Page 98 of Crossing Lines

I slipped out the side door and into a hallway, then answered the call. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

“Hey, I heard you won tonight,” she said.

“We did. I was watching the press conference.” I strolled down the hallway, taking in the venue’s workers scurrying aboutin their blue uniforms, probably on their way to clean the place and ready it for the next game.

“Oh no, are you busy?” she asked. “I can call back another time.”

“No, it’s okay. What’s up? Did you have your scans?” I held my breath for a second. Mom’s health was more important than the championship right now.

“I did, but…”

“Tell me, Mom. What did the doctor say?” I tightened my jaw. Obviously, it wasn’t great news, or she’d be blurting it out.

“It’s not terrible, but I’ve decided to take the more aggressive treatment route,” she said. “So, I’ll be doing a combination of radiation and chemo to start, then follow it up with a stronger round of chemo.”

As my gut wound into a knot, I pinched the bridge of my nose. How soon could I get up there? “I’m not surprised. You went the aggressive route with the breast cancer too.” Though, I couldn’t blame her for removing all her breast tissue. She wasn’t one to fuck around with shit like that. “So, tell me more about the treatment. And don’t leave any of the gory details out.” It would be just like her to downplay it too.

“I start next week. It shouldn’t be too bad for the next month or so.” She sighed. “Once the radiation is done, it’s the second round of chemo that might get bad.”

Okay, so I had a month before I needed to be with her. Maybe I’d be here for Jonah’s graduation after all. “Mom, I need to tell you something.”

“What’s that?” She breathed in deeply, then in a low voice, she said, “I know what you’re going to say. I can handle this. Kathy said?—”

“I’m coming home.” I stood in the hallway, now empty, with my heart breaking. My life was completely up in the air. Jonah playing for the Leafs, me getting another coaching job, all of it. The only thing I was certain of was that I needed to be there for her. “Mom?”

“I knew you were going to say that.” She scoffed. “Ryan, you can’t.”

“I can and I am. In fact, I’ve already put in my resignation.” I’d have to lay this on thick. “Laurent is pretty sure they’d take me back in the junior league and if that doesn’t pan out, then another coach here thinks he can get me in with the University of Toronto.” I gritted my teeth. “In fact, they have an opening and I’m going to interview.” Fuck, I was lying, but so what. I wasn’t going to tell her about Owen.

“Oh no, honey. What about your boyfriend, Jonah?”

“He has an invitation for the Leafs’ development camp, remember?” I fisted and opened my hand, then paced the hallway. “I’m sure he’ll get signed with the way he’s playing. It’s only a matter of time.” I forced a smile through my voice. “So, see, Mom? Toronto is where I need to be. I’ll have you and Jonah and Laurent and, and even Dad.” As my vision blurred, I fought to steady my voice. “Me coming to the desert was never meant to be.” My heart ached. Except it was how I found Jonah, the love of my life. God, if only all these dreams came true.

“I don’t know. It’s a shame this coaching job with ASU didn’t work out. What are they saying about it?”

“They’re happy to give me a glowing recommendation and with this championship under my belt, I’m sure to have more than a few opportunities back home.” I fucking hoped. I also wasn’t going to tell her I was using her cancer diagnosis as a crutch. Fuck, I felt like an asshole. But what choice did I have? I had to find a way out of this that didn’t destroy the team and our chances here. And I wasn’t going to let her face this alone, no matter how much she tried to dissuade me.

“Well, I hate to see you give up on that job so soon.” She huffed.

“Mom, I’m not just giving up on it. I’m coming home to help you and to be with my boyfriend. And there are opportunities for me there too.” I swiped wetness from my eyes. “It’s all ablessing, really. And now I’ll be there for you when you need me.”

“Shoot, okay.” She exhaled a long breath. “I can’t say I’m not happy to have you home again.”

“I know.” I turned and paced in the other direction, the tightness in my throat relaxing. “I’ll be moving back in with you for a while,” I said. “It’s for the best, Mom, so don’t try to talk me out of it.”

“What about your boyfriend?” she asked.

“I…” Shit, I hadn’t thought about that. I stopped pacing and touched the smooth wall surface next to me. “Let’s see how it goes, okay?” Would Jonah want to live with me and my mother? How weird would that be? “Listen, we’ll work it all out later. I have to get going.” All I had to do was get through this next game. Then I could talk to Jonah and explain everything. And I’d find out where his head was at.

“Okay, honey. I’ll keep you updated,” she said. “Love you.”

“Love you too, Mom.” I sucked in a ragged breath. “Bye.” I hung up the call and strode down the hallway. I needed to get to the bus. And I had to stay away from Jonah until after tomorrow’s game. He knew something was up with me, and I wasn’t great at keeping things from him. But for now, I had to.

The next day,Finley cornered me after breakfast in the hotel’s hallway by our rooms. “Hey, Gibson. I spoke to my buddy over in Toronto.” He sipped coffee from a paper cup.

“Yeah?” I glanced down the hallway, players coming in and out of their rooms in various states of dress. Everyone was pumped up for today’s game. The final game. I didn’t see Jonah anywhere.

“You’re in luck. Their current defensive coach is retiring this year and get this…” He leaned in close to me and tapped my chest with his knuckles. “He’s heard of you and your stellar performance in the junior leagues.”

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