Prologue
We’re Not Going to Make It
Justin
Eleven years ago, August
My phone pings again and I groan.Mia and I don’t get a lot of time together, just the two of us.Most of the time she’s helping her family and I’m working out or training for hockey, especially since New York drafted me a couple of months ago.Time like this, when we have the house to ourselves?It’s precious.
Another ping.I don’t want to answer it, but… “I’ll just check who it is.”
She would do the same, worried that something had happened to her family, so she nods.I press one last kiss to her belly then grab the phone.
There’s a text.The annoying message is from Dad.It’s important to talk to me.In person.Right away.
I show it to Mia.“I don’t know what his problem is, but I’d better go see him.I’ll drop you off.Sorry.”
Mia straightens her T-shirt.I wanted to do more than make out today, but I bite back my frustration.I hope we’ll still find time to meet like this once university starts in the fall.But in four years we’ll both head to New York, if I’m playing there.Or wherever.We’ll have all the time together we want.It’s what I dream of, more than playing in the NHL.Me and Mia.Forever.
“I hope everyone is okay.”
For a moment I worry about my twin, Jess, still vacationing in England.I double-check messages on my phone, but nothing from her.
“If it was something about Jess, he’d want Grandma too.”I’m reassuring myself as much as Mia.
“Maybe they want you to go to New York.”Ever since the draft she’s been worried.
“Mom and Dad don’t care.I told New York that I was going to college before I was playing.You, me and Jess are all going to be freshmen at Simon Fraser, so we’re good.”I kiss her.Quickly, or we’ll never leave.“There’s nothing to worry about.”
I pull on my shirt and tug her up from my bed.Even if we didn’t get to have sex, my sheets will smell of her tonight, so I smile.We head downstairs.
Mia looks around the empty house.“Do you think your grandmother knows what we do when she’s out?”
I shrug, but she does.She makes a big deal out of letting me know when she’s going to be away for a few hours.If I tell Mia, she’ll be self-conscious.She worries about her own family so much, I want coming here to be relaxing for her.
I drop her at the Bailey house, with a few more kisses, and then head to the condo Mom and Dad have in Vancouver.It’s a penthouse with a water view, but Jess and I stay with Grandma.Mom and Dad travel so much that the place is empty most of the time anyway.It’s not home.Grandma’s house is.
I send Jess a quick text while I ride up in the elevator.It’s probably too late for her, but I want to make sure she’s okay.
Mom and Dad are waiting for me, and I stop in the doorway.Dad’s hair is a mess, like he’s been running his hands through it, and Mom is chewing her fingernails.I’ve never seen her do that.They both look panicked.
“Come in, Justin.Something’s happened.”
No shit.Mom doesn’t comment on the sweats I’m wearing, so that also tells me she’s really worried.
“Have you been listening to the news?”
I shake my head, now positive something happened in England.What’s wrong with Jess?But I don’t ask, as if these few extra seconds before I find out will somehow mean she’s okay.
“The Denbrowskis have fled the country with all their clients’ investments.They were running a Ponzi scheme.”
It takes a moment for that to work through my head—I was so focused on my twin.“So nothing is wrong with Jess?”
Mom frowns.“Why would anything be wrong with Jess?”
“Because…” And then I let it drop.“So these Denn-whatevers ripped people off.Did they steal some of your money?”Mom is rich, and she’d freak out about that, since they might have to cut back on some expenses.
“Not some.All.”