Page 94 of O Goalie Night
I laugh, because he’s not wrong. “A little bit. But that’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. Let’s talk about something less depressing than my love life. How is work?”
“Hectic. We were supposed to have a skate day on Friday, but the principal just announced that the rink we had booked cancelled. Something about a peewee tournament taking priority. The kids are crushed.”
I spent most of my day consoling my students and brainstorming with other teachers on what we can do to make the last day of school special for the kids. So far, we haven’t come up with anything.
“That sucks.”
“It does. The kids were really looking forward to it. So was I, to be honest. I haven’t had a chance to break in my new skates yet.”
The gleaming white hockey skates Foster surprised me with are still in the box, freshly sharpened and ready to go. I was excited to try them out with my students.
“Since when do you know how to skate?” He looks amazed with this new information.
“Since Foster taught me.” Saying his name soothes the ache in my chest.
Ben shakes his head, apparently speechless and we take a minute to watch the family wrap up their skate.
“I’m sorry if I messed things up with you two.”
“You didn’t,” I insist. “Despite your best efforts. I’m going to continue seeing Foster, regardless of how you or anyone else feels about it. And I’m going to have a very frank conversation with Mom and Dad about how I feel. You all don’t need to agree with my decisions, but you need to respect them. I’m an adult and I will do what I want.”
“I understand. And I’m going to be better at listening to you. If you want me to cancel your plane ticket so you can drive home, I won’t fight you on it.”
“I appreciate that,” I grin. “But please don’t. It’s such a long drive and I really don’t want to do it.”
He laughs, looking lighter than I’ve seen him in a long time. “Maybe I should let you start making my decisions for me. I’m unqualified, apparently.”
I clap my hands, excitedly. “I’d love to, thank you for asking. For starters, stop thinking with your dick. You’ll find someone who’s right for you in your own time; you don’t need to force it.”
“That’s fair.”
“And stop being a dick to your goalie. He’s a good man who’s done a lot for both of us.”
“He really is. Anything else?”
“Call Mom more. Not just when you want something. That’s all I can think of right now.”
“I will. Can I ask for one thing in return?”
“Shoot.”
“Tell me Foster’s wifi password?”
“Never going to happen.”
CHAPTER 37
FOSTER
It’s minus twenty-five outside and I’m still managing to sweat as I walk up the freshly shovelled cobblestone path. The bungalow is decorated with colourful lights and a partially deflated Rudolph leans against the white porch. It looks like a family lives here.
When Beth called me last night to tell me about her talk with Ben, I realised right then and there that I was ready to talk to my own brother. I texted Cody and he wrote back immediately inviting me over for coffee this morning.
He appears in the doorway as I’m wiping my snow-covered boots on the outdoor mat. His face lights up with a smile I haven’t seen in so many years, I’d almost forgotten it. The same smile he’d give me when we were kids and had just gotten away with one scheme or another.
“You’re here,” he says, extending his hand to me.
