Page 7 of Here and Now
I shrug. “I should be at the lake. It’s his fault I’m not.”
Hazel chuckles. “All right then. Well, you better get to the rink.”
“Yes, I wouldn’t want to be late.”
“Listen, Kai is really excited about this. Maybe if you could introduce him to some kids and ...”
I lift my hand. “I got it.”
“All the other kids have their dads or could-be-famous uncle coaching. He doesn’t have that.”
“I’m a good fill-in,” I say with a smile. “I’m pretty good at seeing the kids who need something.”
“I know.”
“Careful, Hazel, you’ll warm the cockles of my heart with your kindness.”
She rolls her eyes. “Go away and enjoy your new summer fun!”
Yeah, Ican’twait. Coaching kids hockey instead of fishing—so much fun.
two
Penelope
“Mom! Stop!” Kai pushes my hands away as I try to fix the zipper on his jacket.
“If you wore the other one, it wouldn’t be giving me so much trouble.” This one always sticks. I swear the kid can’t fasten this one without getting it screwed up.
He huffs and I go back to fighting with the zipper. I pull hard on the stupid zipper, which blessedly releases the fabric behind it, and then I zip Kai up.
Now it’s time to get his skates on.
Great.
I crouch and look at them.
Umm, so, I have no idea how to put these on.
Do I take the rubber thing off the bottom? Do they lace up in a certain order?
These are the times I really wish I had a man in my life. Not that Kai’s father knew a damn thing about sports, but still.
“Need some help?” a deep voice asks from behind me. For a split second fear causes my body to lock up, but I force out a breath.
It’s fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine. It’s not him.
Breathe.
I clear my throat and continue trying to tie the skates. “We’ve got it, thank you, though.”
“Are you sure? He’s going to break an ankle if you lace them like that.”
I turn to see who the stranger is and my stomach drops. It’s Miles Anderson, the incredibly good-looking high school principal we met when I registered Kai for school. He has a hoodie on with the sleeves pulled up to his forearms, a backward baseball hat, and a smile that could melt anyone.
However, it’s his eyes that do me in.
Why does he have to have the most arresting emerald eyes?
