Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“You put him in that funk by countering my coaching,” I blurted.
He stopped at the corner and whirled to face me. “No, asshole. That had nothing to do with you. His dad died at this time of year, and the holidays suck for him. He self-isolates because he’s hurting, not because he’s a head case.”
“I never said he was—”
“You want him to bond with other kids, make him laugh. Don’t give him a job that separates him from the others until he’s ready for it. Just make the rink a second home. A place where he feels like he belongs.” And with that, Jake strode away.
I stood there with my jaw on the cement for a beat, then hurried after him. “Wait up. Thanks. That was good advice.”
Jake slowed as we hit Main Street, nodding a greeting to a middle-aged woman hanging a wreath in a shop window. “Did you have something else you wanted to discuss?”
“Yeah, what’s with the dick act? Let’s talk this out. If I accidentally called you a nasty name on the ice, I apologize. It’s hockey, and I was a tough player. If I pushed you too hard, again…sorry. I don’t know my own strength sometimes.”
He chuckled, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “That’s not it.”
“I give up.” I threw my hands in the air in surrender. “What did I do to you?”
“You don’t remember taunting me on the ice, telling me how hot my dad is?” Jake asked incredulously.
“I did?”
“ ‘Heard your dad’s hot, man.’ Sound familiar?”
I shook my head slowly. “Uh…no.”
“It happened and it wasn’t a one-time thing either. It was homophobic bullying, and I’ll never forgive you for it. No one messes with my dad, fuckhead. No one.”
He growled fiercely and darted off again.
I was practically panting by the time I caught up with him on our street.
“Your dad and I are good friends. I’m not homophobic, and if I bullied you on the ice—” I dropped my bag on Dale’s leaf-strewn lawn. “I’m sorry. I just used to say shit. It’s what I did. Someone probably told me your dad was handsome and without even knowing what he looked like, I repeated it. I’m fucking sorry…okay?”
Jake narrowed his eyes. He was obviously not ready to let me off the hook that easily. “Okay, fine. Maybe it was innocent. But I still don’t like it, and I don’t like that you’re suddenly everywhere. In Elmwood, across the street from my house, hanging out with my dad…like you’re the best of friends. What the hell is that all about? You’re not trying to fuck with him or—”
“Stop. No, I’m not trying to fuck with anyone.”
I pulled a beanie from my pocket and slipped it on to give my hands something to do while I considered a carefully worded response. Yeah, I was definitely fucking with his father…as often as we could. But in the best possible way. I didn’t know how to assure a protective son that I had only the very best interests at heart when it came to his dad.
Bryson was my happy place. His smile brightened my morning…no matter what the weather was like. His name on my caller ID, his text messages, his shoes in my foyer…Jesus, it didn’t take much to make my pulse race. He was the first person I wanted to talk to at the beginning and end of the day. He was smart, he was witty, he was so fucking real. And that was before the mind-blowing, incredible sex, which I absolutely would never utter a word about to Jake.
So yeah, I needed a lifeline here ’cause I had no idea how to explain where I was coming from without admitting I was bi and in fact, had a massive crush on his father. Not gonna happen.
“Well? You have to admit, it’s very fishy,” Jake insisted, his nose and cheeks pinkening from the cold.
I pursed my lips and inclined my chin. “But it’s not fishy at all. We’re friends, Jake. Your dad is a really great guy and sometimes I don’t know how I ended up in Elmwood either, but I’m grateful. I like it here. I like my job, I like my house, I like this street, and I like my neighbors. Especially your father.”
“He’s gay, you know.”
A very immature part of me wanted to fire something rude about being personally well acquainted with all the gayness, but that wouldn’t help my cause. Jake loved his father, and I had nothing but respect. I just needed him to know we were on the same team here.
“That’s cool by me.” I eyed him warily. “We good?”
Jake grunted. “I guess.”
“Oh, hello, boys! Any chance I can get a hand putting these lights up, Jake?”
We turned on cue and smiled at our octogenarian neighbor wrestling with a ladder and a box of holiday lights.