Page 29 of The Long Game

“Everyone always said I looked like Uncle Tag,” Grady said. He turned to Jack and explained. “Colton Michael’s dad is Taggart Ezekiel,” as if that clarified anything, then said to Colton, “And you look like my brother, Brock David. Or what he looked like twenty years ago, I guess.”

There were more important issues, but Jack was stuck on the weird double name thing that made the entire family sound like they were destined to assassinate an American president.

Colton frowned. “He doesn’t look like me anymore. Now he looks old. And mean.”

Grady absorbed that, nodding slowly. “Colton Michael, what are you doing here? How did you end up at Pathways?”

Colton glared down at his skates. “I left. Before they could disown me, too, I guess.”

Grady swallowed hard, looking even more upset. “How long ago was that?”

“You going to send me back?” Colton asked, his eyes darting to Jack and the door.

“No,” Grady said firmly. “I would never. You have my word.”

Colton studied Grady for a long, quiet moment. “Two years.”

That rattled Grady—literally. He shook against Jack’s side.

“You’ve been on your own that whole time?” Grady asked, his voice hoarse.

Colton jumped to his skates. “Yeah, but don’t worry about it. I’m fine. It’s all good.” He gestured at the door. “I’m going to go change into my stuff, then I’d like to go back to the shelter.” His challenging glare dared them to try to stop him.

“Okay,” Jack said, rising to his feet but keeping a hand on Grady’s shoulder. “The bus will be leaving in an hour, or I can take you there myself as soon as you’re ready.”

“I’d like to go right away.”

Jack nodded, but Colton was already gone, the door swinging shut behind him.

Silence hung heavy in the locker room.

Jack had never seen Grady’s shoulders slump like that, never seen such sadness in his friend’s eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asked, feeling useless.

Grady shook his head. “No.”

It hurt to hear Grady admit that, an actual physical ache in Jack’s chest.

He hovered, wanting to help, wanting to comfort Grady, even as half his brain was screaming at him to follow Colton and make sure he didn’t disappear.

“You go,” Grady said. When Jack hesitated, Grady touched his arm. “Please. Make sure he’s okay.”

Jack gripped Grady’s shoulder harder. “I hate to leave you alone.”

Grady’s smile was grateful and sad. “I’ll be okay, Jack. Thank you.”

With another nudge from Grady, Jack dashed into the hall and dug his phone from his pocket as he jogged toward the other locker room.

Travis picked up immediately. “What the heck was that all about?”

“I can’t get into it now, but can you or Barnaby find Grady? Maybe sit with him? He’s in the home locker room.”

“Of course,” Travis said. “I’ll peel B off the boards and send him there right now.”

“I heard that!”

Jack smiled but it faded quickly. “Can you take over the scrimmage, too? I hate to ask but—”

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