it’s cold out here.”

I chuckle. “There must be some Toros in the atmosphere.”

“Shut up. You didn’t just quoteBring It On.”

“You totally teed that up for me.”

She sits next to me on the couch, and I throw my arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. “Technically, I didn’t. In the movie, it’s coldinhere.”

“Almost the same thing.”

“How do you even know that movie? It came out in 2000. You were what—four?”

I glance at her. “Yeah, so? By that logic, you shouldn’t know it either.”

“True.”

“It’s a classic, and it shows on TV all the time.” I look at the view and grin. “Besides, when I played in the junior league, we used to sing that song every time we won a game.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. I’m sure you can find videos of us, the Montreal Raccoons, singing like a bunch of idiots.” I smile broader, remembering those moments.

“You’d probably be a TikTok sensation today.”

“Probably.”

She snuggles closer, resting her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry I was so wild last night.”

I chuckle. “Are you serious? It was awesome. You have nothing to be sorry about. Getting you off in the back seat of the car was hot as hell.”

“It was... but that’s so not me.”

“I think it is. You needed the right partners to explore that side of you.”

“You sound like Katrina.”

“Katrina is a smart woman.”

June takes my hand and laces our fingers together. “Are you nervous about going to see your mom?”

My chest feels tight suddenly, and it takes me a moment to answer. “Yes, I’m fucking terrified. It’s been so long since I had any contact with her.”

“Being nervous is normal.”

I sigh loudly. “My biggest fear is that I’ll say something horrible to her and hurt Cory in the process. I love my brother, and I don’t want to make things harder for him, you know?”

“What about Mackenzie?”

I tense. “What about her?”

“Do you know what you’re going to say to her?”

I run my fingers through my hair, pushing the short bangs back. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about her at all.” I look out in the distance. “I know that makes me a jerk.”

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