Page 139 of She Wolf

Anna’s is far more overzealous. “Text or call if you need anything. Coralie and I will come to visit when we can, and you make sure we see you at a few games here and there.”

“You will, I promise and thank you,” Kate says squeezing her back.

Jack’s up next and she bends down to embrace him.

“Thank you for being the very best friend a girl could ask for this past month. And thank you for the most perfect gift. I’ll treasure it and next year I’ll just buy refills, so I’ll always have your original,” she says holding him tightly.

So that’s what the extra calendar pages are for.

“I’m going to miss you, and so will Biscuit,” he sniffs. “Promise you’ll come back?” She looks at Coralie who nods vehemently.

“You couldn’t keep me away. Good luck in second grade, call me when you get home from your first day, I want to hear everything.”

“I will,” he mutters as he lets her go.“Go on then, there’s going to be traffic,” he says opening the door for her.

Casey and I meet each other's gaze. He really is a remarkable kid.

Chapter Thirty-Three

December

Gunner

Coralie and Jack moved back in a week ago. We had a home game where Jack got to see Kate at, and then I packed them up and moved them into mine in record time. We went Christmas Tree shopping and as expected, Jack chose the largest, fullest tree in the Lot.

As is with the NHL though, I left a day later but we video called every night until I returned home.

Biscuit has gotten huge, but as I had hoped, he’s a really vigilant guard dog and it’s almost like he takes his job too seriously. When he’s not on the edge of Jack’s bed he’s camped out at the bottom of the stairs.

The house is noisy and filled with laughter and I absolutely love it.

This morning, even though it’s an off day, I took Biscuit on a long run and I’m in my weight room, just finishing stretching out my quads when Jack comes into the room, a weird look on his face.

Biscuit glued to his side as ever.

“Hey Gunn, my man,” he says by way of greeting, running his hand over his blond hair.

“Hey dude, are you okay?”

“Yeah, fine. Fine, fine, fine,” he shrugs.

“That’s good.” I say feeling like I’m about to get pranked or something. Another perk of having not one, but two Maddens living in the same house is I’m constantly getting scared shitless. One or both of them are always hiding somewhere, waiting to jump out on me.

He coughs and straightens up. “So good. So, remember how I go to school?”

“Yes, I remember that.” I wipe my brow with the bottom of my shirt.

“Well, there’s this camp over in the school gym to raise money for people who don’t have a house or even just a room. That means they’re homeless, Gunner.”

“I know, sad, eh?”

“Some of the guys, they’re bringing their dads and well, well do you wanna camp over with me? Be like…. belikemydad?” He rushes those last three words out so fast; I nearly miss it.

I swear the ground falls from under me and the world stops spinning for a second because this kid just brought me to my knees.

“Dude. Jack, I would like nothing more than to go with you.”

“Really? Yes! And it’s not a game day or night. I already checked.” He says excitedly and I’m immediately relieved.

---