Page 71 of Between the Blue
It’s where Sutty is going. He’s had every college offer I have, but Toronto has always been his plan.
I’ve tried to talk to him about why, but he’s never said much. Guess he doesn’t have to. It’s pretty obvious.
Rhett’s parents have money. And they’ve been willing to pay for hockey. But we both know that’s just because they knew it would get him to college and out of their hair. And when your parents haven’t been around most of your life and aren’t supportive past your basic needs, I’m sure a move to the States is pretty daunting.
But it’s okay. Sutty will be an instant star at Toronto.
I swallow, squeezing the letter in my hands.
Toronto’s a good school.
They’ve got a decent hockey program.
And it’s only an hour away from here.
From her.
I shake my head. Flop down on my bed.
I haven’t talked to Jules about this.
She knows hockey is a huge part of my life, but we haven’t discussed what that means after we graduate from high school.
We actually have never talked about the future at all.
Every time we skirt the topic, Jules changes the subject.
I’m never sure what to make of it. But also, Jules always keeps me guessing.
After nearly six months of her in my life, she still surprises me every day.
And that’s one of the things I love most about her.
But the L word is another topic she skirts. So we won’t talk about that now.
I hold the letter from U of T up, staring at it. Let my eyes go out of focus. Then focus on the UMich pennant hanging on my wall behind it. I only have to look at it for a few seconds before my eyes are pulled straight back to the letter.
I don’t know what it is.
But something in my head is telling me this is right.
I reach into my pocket. Pull out my phone.
I need to talk to her about this. That will be my final deciding factor.
I scroll through my contacts, bring up Jules’s. My thumb hovers over the button to call her, but right before I click, my phone starts buzzing with an incoming call.
I accept it. Bring my phone to my ear.
“Hey, big boy.”
I roll my eyes. “Sutty.”
“What’re you up to?” he asks. “Missing me?”
“I saw you two days ago.”
“And?” He scoffs. “You know your life is better when I’m in it as much as possible, Jamesy. Don’t even lie.”
