Page 44 of Mine For The Winter

Did you scream his name yet? – Kelly.

It was weird how good it felt to see her words on his screen. He smiled as he tapped out a reply.

Not yet, I’m waiting for the right moment. He’s good. You should be proud. – Kris.

Thank you. I am. And thank you for being there. – Kelly.

Okay, it wasn’t a breakthrough. She still didn’t want to talk to him. But it felt like something more than they had before.

A chink in her armor. A gap in the clouds. Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to mess it up this time.

* * *

Cole’s team lost 2-1 but it had been a close run thing. Kris could see the dejected slant of Cole’s shoulders as he skated off into the tunnel. He didn’t look up at the bleachers this time, even though Kris called out his name.

He wanted to pull the boy into a bear hug. Tell him it was just a damn game. But he’d been that age once and nothing was a game.

It was serious. It was dog eat dog. And he had no idea how to make a boy Cole’s age feel better.

The parents filed out and Kris followed them, feeling distinctly uneasy at going into the locker room when he wasn’t related to anybody there. The team was sitting silently on benches, their helmets off, their hair mussed up. Some of the parents walked over to their kids and ruffled their hair or murmured words of consolation. A couple walked over and told their kids they needed to do better.

That kinda pissed him off.

Cole looked up and his gaze caught Kris’. Then he looked down again, his fingers intertwined as he rested his arms on his legs.

Go over there and talk to him. You’re the one who wants to have big conversations.

Yeah, but not with a kid who’s just lost a game.

Ignoring his misgivings, Kris walked over anyway, squatting down in front of Cole. “You played good.”

Cole lifted his gaze once more. “We lost,” he said, his voice monotone.

“Yeah you did, but sometimes that happens. You’ve won before and you’ll win again. And you’ll lose again, too. It’s part of life.”

Cole’s brows furrowed. “I wanted to win.” His gaze flickered up. “Do you still like me even though we didn’t?”

Kris met the kid’s eye. “Of course I like you. I don’t care if you win or lose.”

“That’s what mom says, but she has to. Does this mean you won’t come watch me again?” Cole asked.

He swallowed hard. “Of course I’ll watch you again. Anytime.”

“Thank you.” Cole pressed his lips together, as though he was expecting the worst. And that was the killer. The kid didn’t expect anything from anybody. He was like his mom in that way.

He didn’t know you could have more. That youshouldhave more.

“Okay, team, we lost this week.” The coach was standing in the center of the room. The talking between parents and kids hushed down to nothing. “But next week is a whole new game. Fraser, you did good out there. Richards, you couldn’t stop those goals but nobody could. And Markham, that was a good goal you hit into the other net.”

Kris winked at Cole. He lifted a brow back.

“Now get yourself changed, go home, and enjoy the weekend. I’ll see you at practice on Tuesday.”

“You still got a ride home?” Kris asked Cole.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “My friend Daniel’s mom is taking me.”

“Okay. Well I guess I’ll see you next week.” He high fived Cole, although the kid was only half-hearted in his hand slap. “Have a good weekend.”

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