Page 39 of Time to Shine

Casey beamed like this was the best news ever. “Fucking right!” He grabbed Landon’s arm and shook him. “Told you.”

“Stop it. You’ll make your shoulder worse.”

Casey let him go. “Shoulder is all good. Just got a little banged up. Good thing too, because I would be super bummed if I had to sit for a Battle of Alberta game.”

The city had been buzzing all week about tomorrow night’s game against Edmonton. Even back in Nova Scotia, Landon had known how big a deal these Battle of Alberta games were. This one would be the second meeting of the season between the two teams, and the first in Calgary. Landon was excited to be a part of it.

“Why were you trying to find me?”

“Huh?” Casey said.

“You said you were coming to find me.”

“Oh. I guess it wasn’t for any reason, really.”

Landon lengthened his stride, placing himself slightly in front of Casey to hide his smile.

“So I meant what I said last night,” Casey said, “about taking you shopping.”

“Oh. No thanks.” Trying on clothing wasn’t something Landon had ever enjoyed. Absolutely nothing looked right on his stretched-out frame. “Clothes look weird on me.”

“You need to shop where I shop!”

“Where? Gap Kids?”

Casey burst out laughing. “Damn, Stacks.”

Landon bit the inside of his cheek.

“Well,” Casey said, “where do you buy clothes? The fucking...ladder store?”

Landon lost the battle with his smile and started laughing. “Ladder store?”

“That was weak. Let me try again.”

“No.” He continued down the hall, Casey scrambled after him.

“We can go to Holt Renfrew. Samir never misses.”

“Who’s Samir?”

“He works in menswear there. He knows his shit.”

Landon had vaguely heard of Holt Renfrew. It was a store for rich people or something. “It might be a little beyond my budget.”

“Aw, I can—”

“No.”

“One outfit? We could call it a Christmas present.”

“I’m calling it ridiculous. No way are you buying me clothes.”

Casey sighed dramatically. “Fine. But we should still go. For fun.”

“Fun,” Landon said flatly. But he did enjoy hanging out with Casey. “Okay. Fine. We’ll go.”

“Sweet. I’ll book an appointment for next week.”

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