Page 79 of On the Edge

for shame

no polo shirt though i am so proud

Henri

I was provided two uniform shirts to wear during my internship, and I get to keep them. Two new polo shirts for my collection.

Atlas

dear god they had no idea the monster they were feeding

Smiling, I tuck my phone into my pocket and head back downstairs. Everyone has moved to the living room as we wait for the food to be ready. When Max sees me walk into the room, he straightens and clears his throat.

“So, I’ve got news,” he says. Walking over to the couch, I take a seat next to where Carter and Zeke are sitting so close together, they appear to be conjoined. “When I was in Detroit a few weeks ago for rookie training camp, Luke came with me.”

I nod, because I’d already known this. Max left the day after graduation to join his NHL team for a few weeks of training. Next week, he’ll be flying back to stay for good, as the pre-season training begins in earnest. Carter, too, will be a busier man once more, the summer flying by and scattering my friends. My heart hurts, as it always does, when I think about how little I will see their faces soon. I smile at Max, not wanting him to know the reminder made me sad.

“Yes, Luke sent me a few photographs,” I tell him.

“So, yeah, he’s actually going to come with me when I move. We found an apartment. Together,” Max clarifies when nobody seems shocked by this pronouncement. Carter is the first to rally.

“I’ll pray for you,” he says, and then grunts from what I suspect was an elbow in the ribs from Zeke.

“That’s great,” Zeke tells Max. “Did Luke find a job?”

“Well, so that’s where he’s at right now, actually.” Max sits forward, voice rising excitedly. “He’s interviewing for a job with the Tigers! He’s been applyingeverywhere,and had a couple virtual interviews, but this is the first one that led to a second interview. He flew out yesterday to meet with them!”

I have no idea who the Tigers are, but I can recognize the enthusiasm in Max’s voice as a good thing. I beam at him.

“This is fantastic news. I do not see how they cannot offer him a job. Luke is very talented.”

Max smiles back. “I’ve been worried about it, to be honest. Luke can’t just sit at home and relax, he has todothings. I was…well, I was worried he wouldn’t want to come with me if he didn’t get a job, I guess.”

Carter snorts, drawing everyone’s attention. “I don’t think there was any stopping him from going with you,” he says, which I happen to agree with. “He would have folded himself up into your suitcase.”

“I am very happy to hear this. I would not have wanted you to go alone,” I tell Max, and when his eyes meet mine, I can see the unspoken words between us. He hasn’t told Carter and Zeke what he shared with me last year, about what happened to him, nor has he brought it up again with me. He smiles a small, soft smile like he knows where my head is at.

“Zeke and I have news, too,” Carter says suddenly, and his mouth twists into a decidedly wolfish grin. “Vas is moving in with us. Permanently.”

“For the school year,” I correct, as Zeke’s head whips toward me on a gasp, and a wide smile blooms on his face.

“Really? You agreed?”

“Yes, but I will be paying?—”

“—half of the utilities,” Carter fills in happily. I frown at him.

“Well, yes, but I had agreed to pay the same rent that you asked from Zeke,” I remind him.

“Right. Which was half of the utilities and nothing more,” Carter replies smugly. I gape at him. Zeke sends me a mildly commiserating look.

“I told you he won’t take your money,” he mumbles. Max, for his part, looks like he’s fighting a silent battle against a smile and losing.

“You tricked me,” I say to Carter, impressed with him, while also feeling annoyed at myself.

“Sure did,” he replies without a trace of apology.

Zeke’s pizza, just like everything else he makes, is delicious, and earns him no less than three appreciativeI love yousfrom Carter. It doesn’t matter how fervently I wish for time to slow, however. Eventually the food is consumed, the kitchen is cleaned, and the day ends. I give Max a ridiculously long hug, trying to convey how much I care for him and how hard it will be when he is gone.

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